Top 5 RB performances of NFL playoffs ranked feat. Emmitt Smith vs. Bills in 1993

Superstar quarterbacks typically receive the most recognition when their teams have incredible postseason runs, but players from other position groups can also be postseason heroes.

Running backs have previously helped their teams overcome challenges by putting on some of the best individual performances throughout the postseason. Players like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Patrick Mahomes have spearheaded championship surges, but there are also players like Sony Michel and Timmy Smith, who have powered postseason drives.

Here, we will take a look at some of the best playoff performances from running backs.

Top 5 RB performances in postseason games

5) Sony Michel, New England Patriots — 2018 Divisional Round vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Sony Michel was selected by the New England Patriots with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. He produced some of the league's finest running back playoff performances during his rookie season.

Michel became just the third player in more than two decades to score three touchdowns on the ground in the first half of a playoff game after finishing the Divisional Round matchup against the Chargers with 129 yards on 24 rushes and three touchdowns.

In the AFC championship, the Georgia alumnus followed up on that outstanding performance with a 113-yard and two-touchdown performance against the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition, he ran for 94 yards and scored the game's only touchdown in Super Bowl LIII, which the Pats won 13-3 against the Los Angeles Rams.

4) John Riggins, Washington Redskins — 1982 Divisional game vs. Minnesota Vikings

John Riggins recorded 185 rushing yards, setting a new team playoff record for the Washington Commanders in the 1982 Divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings. He carried the ball 37 times and scored on rushing touchdown in the game as well.

He carried that form into the Super Bowl that year, where he was voted the Super Bowl MVP and recorded a then-Super Bowl record of 166 yards from 38 rushes as the Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins 27–17.

3) Timmy Smith, Washington Redskins — Super Bowl XXII vs. Denver Broncos

Timmy Smith was equally important to the Redskins' 42-10 thumping of the Broncos, even though quarterback Doug Williams was awarded the MVP of Super Bowl XXII.

Even more impressive is the fact that Smith, who was the team's RB3 prior to the game and was just in his rookie season, was not informed he would start until the pregame warmups.

Smith gained 204 yards and scored two touchdowns in the game, setting a Super Bowl rushing milestone in his first career start. His surprising breakthrough performance is still regarded as one of the most prominent in Super Bowl history.

2) Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys — Super Bowl XXVIII vs. Buffalo Bills

The Bills were facing the Cowboys for the second time in a row and their fourth consecutive Super Bowl participation in Super Bowl XXVIII.

Emmitt Smith ensured that fourth time was not the charm for Buffalo, who had lost three consecutive Big Games before that one. The star running back delivered an MVP performance that helped Dallas record a 30–13 win.

Smith rushed 30 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns in that game. He also recorded four receptions for 26 yards.

Due to his efforts that year, Smith remains the only RB in history to have won the NFL MVP award, the Super Bowl MVP award, the NFL top rusher title, and the Super Bowl championship in the same season.

1) Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos — Super Bowl XXXII vs. Green Bay Packers

One of the main reasons the Denver Broncos won their first championship, defeating the Green Bay Packers 31–24, was Terrell Davis' MVP-winning effort in Super Bowl XXXII. Prior to that, the Broncos had fallen short in all four of their previous Super Bowl trips.

The star RB carried the ball for 157 yards and three touchdowns, setting a Super Bowl record for rushing TDs. His final touchdown was the game-winning play with less than two minutes left on the clock.

The fact that Davis persevered through missing most of the second quarter due to a migraine headache added even more significance to his performance.