Is the NFL a passing league? (1 Viewer)

[Riversco]

We're down the final 8 teams.

Teams that pass more than they run:

Broncos

Patriots

Colts

Saints

Teams that run more than they pass:

Seahawks

49ers

Panthers

The odd team:

Chargers - morphed into a run-first team in the last 4 games of the regular season after opening as a pass-happy team.

If the Chargers and Sehawks win next weekend, only the Patriots/Colts winner will be left alive as a pass-happy team. A year ago, the 49ers and Ravens were in the Super Bowl with strong rushing attacks.

 

[Riversco]

What do the Packers, Eagles, Chiefs, and Bengals have in common? They all were playoff teams that passed more than they ran this season. All of them also lost.

 

[ghostguy123]

Yes.

However, these teams are always winning............so they run more

 

[coolnerd]

What's the common thread with how the 49ers, seahawks ,and panthers are known as "running' teams?

Edit: I should also acknowledge that the Colts use this running element also.

 

[Riversco]

Yes.

However, these teams are always winning............so they run more

But not all teams that win a lot in the regular season are run first. The Patriots won 12. The Bengals, Saints, and Colts all won 11. But we're seeing the pass-first teams get weeded out in the playoffs yet again.

 

[Riversco]

This is what makes the Broncos-Chargers and Seahawks-Saints games so interesting to me just as a fan of the game. Those two matchups feature the clash of philosophies. Is it better to be an elite running team or an elite passing team?

 

[Warrior]

What do the Packers, Eagles, Chiefs, and Bengals have in common? They all were playoff teams that passed more than they ran this season. All of them also lost.

How about the ones that won? Did they run or pass more?

Eagles, Bengals and Chiefs are all run-first teams. They may have thrown more, but they aren't "passing teams"

 

[Porkchop Express]

Its a passing league for sure, that doesnt mean every team is good at it or should do it.

 

[bucsbaby]

It's more of a passing league in good weather and in stadiums.

 

[Deamon]

We're down the final 8 teams.

Teams that pass more than they run:

Broncos

Patriots

Colts

Saints

Teams that run more than they pass:

Seahawks

49ers

Panthers

The odd team:

Chargers - morphed into a run-first team in the last 4 games of the regular season after opening as a pass-happy team.

If the Chargers and Sehawks win next weekend, only the Patriots/Colts winner will be left alive as a pass-happy team. A year ago, the 49ers and Ravens were in the Super Bowl with strong rushing attacks.

This analysis is so ridiculously flawed it's not even funny.

Look at the teams you praise for running the ball: Seattle, SF, Carolina.

- 3 of the top DEFENSES in the league.... their defenses are what makes these teams elite, not mainly their rushing abilities.

- These teams are rarely EVER playing from behind, and usually have a lead going into the 2nd half. These teams are going to run the ball more because of this. If you look at SF/Sea/Car 1st half pass/rush ratio compared to other teams, it will be a different story.

And your Rush first examples: Philly led the league in rushing, they are a rush first team... yet played in a lot of shootouts, and from behind this year and ended up with some higher passing numbers because of it.

Just because a team has more rushing attempts then passing attempts, that does NOT mean they are a 'run first' offense. Seattle/Carolina wouldn't be where they are without a good passer at QB. It is a passing league, but you obviously need both.

 

[sporthenry]

If the Chargers and Sehawks win next weekend, only the Patriots/Colts winner will be left alive as a pass-happy team. A year ago, the 49ers and Ravens were in the Super Bowl with strong rushing attacks.

As others have already pointed out your flaws, mainly you aren't controlling for the fact that winning teams run/losing teams pass more. The Ravens were a passing team last year according to your rules where somehow Philly was a passing team at 500 rushes and 508 passes compared to Baltimore last year at 560 passes to 444.

You need a good running game and a good passing game. I'd say the passing game is probably more important but 1-D teams will lose either way. Teams that can't run will struggle to close out games. Teams that can't pass will struggle with the game winning drive.

 

[FUBAR]

You need a complete team to win in the playoffs. Good qb play will likely get you there, but won't win it without help.

 

[lod01]

What do the Packers, Eagles, Chiefs, and Bengals have in common? They all were playoff teams that passed more than they ran this season. All of them also lost.

KC was a running team. Top 10 rush offense, bottom feeder passing offense.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

We're down the final 8 teams.

Teams that pass more than they run:

Broncos

Patriots

Colts

Saints

Teams that run more than they pass:

Seahawks

49ers

Panthers

The odd team:

Chargers - morphed into a run-first team in the last 4 games of the regular season after opening as a pass-happy team.

If the Chargers and Sehawks win next weekend, only the Patriots/Colts winner will be left alive as a pass-happy team. A year ago, the 49ers and Ravens were in the Super Bowl with strong rushing attacks.

Good post, I was wondering the same thing.

At least in the NFC - SEA, CAR, SF, all clear run first and defense teams.

NO advances, but not with their classic passing game, no they did it with running the ball and what is all of a sudden (well all year now, but suddenly recognized) a top 5 defense.

The AFC seems to be taking a different tack.

- KC had success all year, but then the defense seemed to fall apart, still they had their best season in years with rushing and defense.

- IND: I'd argue they're built to be a run and defense team but they happen to be lacking both at the moment and thus rely on the amazing Luck.

- SD: Definitely falls into this category - wow, 40 rushes for the win vs CIN. Tremendous.

- NE: always capable of being run first and in truth that seems to be in BB's makeup, he just turned Blount into a dominant force in one game.

I don't think this ends well for the AFC in the SB, unless maybe NE gets to NJ. Let's see what SD does, especially if Mathews plays, but I just can't see them winning in wintry NE or NJ.