The league keeps changing the rules, making it easier to pass. Almost every year, we see teams passing for more yards and more touchdowns. But some teams are bucking that trend.

The Ravens, 49ers and Vikings are running for yards at a historic rate.

As we pass the halfway point of the season, Baltimore is in contention to become the first team to average 200 rushing yards in a 16-game season.

The 49ers aren’t far back, averaging 171 rushing yards. In the last 20 years, only four other teams have averaged more than 170 rushing yards.

And even the Vikings are running wild – currently on pace to finish with 2,562 rushing yards.

I don’t think this signals a league-wide shift. Passing is king nowadays. But with most of the league emphasizing the pass right now, it seems to pay dividends if you can instead polish up an effective running game.

When New England won the Super Bowl last year, it was with an offense that often utilized a conservative, run-oriented approach.

The league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. In over 40 years, only 56 teams have managed to run for more than 2,500 yards. Only 25 since the turn of the century. But looks like three could do it this year.

TEAMS RUSHING FOR 2,500 YARDS
YearTeamAttYardsAvgTD
2019Baltimore (proj.)5983,2785.526
1978New England6713,1654.730
1978Kansas City6632,9864.519
1984Chicago6742,9744.422
2006Atlanta5372,9395.59
1984LA Rams5412,8645.316
1980LA Rams6152,7994.617
1981Detroit5962,7954.726
1978Dallas6252,7834.522
2001Pittsburgh5802,7744.817
2014Seattle5252,7625.320
1985Chicago6102,7614.527
2009NY Jets6072,7564.521
2019San Francisco (proj.)6062,7384.526
1983Chicago5832,7274.714
1981Dallas6302,7114.315
1988Cincinnati5632,7104.827
2012Washington5192,7095.222
1986Chicago6062,7004.521
1983Atlanta6012,6954.510
2003Baltimore5522,6744.818
2004Atlanta5242,6725.120
1979NY Jets6342,6464.223
1980Oilers5732,6354.618
2012Minnesota4862,6345.416
2007Minnesota4942,6345.322
1981Kansas City6102,6334.322
2011Denver5462,6324.811
2016Buffalo4922,6305.329
2003Denver5432,6294.820
2010Kansas City5562,6274.713
1983Washington6292,6254.230
1983Pittsburgh6142,6104.317
1983New England5382,6054.819
1979Pittsburgh5612,6034.625
1980Detroit5722,5994.521
2009Tennessee4992,5925.219
1979Cardinals5662,5824.624
2012Seattle5362,5794.816
2006Pittsburgh5222,5784.932
1979Oilers6162,5714.224
2013Philadelphia5002,5665.119
2019Minnesota (proj.)5262,5624.924
2018Seattle5342,5604.815
2003Green Bay5072,5585.018
1990Philadelphia5402,5564.710
2005Atlanta5312,5464.817
1998San Francisco4912,5445.219
2006Jacksonville5132,5415.023
2005Denver5422,5394.725
1986Cincinnati5212,5334.924
1978Chicago6342,5264.019
1986Atlanta5782,5244.412
1988San Francisco5272,5234.818
1985Washington5712,5234.420
2008NY Giants5022,5185.019
1981Philadelphia5592,5094.517
2002Minnesota4732,5075.326
2002Miami5302,5024.724

—Ian Allan