San Francisco’s running game on Sunday could be the difference. It’s got unusual ability to gobble up big yards on the ground, and it does so despite having a relatively immobile quarterback.
If we set aside quarterbacks and focus just on running backs, in fact, the 49ers had the best running attack in the year. That is, set aside Lamar Jackson, and San Francisco ran for more yards than Baltimore. The 49ers running backs combined for 2,051 rushing yards.
In the last 10 years, only 10 teams have had running backs who’ve combined for more rushing yards. A cynic might fairly point out that exactly none of those teams won Super Bowls – none of the last 29 teams to run for over 1,900 yards (with running backs) even played in one.
But the 49ers have been able to pulverize opponents at times with that running game, usually with Raheem Mostert leading the way. Kansas City, meanwhile, had a bottom-10 run defense in the regular season.
RUSHING BY RUNNING BACKS (last 10 years) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
2010 | Kansas City | 500 | 2,416 | 4.8 | 12 |
2011 | Houston | 509 | 2,346 | 4.6 | 16 |
2014 | Dallas | 472 | 2,287 | 4.8 | 16 |
2012 | Minnesota | 401 | 2,275 | 5.7 | 13 |
2010 | NY Giants | 443 | 2,131 | 4.8 | 17 |
2012 | Kansas City | 441 | 2,113 | 4.8 | 8 |
2018 | Seattle | 451 | 2,092 | 4.6 | 15 |
2012 | New England | 485 | 2,091 | 4.3 | 21 |
2012 | Houston | 480 | 2,083 | 4.3 | 18 |
2012 | Seattle | 430 | 2,076 | 4.8 | 12 |
2019 | San Francisco | 427 | 2,051 | 4.8 | 19 |
2013 | New England | 435 | 2,035 | 4.7 | 19 |
2010 | Houston | 396 | 2,024 | 5.1 | 20 |
2013 | Philadelphia | 400 | 2,019 | 5.0 | 14 |
2011 | New Orleans | 402 | 2,017 | 5.0 | 15 |
2017 | New Orleans | 395 | 2,015 | 5.1 | 21 |
2019 | Minnesota | 429 | 2,002 | 4.7 | 17 |
2013 | Buffalo | 456 | 1,999 | 4.4 | 12 |
2016 | Dallas | 426 | 1,997 | 4.7 | 18 |
2010 | Oakland | 422 | 1,967 | 4.7 | 16 |
2019 | Baltimore | 393 | 1,954 | 5.0 | 14 |
2015 | Tampa Bay | 401 | 1,949 | 4.9 | 6 |
2016 | Buffalo | 382 | 1,948 | 5.1 | 23 |
2010 | Jacksonville | 420 | 1,947 | 4.6 | 9 |
2014 | Baltimore | 402 | 1,936 | 4.8 | 14 |
2014 | Houston | 474 | 1,931 | 4.1 | 10 |
2017 | Jacksonville | 464 | 1,928 | 4.2 | 16 |
2010 | NY Jets | 456 | 1,926 | 4.2 | 9 |
2011 | Denver | 410 | 1,901 | 4.6 | 5 |
2012 | Buffalo | 378 | 1,900 | 5.0 | 10 |
—Ian Allan