For Allen, 100 Yards Not a Must

In Denver, they’re back on Marcus alert as Marcus Allen comes calling, looking to gain 100 yards rushing for the 10th straight game. It only seems to the Broncos as if the first nine were against them.

If Allen does it, he will break the record he shares with the Chicago Bears’ Walter Payton. Actually, Allen has already exceeded 100 in a 10th game once. He gained 121 in the Raiders’ playoff loss to the New England Patriots.

For the sake of records, that didn’t count. In reality, it counted a lot. The Raiders had their season ended several weeks early.

“It’s still a void, an emptiness,” Allen said a couple of days ago.

Did he watch the Super Bowl?

“I was there (to receive an award) so I was forced to,” he said, laughing. “I never would again. I could never do that again. I was pumped up. I wanted to be out there.

“Records are made to be broken. If I get it, great. If I don’t, no big deal.

“Obviously, at the end of your career, it would be nice to look back and see I achieved this and that. But winning is the most important thing. Every team I’ve been with, I’ve been lucky enough to win. That’s a far better feeling.”

The Broncos already have the distinction of being Nos. 4 and 6 in Allen’s streak. In last season’s first meeting in Los Angeles, he hit them for 173 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown run when he reversed his field.

Two weeks later, in Denver, with the Broncos geared to stop him, Allen gained 125 yards.

“We were geared up (for) the one in L.A., too,” said Bronco Coach Dan Reeves from Denver. “He’s just an excellent athlete. He can beat you running the ball, he’s a great blocker, he can throw the ball. I think he’s the most complete back in the league.”

Said Allen: “It didn’t really concern me (that the Broncos had made him a project). I guess every team is basically trying to stop me. There was a quote in the paper that there was one guy that beat them (in the first meeting) and that was me. I thought that was ridiculous. But I’m quite sure they’re going to be trying to stop me again.”

The man issuing that quote was Bronco owner Pat Bowlen.

A year ago, the Raiders bailed their season out by riding Allen hard: an un-Raider-like 380 carries, 105 more than he had ever had as a pro. He led the NFL with 1,759 yards, another pro high. In his spare time, he caught 55 passes.

Allen has said that Al Davis had told him he wouldn’t be used that way again. Lately, though, the Raiders have been saying that they’re again prepared to do anything it takes. Davis has called this a transition year, adding that the squad’s great players will have to lead the way.

Does Allen prefer the added load? “I’d be a blatant liar if I said I didn’t,” he said.