Could Cedric Benson Give the Packers an Opening-Game 100-Yard Rusher in 2012?

New Packers running back Cedric Benson
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Here’s a quick trivia question: Can you name the last Green Bay Packers running back to gain 100 or more yards in the Pack’s first game of the season?

Before we answer that question, the Packers made news on Sunday with the signing of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (via the Packers' official Twitter account). The 29-year-old Benson has gained 1,000-plus yards in three straight seasons and will hopefully give the Packers some depth at the running back position.

As a tie-in to the above trivia question, Benson also gained 121 yards on 25 carries in the Bengals' opening game last season against the Cleveland Browns.

Trivia answer: Ahman Green was the last Packer to gain 100-plus yards rushing on opening day. Green accomplished this in 2006 when he gained 110 yards in the Packers' 26-0 loss to the Bears.

Green is one of only two players to have a 100-yard rushing game in the first game of the season; he accomplished this four times in his career in Green Bay. The other player: Eddie Lee Ivery.

Following are the Packers runners who gained 100 or more yards in the Packers' first game of a season.

Running Back, Year, Yards Rushing

Ahman Green
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Ahman Green, 2001, 157 yards

Ahman Green, 2002, 155 yards

Ahman Green, 2004, 119 yards

Ahman Green, 2006, 110 yards

Eddie Lee Ivery, 1982, 109 yards

In looking at all 32 teams, there are six teams that have not had a 100-yard rusher in their first game of the season this century. The longest drought comes from the Cleveland Browns, who have not had a running back gain 100 or more yards in an opening game since 1982, when Mike Pruitt gained 136 yards in their opening contest against Seattle.

Following is the last year that each team had a runner gain 100 yards in its first game of the season.

1982: Cleveland (Mike Pruitt)

1995: New England (Curtis Martin)

1996: Detroit (Barry Sanders)