In December the running game dominates

[T-RO]

In December the running game dominates----not!

I am calling out some of the silliness of the dinosoar-run-loving posters on this forum who assured me that "come December it will be running that wins football games"

300+ passing is the norm for the winners in the NOW-NFL.

Today:
Pittsburg 472 of 537 yards through the air. Big Ben 29/4 503 yrds 3TD 0 INT
Green Bay 383 of 436 yards through the air. Rogers 26/48 383 yards 3TD 0 INT
Philly 306 of 422 yards through the air. McNabb 21/36 306 yards
Colts 308 of 369 yards through the air. Manning 23/30 308 4 TDs 1 INT
Cinci 293 of 407 yards through the air. Palmer 27/40 314 yards
Chargers 296 of 366 yards through air. Rivers 24/38 308
Balt 222 of 346 through air. Flacco 21/29 234
Houston 367of 419 yards through air; Schaub 28/40 367
Cowboys 294 of 439 yards through the air; Romo 22/34 312
Titans 236 of 364 yards through the air; Young 14/27 236 3tds
Dolphins 347 of 468 yards through the air; Henne 29/46 349

The teams that were run heavy or were feeble with passing games generally lost--or are already hopeless irrelevant:
Raiders, Tampa Bay, Jets, Rams, Buff, etc.

 

[Bluestang]

In December the running game dominates----not!

I am calling out some of the silliness of the dinosoar-run-loving posters on this forum who assured me that "come December it will be running that wins football games"

300+ passing is the norm for the winners in the NOW-NFL.

Today:
Pittsburg 472 of 537 yards through the air. Big Ben 29/4 503 yrds 3TD 0 INT
Green Bay 383 of 436 yards through the air. Rogers 26/48 383 yards 3TD 0 INT
Philly 306 of 422 yards through the air. McNabb 21/36 306 yards
Colts 308 of 369 yards through the air. Manning 23/30 308 4 TDs 1 INT
Cinci 293 of 407 yards through the air. Palmer 27/40 314 yards
Chargers 296 of 366 yards through air. Rivers 24/38 308
Balt 222 of 346 through air. Flacco 21/29 234
Houston 367of 419 yards through air; Schaub 28/40 367
Cowboys 294 of 439 yards through the air; Romo 22/34 312
Titans 236 of 364 yards through the air; Young 14/27 236 3tds
Dolphins 347 of 468 yards through the air; Henne 29/46 349

The teams that were run heavy or were feeble with passing games generally lost--or are already hopeless irrelevant:
Raiders, Tampa Bay, Jets, Rams, Buff, etc.

Those are some fancy stats...but how exactly did the Cleveland Browns win against the Pittsburg Steelers last Thursday?

 

[T-RO]

Bluestang you don't prove a point by the exception. You prove a point by the preponderance of the evidence.

The NFL will always have games that are exceptions...and a wind chill of -20 is abnormal even for winter football.

You've mentioned one game...I reference a ton.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Those are some fancy stats...but how exactly did the Cleveland Browns win against the Pittsburg Steelers last Thursday?

The Browns unleashed hell....oh wait.

 

[Temo]

Those are some fancy stats...but how exactly did the Cleveland Browns win against the Pittsburg Steelers last Thursday?

By stopping the pass.

 

[Doomsday101]

Way I see it if you can run and pass effectively you give yourself even a better chance than only being able to do one thing well

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The "running in December" is mostly about the weather getting nasty this time of year. Today it happened to be pretty nice -- I didn't see one game with a lot of rain or, like Bluestang suggested, wind. Brady Quinn won that game he mentioned with, what, 91 yards passing?

If every game were played in a dome or San Diego, the time of year wouldn't matter.

 

[Bluestang]

Bluestang you don't prove a point by the exception. You prove a point by the preponderance of the evidence.

The NFL will always have games that are exceptions...and a wind chill of -20 is abnormal even for winter football.

You've mentioned one game...I reference a ton.

So did Dallas beat NO by running the ball or passing the ball? It sure looked like to me that as a result of an effective running game we were able to setup the play-action. Also with an effective running game Dallas was able to dominate the TOP and keep the Saints O on the sidelines as much as possible.


If anything teams need to demonstrate a balanced attack of running the ball and passing the ball to win ball games. The notion that exclusively passing the ball or running the ball will win ball games is dumb, YOU NEED BOTH!


Just take for example the Eagles - how many games have they lost because they didn't commit to running the ball?

 

[Jimz31]

So did Dallas beat NO by running the ball or passing the ball? It sure looked like to me that as a result of an effective running game we were able to setup the play-action. Also with an effective running game Dallas was able to dominate the TOP and keep the Saints O on the sidelines as much as possible.


If anything teams need to demonstrate a balanced attack of running the ball and passing the ball to win ball games. The notion that exclusively passing the ball or running the ball will win ball games is dumb, YOU NEED BOTH!


Just take for example the Eagles - how many games have they lost because they didn't commit to running the ball?

Just look at the Saints....I don't think they had a single RB with 10 rushes...and they got beat because we could just play against the pass.

When both are effective the defense has to worry about what is coming next.

 

[T-RO]

So did Dallas beat NO by running the ball or passing the ball? It sure looked like to me that as a result of an effective running game we were able to setup the play-action.

Wrong. Dallas does by far it's most damage via draw plays---those are the opposite of play action. You are using the PASS to set up the Run.

Passing dominates the NFL-NOW game. Dinosaurs just can't keep up with the facts.

 

[T-RO]

Just take for example the Eagles - how many games have they lost because they didn't commit to running the ball?

The Eagles I believe have won more games over the past decade than any NFC team. So tell me your point again?

 

[Doomsday101]

The Eagles I believe have won more games over the past decade than any NFC team. So tell me your point again?

Point is when facing top quality teams in post season there are times you need to be able to run the ball and the inability to run when they have to has hurt Philly in the post season which is why despite the playoff appearances they have yet to win the SB and only made it once. I do agree passing is important but teams who can show some balance in running and passing become harder to defend

 

[Bluestang]

Wrong. Dallas does by far it's most damage via draw plays---those are the opposite of play action. You are using the PASS to set up the Run.

Passing dominates the NFL-NOW game. Dinosaurs just can't keep up with the facts.

LOL...just stop please...

 

[T-RO]

QB Rating is the #1 all-telling stat in football. If you can throw YOU DOMINATE

Current QB Ratings statistically
1 Drew Brees #1 (Team: 13-1)
2 Brett Favre #2 (Team: 11-2)
3 Phillip Rivers #3 (Team: 11-3)
4 Aaron Rodgers #4 (Team: 9-5)
5 Peyton Manning #5 (Team: 14-0)
Top 5 quarterbacks cumulative team record: 58-11

If you can run the ball----so what. It's largely irrelevant.
Current RB Yardage Leaders
1 Chris Johnson (Team: 7-7)
2 Stephen Jackson (Team: 1-13)
3 Maurice Jones-Drew (Team: 7-7)
4 Thomas Jones (Team: 7-7)
5 Adrian Peterson (11-2)
Top 5 running backs cumulative team record: 33-36

Slam the door. Debate over.

 

[T-RO]

I do agree passing is important but teams who can show some balance in running and passing become harder to defend

I agree if you are willing to concede the new balance is
60% passing
40% rushing

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree if you are willing to concede the new balance is
60% passing
40% rushing

I think that can vary depending on who you are playing and what they are willing to give up. If they are going to drop a lot of people into coverage and leave the running lanes open then I'm going run the ball down their throat until they start bringing players up to the line of scrimmage. I have no problem with the 60/40 ratio you give but I think teams who can go out and run when they need to and pass when they need to are the teams most likely to go all the way. I think great teams have the ability to beat you many different ways

 

[T-RO]

The "running in December" is mostly about the weather getting nasty this time of year. Today it happened to be pretty nice -- I didn't see one game with a lot of rain or, like Bluestang suggested, wind. Brady Quinn won that game he mentioned with, what, 91 yards passing?

If every game were played in a dome or San Diego, the time of year wouldn't matter.

Choclab...is that all you got? You repeat what another poster referenced...one single home game in Cleveland when the wind chill was twenty below.

Is that what you build your argument on?

I am an a man of modernity, of football science. What does every trend line tell you? What are the elite teams doing?

Leave the shadows of football tradition and THINK AFRESH!

 

[T-RO]

I think great teams have the ability to beat you many different ways

Doomsday, of course having multiple super powers helps!

But last year's Super Bowl featured the Steelers (23nd in rushing) versus the Cardinals (32nd in rushing).

 

[khiladi]

Successful play-calling has nothing to do with ratios and everything to do with keeping the defense off balance, thus the idea of successful play-action... These types of ratios don't establish any proof regarding winning...

 

[Doomsday101]

Doomsday, of course having multiple super powers helps!

But last year's Super Bowl featured the Steelers (23nd in rushing) versus the Cardinals (32nd in rushing).

and the one before that saw a Giants team who ran the ball alot. Last years outcome was not the turning point of how to win in the NFL. I would say one of the best passing teams has been the colts but they have 1 SB ring to show for it. The NFL trend is not a one year deal. As I said I agree the passing game is important but I also think you have got to be able to run the ball.