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Arizona Cardinals: 5 Best Single-Game Rushing Performances Since 2010

By Casey Pazzalia

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 22: Running back Chris Johnson #23 and head coach Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals walk out onto the field after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 22, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 22: Running back Chris Johnson #23 and head coach Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals walk out onto the field after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 22, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – NOVEMBER 27: Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals eludes a tackle against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on November 27, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals beat the Rams 23-20. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – NOVEMBER 27: Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals eludes a tackle against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on November 27, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals beat the Rams 23-20. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

No. 1

(#1) Beanie Wells — Week 12, 11/27/2011

Everyone remembers this game, that’s because it’s still the best statistical performance by any Arizona Cardinals’ running back.

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Just a few years removed from their surprise Super Bowl appearance, the 2011 season was a mess for the Arizona Cardinals to start. After Week 11, the team was just 3-7 overall. However, vaulted by Wells’ epic performance in Week 12, the team went on to finish the season with five wins in their final six games, finishing 8-8 but short of the postseason.

Going up against Sam Bradford’s St. Louis Rams, Wells ran for a career-high 228 yards on just 27 carries. In addition to averaging over eight yards per carry, the former Ohio State star scored a touchdown and had one single carry that went for 71 yards. Another, for the record, went for 53 yards. The Cardinals won 23-20.

While Wells would finish the 2011 season with his first 1,000-yard season and 10 touchdowns, he would only play one more year due to injuries. Had he been healthy when Carson Palmer arrived, who knows what would have happened. It’s still a big ‘what if’ in Cardinals’ history.

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To make things worse, news came out from ESPN in March that Wells had a brain injury from his football days that was causing him problems. The injury forced him to step away from his role as a radio host on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus. At the time, Wells said on air that he wasn’t “out of the woods yet ” but that “it’s coming”.

Game Stats: 27 carries, 228 yards, 1 touchdown

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