If you thought the running games were pretty feeble in Week 1, you’re not wrong. Teams averaged under 93 rushing yards. In the last 15 years, that’s never happened before. I don’t have the numbers from earlier seasons handy, but that might have been the least productive running weekend in the modern history of the league – not worst Week 1, but the worst week period.
Part of this (I think) can be attributed to new restrictions on how much teams are allowed to practice – especially with pads on. I think those kind of practices might be helpful in developing a truly great running game.
It’s also early in the year, and that’s a factor. Defenses tend to be ahead of offenses right now. This can be confirmed by looking at previous seasons. Look at the last 225 weeks of regular-season play. (And here, I’m bending “weeks” into “games” so there are 32-team chunks in each group – with the exception of just 30 teams last week).
Of the 50 most productive running weeks, they include the opening weeks of 12 different seasons.
| 50 WORST RUSHING WEEKS SINCE 2003 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Week | Yards |
| 2017 | • Game 1 | 92.9 |
| 2013 | Game 1 | 93.1 |
| 2015 | Game 11 | 96.7 |
| 2005 | Game 5 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | Game 3 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | Game 1 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | Game 3 | 98.5 |
| 2007 | Game 9 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | Game 7 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | Game 9 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | Game 2 | 99.4 |
| 2008 | Game 7 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | Game 1 | 99.9 |
| 2007 | Game 10 | 99.9 |
| 2016 | Game 4 | 99.9 |
| 2005 | Game 2 | 100.2 |
| 2003 | Game 1 | 100.5 |
| 2016 | Game 1 | 100.8 |
| 2008 | Game 5 | 102.1 |
| 2014 | Game 6 | 102.3 |
| 2016 | Game 10 | 102.3 |
| 2016 | Game 5 | 102.4 |
| 2015 | Game 9 | 102.4 |
| 2007 | Game 11 | 103.8 |
| 2016 | Game 11 | 103.8 |
| 2013 | Game 2 | 103.8 |
| 2005 | Game 1 | 103.9 |
| 2010 | Game 2 | 104.5 |
| 2011 | Game 10 | 104.6 |
| 2016 | Game 8 | 105.0 |
| 2005 | Game 12 | 105.2 |
| 2010 | Game 8 | 105.2 |
| 2011 | Game 1 | 105.3 |
| 2015 | Game 1 | 105.3 |
| 2015 | Game 10 | 105.5 |
| 2010 | Game 1 | 105.6 |
| 2014 | Game 14 | 105.6 |
| 2007 | Game 7 | 105.7 |
| 2008 | Game 8 | 105.9 |
| 2006 | Game 6 | 106.3 |
| 2004 | Game 3 | 106.4 |
| 2008 | Game 11 | 106.6 |
| 2009 | Game 5 | 107.1 |
| 2007 | Game 13 | 107.1 |
| 2003 | Game 6 | 107.3 |
| 2009 | Game 4 | 107.3 |
| 2005 | Game 10 | 107.5 |
| 2012 | Game 6 | 107.5 |
| 2006 | Game 1 | 107.7 |
| 2007 | Game 3 | 107.8 |
If you want to see the big rushing performances, those tend to come late in the year. Of the 50 most productive rushing weeks of the last 15 years, only one game in the opening week of a season.
| 50 BEST RUSHING WEEKS SINCE 2003 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Week | Yards |
| 2008 | Game 16 | 136.3 |
| 2006 | Game 13 | 133.7 |
| 2005 | Game 6 | 131.5 |
| 2006 | Game 16 | 130.8 |
| 2009 | Game 7 | 129.8 |
| 2003 | Game 15 | 128.8 |
| 2011 | Game 7 | 128.5 |
| 2003 | Game 13 | 128.4 |
| 2006 | Game 15 | 128.4 |
| 2004 | Game 9 | 127.9 |
| 2003 | Game 14 | 127.8 |
| 2008 | Game 15 | 127.3 |
| 2011 | Game 15 | 127.2 |
| 2008 | Game 10 | 127.2 |
| 2010 | Game 13 | 127.1 |
| 2009 | Game 16 | 126.8 |
| 2006 | Game 12 | 126.6 |
| 2012 | Game 12 | 126.5 |
| 2003 | Game 11 | 126.1 |
| 2013 | Game 8 | 125.7 |
| 2009 | Game 2 | 125.4 |
| 2003 | Game 7 | 124.5 |
| 2012 | Game 5 | 124.2 |
| 2010 | Game 12 | 124.0 |
| 2013 | Game 13 | 123.9 |
| 2008 | Game 6 | 123.6 |
| 2011 | Game 14 | 123.5 |
| 2011 | Game 16 | 123.4 |
| 2004 | Game 4 | 123.2 |
| 2003 | Game 9 | 122.8 |
| 2012 | Game 13 | 122.4 |
| 2011 | Game 4 | 122.3 |
| 2011 | Game 9 | 122.1 |
| 2012 | Game 16 | 122.1 |
| 2007 | Game 15 | 122.0 |
| 2004 | Game 12 | 122.0 |
| 2013 | Game 3 | 121.9 |
| 2008 | Game 1 | 121.4 |
| 2005 | Game 14 | 121.4 |
| 2014 | Game 16 | 121.4 |
| 2009 | Game 9 | 121.3 |
| 2006 | Game 7 | 121.2 |
| 2013 | Game 15 | 121.1 |
| 2011 | Game 11 | 121.1 |
| 2012 | Game 7 | 120.7 |
| 2008 | Game 12 | 120.6 |
| 2009 | Game 15 | 120.6 |
| 2012 | Game 14 | 120.5 |
| 2016 | Game 15 | 120.5 |
| 2004 | Game 15 | 120.2 |
—Ian Allan