With the way the game keeps evolving, I think we’ll see plenty of easy short completions this year. That’s the direction the game is headed.
In the last 20 years, 24 teams have completed at least 68 percent of their passes in a season. Remarkably, almost half of those teams (11) have come from the last two years.
I’ve got them highlighted below, with the teams from last year in bold and the teams from 2018 tagged with black dots.
Drew Brees (pictured) has been the leader of this group.
OFFENSES COMPLETING 68 PERCENT | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Team | Pct |
2018 | •New Orleans | 73.4% |
2017 | New Orleans | 72.0% |
2019 | New Orleans | 71.9% |
2011 | New Orleans | 71.3% |
2018 | •Philadelphia | 70.5% |
2016 | Minnesota | 70.4% |
2019 | Oakland | 70.2% |
2018 | •Minnesota | 70.1% |
2016 | New Orleans | 70.0% |
2016 | Atlanta | 69.6% |
2015 | Washington | 69.5% |
2013 | San Diego | 69.5% |
2009 | New Orleans | 69.5% |
2018 | •Atlanta | 69.4% |
2019 | San Francisco | 69.2% |
2014 | New Orleans | 69.2% |
2015 | New Orleans | 69.0% |
2014 | Dallas | 68.9% |
2007 | New England | 68.8% |
2004 | Minnesota | 68.8% |
2001 | St. Louis | 68.8% |
2018 | •Oakland | 68.7% |
2012 | Atlanta | 68.6% |
2019 | Minnesota | 68.5% |
2013 | New Orleans | 68.5% |
2006 | Houston | 68.4% |
2012 | Denver | 68.4% |
2013 | Denver | 68.3% |
2018 | •Houston | 68.2% |
2009 | Minnesota | 68.2% |
2011 | Green Bay | 68.1% |
2015 | Seattle | 68.1% |
2010 | New Orleans | 68.1% |
2018 | •LA Chargers | 68.0% |
While completions are going up, however, it’s rare to see many teams trying to consistently push the ball downfield for long gains.
In the same 20-year period, 33 teams have averaged at least 13 yards per pass completion in a season. Only four of those teams have come from the last two years. The Bucs and Titans led the way in this area last year (Tampa Bay gunning it in Bruce Arians’ offense, while Tennessee using Derrick Henry to set up deep balls off play action.)
It’s just a different game now.
AVERAGING 13 YARDS PER COMPLETION | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Team | YPC |
2013 | Philadelphia | 14.2 |
2012 | Carolina | 13.8 |
2011 | NY Giants | 13.7 |
2011 | Green Bay | 13.7 |
2005 | Pittsburgh | 13.6 |
2015 | Arizona | 13.5 |
2004 | Denver | 13.5 |
2014 | Cleveland | 13.4 |
2019 | Tampa Bay | 13.4 |
2004 | Indianapolis | 13.4 |
2008 | Carolina | 13.4 |
2006 | Philadelphia | 13.3 |
2009 | San Diego | 13.3 |
2012 | Tampa Bay | 13.3 |
2019 | Tennessee | 13.3 |
2018 | •Kansas City | 13.3 |
2001 | Atlanta | 13.3 |
2016 | Atlanta | 13.3 |
2010 | San Diego | 13.2 |
2013 | San Francisco | 13.2 |
2013 | Seattle | 13.1 |
2018 | •Tampa Bay | 13.1 |
2006 | Dallas | 13.1 |
2011 | Carolina | 13.1 |
2011 | New England | 13.1 |
2011 | Oakland | 13.1 |
2009 | Philadelphia | 13.1 |
2010 | Pittsburgh | 13.1 |
2004 | Pittsburgh | 13.0 |
2008 | Atlanta | 13.0 |
2011 | Philadelphia | 13.0 |
2005 | Carolina | 13.0 |
2015 | Tampa Bay | 13.0 |
—Ian Allan