The last 20 Super bowl winners averaged a 16th ranked run offense. That tells me that having a good running game doesn't give you any advantage. Or the ranking would be higher than average.

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Good running game + mediocre passing offense = wash.
Glimmer of a running game + good passing offense = advantage.

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A running game isn't about being totally run based.. it would cause the opposite of a pass heavy offense.

Over numerous threads, we have established that the league is a passing league with the rules set to enhance the pass.

But forgetting about he run is not going to help your offense become more explosive. Running the ball does a ton to help your offensive line and dictates to the defense enough to set up the passing game.

Defenses today are fast enough to take away one aspect or another.. if you can't run or can't pass, you become one dimensional and easier to contain.

Why does it make a difference in the playoffs.. it has little to do with the weather.

Defense does win championships, and typically in the playoffs the better defenses are seen week in and out. Sooner or later a one dimensional offense is going to go up against a defense that effectively can take their bread and butter away and force you out of it... thus you are allowing them to dictate your offense to you.. starting a downward spiral of production.

If you can show balance to a defense.. they can't sit on one aspect or another of your offense.. which keeps your playbook, the entire playbook open for your disposal.

We have proven against two playoff offenses that we can run effectively enough to keep them off balance in the 2 of the last three weeks..

I am not saying we can't win without balance.. just it decreases your likelihood of winning because it makes it easier on the opposing defense. And the caliber of defenses in the playoffs makes it even harder.

Stats don't tell the story of the gameflow and reaction of the defense to your actions on offense..

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You don't even have to be more than mildly productive. Just disciplined.

Run half the time, they will expect you to run half the time. Play action works better when they think you might actually run.

Mix up draws and play action with the throws and the run plays. Fakes only work if it actually fools them.

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Simply put.. exactly... you aren't wasting plays by running the ball..you are keeping the defense honest.

That said if you can put yourself in 2nd and 6 verse 2nd and 10.. you just put that much more offensive into play.

Running the ball isn't always about production.. it is about playing the game of "chess" with the defense to keep them guessing and off balance.

Nothing more. +1

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The TD in the Bears game was set up by running it into the line with Kuhn on the previous trip to the goal line.

That is why it worked. They believed we were going to jam Kuhn into the line.

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