Jan 4, 2025, 8:43 AM
Jan 4, 2025, 12:00 AM

Cal Baptist faces Seattle U for the first showdown of the season

Provocative
Highlights
  • Since the mid-2010s, the NFL has favored the passing game due to rule changes.
  • After a period of decline, running backs are experiencing a significant resurgence this season.
  • This revival may challenge long-standing assumptions about the value of rushing in the league.
Story

The National Football League has seen a significant shift in its gameplay dynamics over the past several years, particularly in the role of running backs. Historically, the NFL has favored the passing game, especially since the mid-2010s, partly due to rule changes aimed at making the game more exciting and safe, that have led to record highs in passing offense and a decrease in rushing yards. This trend was evident during the 2015 season, where only seven players surpassed 1,000 rushing yards, marking the lowest totals since 1999, but it has undergone a notable transformation as the game progresses. As of the current season, with one weekend left in the regular schedule, the number of running backs surpassing the 1,000-yard mark has drastically increased, with projections suggesting that 20 or more players may reach this milestone. This trend is surprising to many, as it contradicts the prevailing notion in football analytics that star running backs are overrated. For years, analysts have posited that the efficiency of passing makes running plays less valuable, with many teams successfully deploying a committee approach with average backs. An example of this is the Kansas City Chiefs, who since 2017 have managed to appear in four Super Bowls and won three, relying on a mix of lesser-known and late-round drafted running backs without a single 1,000-yard rusher. Another team, the San Francisco 49ers, prior to acquiring elite rusher Christian McCaffrey in 2022, cycled through several average running backs without achieving notable success in the rushing department, which illustrates the paradigm that has existed in the league for some time. Now, however, with a renewed focus on the rushing game, teams are adjusting their strategies to incorporate more runs into their offensive schemes. This resurgence could reverberate throughout the league, challenging the long-standing beliefs about the value of rushing compared to passing. While the NFL has historically been a pass-dominant league, the return of the running game places greater importance on the talents and contributions of running backs. As teams embrace this change, it raises questions about the evolving strategies and the future of the game, hinting that the running game's revival may be substantive, rather than a temporary spike through anomalies in statistics.

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