In one of the most-watched rushing races in many years, Payton entered the final game of the 1976 season with a nine-yard lead over Buffalo鈥檚 O.J. Simpson. The two had battled all year, and now the Bears鈥� rising star had a golden opportunity to topple the league鈥檚 reigning rushing champion.
Payton鈥檚 agent, college coach, and mother flew up from Mississippi to see if he could hold off Simpson while playing against Denver at Chicago鈥檚 frigid Soldier Field. Simpson faced a much weaker Baltimore defense and had a big day, while Payton struggled, sprained his ankle late in the third quarter, and had to come out of the game.
He sobbed on the bench in one of the biggest disappointments of his career. Simpson easily prevailed in the season-long battle 1,503 yards to 1,390. The next year, however, Payton won his first and only rushing title. The injured Simpson was a nonfactor, and saw only limited service thereafter while finishing out his career in 1978 and 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers.
