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 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
2019 | Baltimore (proj.) | 598 | 3,278 | 5.5 | 26 |
1978 | New England | 671 | 3,165 | 4.7 | 30 |
1978 | Kansas City | 663 | 2,986 | 4.5 | 19 |
1984 | Chicago | 674 | 2,974 | 4.4 | 22 |
2006 | Atlanta | 537 | 2,939 | 5.5 | 9 |
1984 | LA Rams | 541 | 2,864 | 5.3 | 16 |
1980 | LA Rams | 615 | 2,799 | 4.6 | 17 |
1981 | Detroit | 596 | 2,795 | 4.7 | 26 |
1978 | Dallas | 625 | 2,783 | 4.5 | 22 |
2001 | Pittsburgh | 580 | 2,774 | 4.8 | 17 |
2014 | Seattle | 525 | 2,762 | 5.3 | 20 |
1985 | Chicago | 610 | 2,761 | 4.5 | 27 |
2009 | NY Jets | 607 | 2,756 | 4.5 | 21 |
2019 | San Francisco (proj.) | 606 | 2,738 | 4.5 | 26 |
1983 | Chicago | 583 | 2,727 | 4.7 | 14 |
1981 | Dallas | 630 | 2,711 | 4.3 | 15 |
1988 | Cincinnati | 563 | 2,710 | 4.8 | 27 |
2012 | Washington | 519 | 2,709 | 5.2 | 22 |
1986 | Chicago | 606 | 2,700 | 4.5 | 21 |
1983 | Atlanta | 601 | 2,695 | 4.5 | 10 |
2003 | Baltimore | 552 | 2,674 | 4.8 | 18 |
2004 | Atlanta | 524 | 2,672 | 5.1 | 20 |
1979 | NY Jets | 634 | 2,646 | 4.2 | 23 |
1980 | Oilers | 573 | 2,635 | 4.6 | 18 |
2012 | Minnesota | 486 | 2,634 | 5.4 | 16 |
2007 | Minnesota | 494 | 2,634 | 5.3 | 22 |
1981 | Kansas City | 610 | 2,633 | 4.3 | 22 |
2011 | Denver | 546 | 2,632 | 4.8 | 11 |
2016 | Buffalo | 492 | 2,630 | 5.3 | 29 |
2003 | Denver | 543 | 2,629 | 4.8 | 20 |
2010 | Kansas City | 556 | 2,627 | 4.7 | 13 |
1983 | Washington | 629 | 2,625 | 4.2 | 30 |
1983 | Pittsburgh | 614 | 2,610 | 4.3 | 17 |
1983 | New England | 538 | 2,605 | 4.8 | 19 |
1979 | Pittsburgh | 561 | 2,603 | 4.6 | 25 |
1980 | Detroit | 572 | 2,599 | 4.5 | 21 |
2009 | Tennessee | 499 | 2,592 | 5.2 | 19 |
1979 | Cardinals | 566 | 2,582 | 4.6 | 24 |
2012 | Seattle | 536 | 2,579 | 4.8 | 16 |
2006 | Pittsburgh | 522 | 2,578 | 4.9 | 32 |
1979 | Oilers | 616 | 2,571 | 4.2 | 24 |
2013 | Philadelphia | 500 | 2,566 | 5.1 | 19 |
2019 | Minnesota (proj.) | 526 | 2,562 | 4.9 | 24 |
2018 | Seattle | 534 | 2,560 | 4.8 | 15 |
2003 | Green Bay | 507 | 2,558 | 5.0 | 18 |
1990 | Philadelphia | 540 | 2,556 | 4.7 | 10 |
2005 | Atlanta | 531 | 2,546 | 4.8 | 17 |
1998 | San Francisco | 491 | 2,544 | 5.2 | 19 |
2006 | Jacksonville | 513 | 2,541 | 5.0 | 23 |
2005 | Denver | 542 | 2,539 | 4.7 | 25 |
1986 | Cincinnati | 521 | 2,533 | 4.9 | 24 |
1978 | Chicago | 634 | 2,526 | 4.0 | 19 |
1986 | Atlanta | 578 | 2,524 | 4.4 | 12 |
1988 | San Francisco | 527 | 2,523 | 4.8 | 18 |
1985 | Washington | 571 | 2,523 | 4.4 | 20 |
2008 | NY Giants | 502 | 2,518 | 5.0 | 19 |
1981 | Philadelphia | 559 | 2,509 | 4.5 | 17 |
2002 | Minnesota | 473 | 2,507 | 5.3 | 26 |
2002 | Miami | 530 | 2,502 | 4.7 | 24 |
—Ian Allan