Five teams this year have passed on at least 64 percent of their offensive plays. And that’s usually not a recipe for success.
In this century, 35 other offenses have passed the ball a ton. Only three of them won double-digit games, and only one of those 35 teams won a playoff game (the 2008 Arizona Cardinals, who went 9-7 before getting hot in the playoffs and making it to the Super Bowl).
More commonly, when you’re passing a whole bunch, you’re often losing. Three teams have passed the ball on over 65 percent of their plays this year, and probably none will make the playoffs – Steelers, Packers, Falcons.
The Giants and Vikings are both around 64 percent, and neither has had a great year.
| PASSING ON 64 PERCENT OF PLAYS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Record | Pass | Run | Pct |
| 2013 | Atlanta | 4-12 | 703 | 321 | 68.7% |
| 2006 | Detroit | 3-13 | 659 | 304 | 68.4% |
| 2013 | Cleveland | 4-12 | 730 | 348 | 67.7% |
| 2018 | Pittsburgh | 8-6-1 | 667 | 325 | 67.2% |
| 2018 | Green Bay | 6-8-1 | 650 | 320 | 67.0% |
| 2005 | Arizona | 5-11 | 715 | 360 | 66.5% |
| 2002 | St. Louis | 7-9 | 681 | 343 | 66.5% |
| 2007 | Detroit | 7-9 | 641 | 324 | 66.4% |
| 2011 | Detroit | 10-6 | 702 | 356 | 66.4% |
| 2012 | Detroit | 4-12 | 769 | 391 | 66.3% |
| 2012 | Dallas | 8-8 | 694 | 355 | 66.2% |
| 2014 | Oakland | 3-13 | 657 | 337 | 66.1% |
| 2016 | Baltimore | 8-8 | 712 | 367 | 66.0% |
| 2008 | Arizona | 9-7 | 658 | 340 | 65.9% |
| 2001 | Detroit | 2-14 | 675 | 351 | 65.8% |
| 2018 | Atlanta | 6-9 | 613 | 321 | 65.6% |
| 2015 | Detroit | 7-9 | 676 | 354 | 65.6% |
| 2010 | Arizona | 5-11 | 611 | 320 | 65.6% |
| 2012 | Arizona | 5-11 | 666 | 352 | 65.4% |
| 2012 | New Orleans | 7-9 | 697 | 370 | 65.3% |
| 2004 | Oakland | 5-11 | 612 | 327 | 65.2% |
| 2013 | Miami | 8-8 | 652 | 349 | 65.1% |
| 2015 | Jacksonville | 5-11 | 658 | 354 | 65.0% |
| 2010 | Washington | 6-10 | 651 | 351 | 65.0% |
| 2013 | Dallas | 8-8 | 621 | 336 | 64.9% |
| 2015 | Miami | 6-10 | 633 | 344 | 64.8% |
| 2014 | Chicago | 5-11 | 650 | 355 | 64.7% |
| 2015 | Baltimore | 5-11 | 700 | 383 | 64.6% |
| 2005 | Philadelphia | 6-10 | 662 | 365 | 64.5% |
| 2016 | Cleveland | 1-15 | 633 | 350 | 64.4% |
| 2010 | New Orleans | 11-5 | 687 | 380 | 64.4% |
| 2016 | Detroit | 9-7 | 631 | 350 | 64.3% |
| 2015 | San Diego | 4-12 | 707 | 393 | 64.3% |
| 2000 | San Diego | 1-15 | 631 | 351 | 64.3% |
| 2011 | Tampa Bay | 4-12 | 620 | 346 | 64.2% |
| 2018 | NY Giants | 5-10 | 588 | 329 | 64.1% |
| 2014 | Atlanta | 6-10 | 663 | 372 | 64.1% |
| 2018 | Minnesota | 8-6-1 | 609 | 342 | 64.0% |
| 2012 | Jacksonville | 2-14 | 636 | 358 | 64.0% |
| 2010 | Indianapolis | 10-6 | 695 | 393 | 63.9% |
—Ian Allan