Factoid
Are NFL offenses changing? It sure looks that way.
The Colts and Chargers are two teams that among the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl in Miami. They’re the top 2 seeds in the AFC.
Yet, those teams finished last and next-to-last in rushing in the regular season.
In the past, it seemed like a poor running game almost automatically disqualified a team from making it to the championship game. Now, it seems like the ground game might not be all that important. It truly is a passing league now.
Look at the chart below. Specifically, look at the Super Bowl winners of the ‘90s, versus the Super Bowl winners of the current decade.
In the ‘90s, all 10 championships ranked in the top 11 in rushing. The only team ranking outside the top 8 were the Packers.
But in the current decade, only four Super Bowl champions so far have rank in the top 12 in rushing. Three of the current decade’s Super Bowl champs have actually ranked in the bottom 10 in rushing, and that’s a number that will grow if the Colts or Chargers win in Miami.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS / RUNNING THE BALL
The rushing rank (by yards) of the Super Bowl champions in the last 20 years.
Rank Year Team
23rd 2008 Steelers
4th 2007 Giants
18th 2006 Colts
5th 2005 Steelers
7th 2004 Patriots
27th 2003 Patriots
27th 2002 Buccaneers
13th 2001 Patriots
5th 2000 Ravens
5th 1999 Rams
2nd 1998 Broncos
4th 1997 Broncos
11th 1996 Packers
2nd 1995 Cowboys
6th 1994 49ers
2nd 1993 Cowboys
5th 1992 Cowboys
7th 1991 Washington
8th 1990 Giants
—Ian Allan
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