Christian McCaffrey Bearing Down on Consecutive TD Record—Or Is He?

 By John Turney 

Christian McCaffrey

Last Sunday the 49ers lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 31-17 in Levis Stadium taking their record to 5-3 after a 5-0 start. In the game running back Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown taking his streak to 17 consecutive games of scoring a touchdown which includes the 2022 NFL Playoffs.

The regular season record is shared by Lenny Moore and LaDainian Tomlinson who each scored in 18 consecutive regular season games. Neither scored a touchdown in their respective playoff games ending the combined record streak—a record that is not acknowledged in the official "NFL Record & Fact Book". 

So, the record does not exist. However, to us that does not matter. If CMC scores tomorrow it will be significant and if the NFL did expand its record book they may include records that have playoff games as part of it.

The NFL has regular season records and postseason records for players, they are not combined which is why the Indianapolis Colts hold the record for most consecutive wins even though they lost in the 2008 NFL Playoffs. The Patriots are second even though they famously lost the Super Bowl in their 16-0 season of 2007.

Oddly for coaches, they do—sorting career wins by "career victories" that include playoff wins which is why they show Bill Belichick second at the beginning of 2023 rather than third. When playoffs are included he surpasses George Halas.

We're not sure why the exception for coaches exists in the official record book when all other statistics are not playoff-inclusive.

Moore scored in three straight games in the 1963 season (then got injured) then scored in every game in 1964 and then ended the streak after he scored a touchdown in Week 1 of the 1965 season.

Tomlinson's streak began in Week 4 of 2004 and ended after Week 5 in 2005. (He sat out the 2004 season finale).

An updated "NFL Record & Fact Book" list would look like this—

Most Consecutive Game Scoring Touchdowns

18    Lenny Moore, Baltimore, 1963-65

        LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego, 2004-05

14    O.J. Simpson, Buffalo, 1975

                  Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco, 2022-23

13    John Riggins, Washington, 1982-83

                  George Rogers, Washington, 1985-86

                  Jerry Rice, San Francisco, 1986-87

        Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams, 2017-18

If there were a record for most consecutive games scoring touchdowns that included playoff games in  the list would look like this—

Most Consecutive Game Scoring Touchdowns, Regular Season and Playoffs

17    Lenny Moore, Baltimore, 1963-65

                  Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco, 2022-23

15    O.J. Simpson, Buffalo, 1975

        John Riggins, Washington, 1982-83

14    Emmitt Smith, Dallas , 1995-96

13    Arian Foster, Houston, 2011-12 

                  Emmitt Smith, Dallas, 1994-95
                  George Rogers, Washington 1985-86

As you can see including playoff games makes a difference. When they are included Tomlinson, Rice and Gurley drop off and Emmitt Smith (twice) and Arian Foster jump on it.