🐐 Martin Breaks Rushing & Touchdown Records in One Legendary Performance
In a downpour at the Meadowlands, Curtis Martin etched his name into NFL history — not once, but twice — in a game that will be remembered for its relentless ground assault and a rare dual-record-breaking performance.
The first quarter began with Martin doing what he’s done all season: setting the tone. On the Jets’ opening drive, after softening the Bears with short runs and a crisp pass from Vinny Testaverde, Martin took a toss to the right and followed perfect blocking into the end zone from 12 yards out.
The rain never stopped, and neither did Martin. Early in the second quarter, the Jets leaned on him again. After a hard-fought series of inside and outside runs, he exploded down the left sideline for a 19-yard touchdown — a run that did more than just double the Jets’ lead. With that burst, Martin officially passed Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards — and he did it in just 13 games.
While the Meadowlands crowd roared, the Bears answered quickly. Jim Miller launched a perfectly timed deep ball to Eddie Kennison, who beat man coverage and raced untouched for a 55-yard touchdown. It was the Bears’ first real punch — and a reminder that Chicago’s vertical attack wasn’t going away quietly.
But momentum didn’t stay long on the Bears’ sideline. The Jets went right back to work, and Martin once again closed the drive with authority. This time, it was a quick 7-yard sprint off-tackle — touchdown number three on the day, and more importantly, his 29th of the season, officially breaking LaDainian Tomlinson’s NFL single-season rushing touchdown record.
With history building, the second half opened with the Jets defense tightening up. After a tipped pass deflected off Eddie Kennison’s hands, linebacker Mo Lewis wrestled the ball away for a clutch interception. The Jets didn’t waste the field position. Testaverde hit B. Spence over the middle, who stretched just enough to break the plane and score a 10-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 28–7.
The Bears, to their credit, continued to fire. Miller found tight end Alonzo Mayes streaking between safeties for a 48-yard touchdown, showcasing how quickly Chicago could generate offense when given time.
But this was Martin’s game from start to finish. Early in the fourth quarter, with the Jets grinding the clock, he put the exclamation point on a historic day. On a familiar toss play to the right, Martin broke free for 17 yards and his fourth touchdown of the afternoon — putting the Jets up 35–14 and his season total at a jaw-dropping 30 rushing TDs.
The Bears tacked on a late touchdown — a short strike to Bobby Engram following a miracle 4th-and-31 conversion — but it was far too little, far too late. The Jets recovered the onside kick, and fittingly, Martin closed the game with two more carries, ending the day with 244 rushing yards and a performance for the ages.
🧑🏃 Player of the Game
Curtis Martin (Jets)
– 34 carries, 244 rushing yards
– 4 touchdowns
– 2 receptions, 33 yards
– New NFL records:
• Single-season rushing yards: 2,349
• Single-season rushing TDs: 30
📊 Game Summary
| Category | Jets | Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 35 | 21 |
| Rushing Yards | 246 | 0 |
| Passing Yards | 145 | 288 |
| Total Yards | 497 | 342 |
| First Downs | 17 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 14:14 | 5:46 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 5/5 (100%) | 2/2 (100%) |
🨓 Final Word
There are games that get remembered, and then there are games that redefine the standard. In Week 13, Curtis Martin did both. He carried the Jets to a convincing win over the Bears, but more importantly, he carried himself into the record books, breaking two of the NFL’s most iconic single-season records — and making it look routine.
With three games still to go, there’s no telling how high Martin can climb. But one thing is already certain: this was one of the greatest games in Madden history.
Oh, please. Who didn’t see this coming?? Curtis Martin just breaks TWO NFL RECORDS in one game and we’re supposed to believe that wasn’t orchestrated? Let’s CONNECT THE DOTS, folks! 13 games in and BOOM, he smashes records like it’s no big deal. Just so happens it WAS RAINING, which totally leveled the playing field against the Bears’ passing game. Remember the “coin” toss in Super Bowl XXXIV, anyone? 🤔 And don’t get me STARTED on the officiating crew; same guys from that ghost call back in Week 7. WAKE UP SHEEPLE!!! Games like this are why the NFL is more ENTERTAINMENT than sport. Remember, it’s all about the RATINGS. 244 rushing yards, huh? Yeah, I’ll believe that when the NFL stops cherry-picking its narratives. Open your eyes, people.
Curtis Martin going GOAT mode with 244 yards and 4 TDs in a monsoon? 🐐💦 That’s some legendary Madden stuff right there. Dude really said, “Eric who?” and broke the rushing record in 13 games. FACTS. Imagine racking up 2,349 yards in a season — the NFL ain’t ready. And 30 rushing TDs?! Martin made defenses look like they were stuck in the tutorial level 😂. Straight-up video game numbers, like something I’d put up on All-Madden mode.
Jets’ offense took the dub, and I’m over here trying to hit those numbers in Franchise Mode and throwing absolute dimes with my rookie QB. The Bears gave it a shot, but Martin was busy speedrunning the record books. Big yikes for Chicago’s D, but major W for football history. Curtis was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. L 🏈.
ALRIGHT, LISTEN UP, YOUNG BUCKS. CURTIS MARTIN JUST PUT ON A CLINIC AND SHOWED YOU WHAT REAL FOOTBALL LOOKS LIKE! THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST A GAME; IT WAS A HISTORY LESSON. BACK IN MY DAY, WE HAD GUYS LIKE BARRY SANDERS RUNNING ALL OVER THE FIELD, AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT MARTIN DID HERE. 244 YARDS AND FOUR TOUCHDOWNS IN A SINGLE GAME? THAT’S PURE GRIDIRON GLORY! THESE KIDS TODAY THINK IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PASSING GAME. TESTAVERDE DID HIS JOB, BUT IT WAS MARTIN WHO BROKE THE GAME WIDE OPEN.
AND LOOK, I’M NOT ONE FOR NUMBERS, BUT WHEN A GUY BREAKS DICKERSON’S RUSHING RECORD, YOU CAN’T IGNORE IT. THIS IS THE KIND OF PERFORMANCE THAT STICKS WITH YOU, THE KIND THAT MAKES YOU PUT DOWN YOUR CONTROLLER AND JUST STARE AT THE SCREEN IN AWE. SOME SAY THE GAME’S GOTTEN TOO SOFT? WELL, THIS WAS A FLASHBACK TO THE DAYS WHEN RUNNING BACKS WERE KINGS AND DEFENSES WERE LEFT IN THE DUST.
KIDS, TAKE NOTES: MARTIN JUST PROVED WHY RUNNING THE BALL STILL MATTERS. AND THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEAGUE TODAY. TOO MUCH FOCUS ON FLASH, NOT ENOUGH ON GROUND AND POUND. SO KICK BACK, WATCH THE TAPE, AND LEARN WHAT REAL FOOTBALL TALENT LOOKS LIKE. 🏈