Over the weekend, former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And that could be good news for former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.

Davis was a controversial selection because his career included only three great seasons. When Lynch retired last offseason, ESPN's Mike Sando took a look at his Hall of Fame résumé, and one of the questions was Lynch's longevity.

Lynch ranks 37th all-time with 9,112 rushing yards. But that's more than Davis, who finished his career 55th with 7,607 rushing yards.

Here's a look at how the two backs compare overall:

Career stats Seasons Games Carries Yards YPC TDs Davis 7 78 1,655 7,607 4.6 60 Lynch 9 127 2,144 9,112 4.3 74

Lynch played in 49 more games than Davis did and had better total numbers, although Davis had the edge in yards per carry.

Davis got the Hall of Fame nod because of three elite years from 1996 to 1998. He made three Pro Bowls, was a three-time first-team All-Pro and was a key figure on two Broncos teams that won the Super Bowl.

Lynch made five Pro Bowls, was a first-team All-Pro once and played a key role on one team that won a Super Bowl (and another that got there). His peak years were from 2012 to 2014.

Here's a comparison of the top three-year stretches for each player:

Best three years Carries Yards YPC TDs Davis 1,106 5,296 4.79 49 Lynch 896 4,153 4.64 36

At first glance, Davis has the clear edge. But it's important to adjust the numbers to account for the different eras.

For example, Lynch's 896 rushing attempts from 2012 to 2014 ranked first in the NFL. But drop that number into the period from 1996 to 1998, and it would have only ranked ninth. In other words, the league was more pass-happy when Lynch played.

Davis' 5,296 yards from 1996 to 1998 was tops in the league and 3.9 percent more than any other back. Lynch's 4,153 yards from 2012 to 2014 was tops in the league and 4.8 percent more than any other back.

Davis had 17 more touchdowns than the second-place back during the three-year stretch. Lynch had eight more.

Both players were great in the postseason. Davis had 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry in eight playoff games. Lynch had 937 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 4.9 YPC in 11 games.

Overall, Davis' best three-year stretch was superior to Lynch's, but Lynch had the edge in terms of longevity.

Lynch won't be eligible for the Hall of Fame until 2021, but at that time, the case for him will look stronger now that Davis got in.