(01-05-2020, 07:48 PM)Upper Wrote:

(01-05-2020, 07:10 PM)jagibelieve Wrote: The top 4 running teams from this season made the playoffs.

The top 4 passing teams did not.

The myth that having a strong running game is not important in the "modern NFL" is just not true.

First of all, good job letting a one year sample overrule that articles 10 years of data. Logic 101 right there.

Second, I have a feeling you're looking at largely useless overall team stats, and not efficiency stats. Because if you were you would see that the top 4 passing teams (and 8 of the top 10) by passing DVOA did make the playoffs. And the second and third by rushing DVOA did not make it, and only 5 of the top 10 overall.

Third, that article clearly showed that good running teams can win games, sometimes. It looks like if you're among the best rushing teams in the league you have about a 50/50 chance of being a winning team.

Whatever.

If you're among one of the 32 teams in the NFL you pretty much have a 50/50 chance of being a winning team.

The game hasn't changed much over the last 20 or so years.  The problem is that fans want to see "exciting" games with long passes and lots of scoring.  A "slug it out" running/defensive low scoring kind of game bores too many people, though those are some of the best games.

Again, my response to Neverrite Seldomrite was pointing out that having a strong running game is important in the "modern NFL".  The key is to have at least a "decent" passing game to supplement the running game.  The Titans are a very good example of this.

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