Broncos are playing Bills in one of the matchups this weekend, and I notice that these teams are almost opposites when it comes to passing to running backs. Buffalo is dramatically more effective in that regard.
The Broncos use their running backs a lot more as pass catchers. Only three teams completed more passes to the position. Buffalo was below-average in that area.
But the Bills use their backs more effectively. Their completions to the position averaged 10.9 yards – a yard more than any other team. Denver, on the other hand, was down at 5.5 yards per catch, next-to-last (ahead of only Carolina).
So the Bills, despite completing 28 fewer passes to running backs than Denver, finished with 206 more receiving yards. Buffalo also connected on a league-high 8 TD passes to running backs, while Denver had 3 such plays.
| RUNNING BACKS: YARDS PER CATCH | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Tgt | No | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD |
| Buffalo | 82 | 67 | 731 | 10.9 | 63 | 8 |
| Detroit | 110 | 95 | 945 | 9.9 | 54 | 4 |
| San Francisco | 91 | 63 | 614 | 9.7 | 40 | 2 |
| Baltimore | 81 | 65 | 626 | 9.6 | 28 | 6 |
| Washington | 79 | 65 | 564 | 8.7 | 34 | 0 |
| Kansas City | 94 | 70 | 603 | 8.6 | 36 | 1 |
| Tampa Bay | 121 | 107 | 894 | 8.4 | 42 | 7 |
| Houston | 95 | 63 | 525 | 8.3 | 37 | 3 |
| NY Jets | 115 | 85 | 706 | 8.3 | 57 | 5 |
| Philadelphia | 69 | 53 | 429 | 8.1 | 43 | 2 |
| Chicago | 77 | 63 | 505 | 8.0 | 42 | 0 |
| Green Bay | 72 | 59 | 462 | 7.8 | 49 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 109 | 86 | 673 | 7.8 | 32 | 1 |
| Arizona | 95 | 83 | 645 | 7.8 | 44 | 2 |
| Miami | 131 | 114 | 876 | 7.7 | 39 | 6 |
| Minnesota | 86 | 73 | 548 | 7.5 | 25 | 4 |
| New Orleans | 135 | 97 | 728 | 7.5 | 50 | 2 |
| Seattle | 110 | 92 | 660 | 7.2 | 32 | 2 |
| NY Giants | 88 | 69 | 485 | 7.0 | 23 | 1 |
| Atlanta | 85 | 74 | 519 | 7.0 | 29 | 1 |
| Jacksonville | 83 | 58 | 404 | 7.0 | 28 | 0 |
| Las Vegas | 112 | 89 | 610 | 6.9 | 31 | 4 |
| Dallas | 86 | 67 | 457 | 6.8 | 24 | 3 |
| Cleveland | 87 | 63 | 429 | 6.8 | 26 | 1 |
| Cincinnati | 101 | 85 | 568 | 6.7 | 34 | 5 |
| Indianapolis | 65 | 45 | 296 | 6.6 | 25 | 2 |
| New England | 83 | 66 | 433 | 6.6 | 57 | 2 |
| Tennessee | 95 | 73 | 473 | 6.5 | 43 | 1 |
| LA Chargers | 60 | 47 | 298 | 6.3 | 38 | 2 |
| LA Rams | 55 | 47 | 280 | 6.0 | 26 | 2 |
| Denver | 117 | 95 | 525 | 5.5 | 34 | 3 |
| Carolina | 90 | 71 | 340 | 4.8 | 33 | 2 |
I have mentioned previously that Jaleel McLaughlin averaged only 3.2 yards on his 24 receptions. That’s the lowest average by anyone with 20-plus catches in NFL history. The Broncos did better with their other backs, but they were also below average, with Javonte Williams at 6.7 on his 52 catches and Audric Estime at 27 yards on 5 catches.
The Bills seem to do a better job of drawing up plays where their running backs are getting the ball in their hands with room to run. Especially their backup running backs. Ty Johnson (pictured) averaged 15.8 yards on his 18 catches in the regular season, with 3 TDs. Only once in the last 30 years has a running back caught as many passes and finished with a higher average.
Another Buffalo running back, Ray Davis, averaged 11.1 yards on his 17 catches, also with 3 TDs. Davis and Johnson combined for 6 pass plays that gained over 30 yards. (The Broncos had only one such play.)
Buffalo’s main back, James Cook, wasn’t as explosive, averaging 8.1 catches on his 32 catches. He caught 2 TDs and had 2 other catches over 20 yards.
If Denver is to make a run at pulling an upset, their checklist should include making sure they don’t get gouged for long games and catches by running backs.
—Ian Allan