Watch Cincinnati Bengals vs Carolina Panthers free live stream

RELATED CONTENT:

Analysis: The NFL is still a passing league despite the early rise of running

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

The NFL is not returning to old-school football.

Even though rushing yards have increased and passing numbers have decreased in the first three weeks of the season, it is still too early to speak of a new trend.

“It’s still early with the sample size,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “But we’ve looked into it because it’s noticeable and it makes a really big difference. But we’ll continue to keep an eye on it and try to be efficient on offense. Hit your explosive plays. Take care of the football. These things will never change. Don’t give up sacks.”

NFL teams are running an average of 119.5 yards per game, compared to 112.7 last season. But the league average was 121.6 yards per game in 2022. In fact, the teams are no longer running; They simply have more success. The average rushing attempts per team per game this season through Week 4 is 26.9, up from 26.8 last year.

Twenty players are on track for a 1,000-yard rushing season. Twelve players have accomplished that feat in 2023, up from 16 in 2022. There were just seven in 2021, the first year the NFL played 17 games in the regular season.

Five teams averaged 150 yards per game and 13 averaged 125. Only the Baltimore Ravens averaged over 150 yards in 2023 and nine teams averaged 125.

One reason running backs have more success is that more defenses are designed to stop the pass. They use lighter, more athletic linebackers and play two-high safeties. Attacks can be physical against these defensive groups and attacks on the ground.

“You always try to keep the defense honest and they answer the same thing back, so it’s a little bit of a cat-and-mouse game as far as the number of people in the box,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “It (the running game) was productive, so we got good, positive yards from it.”

Even with Patrick Mahomes under center, Kansas City ranks just 12th in passing and 15th in rushing this season.

Overall, teams are averaging 201.2 yards per game, compared to 218.9 last year. Those are the fewest yards since 2003, when the season average was 200.4.

Seventeen teams averaged 200 passing yards per game, compared to 22 last season. Ten teams averaged 225, compared to 16 last year. Only the Cowboys and 49ers average more than 250 yards per game. Last season, five teams reached that total.

Once the defense adjusts and starts taking away the run again, passing yards should increase.

“While I think the sample size is small right now, there has been a shift,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said of the run-pass ratio. “Statistically speaking, I think teams are playing football more intensively than maybe two years ago. So yeah, I think you’re seeing a slight shift in the process because it’s difficult to throw the ball back and forth against some of these defenses and the way they play, and they make you earn it and they put up a lot the quarterback be able to complete seven, eight balls per drive for six to nine drives per game.

“We all understand the philosophy of what that means, and that’s why I think the run game is probably more in vogue now at this early point in the season than it has been in recent years. “I think the numbers would back that up.”

Another reason passing numbers are declining beyond defensive strategy is the inexperience of quarterbacks. The average age of starting QBs in Week 1 was 27.6, making them the youngest in the Super Bowl era. In 2020, the average age was 29.5 years. Since then, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger have retired.

In addition, injuries may have contributed to the decline in passing numbers so far. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, who led the NFL in yards passing, missed a start. Green Bay’s Jordan Love missed two games. Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson didn’t play.

NFL teams pay quarterbacks a lot of money — Dak Prescott makes $60 million a season with Dallas and 15 others make at least $40 million — to win games with the football. Wide receivers are paid — 22 of them earn at least $20 million per season — to catch passes and make big plays. It’s a transition league.

The numbers will increase. It’s just a matter of time.

Prescott (221) and Daniel Jones (281 yards) combined for 502 yards in the Cowboys’ 20-15 win over the Giants on Thursday night. The two teams ran for a total of 106 yards.

The change has already begun.

___

AP Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker contributed to this report.

The Associated Press contributed to this article