Question

When training camp starts, Frank Gore will be 36 years old and LeSean McCoy will be 31. Yet Buffalo could be relying on them to be its primary running backs – a one-two punch of elder statesmen. In this century, who are the only teams that have had a pair of thirtysomething running backs, with each running for over 500 yards? It’s happened twice, and both teams the previous season lost in the Super Bowl.

Answer

Oakland in 2003 (after losing to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl). Tyrone Wheatley (31) ran for 678 yards and Charlie Garner (31) ran for 553. They were also a decent one-two punch in the Super Bowl season, running for 419 and 962 yards as 30-year-olds. And New England in 2008 (the year after the undefeated regular season). That was the year the Patriots went 11-5 despite losing Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. Their leading rushers were Sammy Morris (31) and Kevin Faulk (32), who ran for 727 and 507 yards.