Inside number: Top running teams are winning more

0

The best running teams are winning far more often this season and the most prolific passing teams are losing much more.

Baltimore (11-2), San Francisco (11-2), Seattle (10-3), Minnesota (9-4) and Buffalo (9-4) are ranked Nos. 1-5 in average yards rushing per game. Their combined record is 50-15.

Here’s the combined record and winning percentage for the five top rushing teams since 2015:

2019: 50-15, .769

2018: 51-29, .638

2017: 54-26, .675

2016: 42-38, .525

2015: 50-30, .625

Dallas (6-7), Tampa Bay (6-7), Atlanta (4-9), Kansas City (9-4) and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-8) are ranked Nos. 1-5 in average yards passing per game. They are 30-35.

Here’s the combined record and winning percentage for the five top passing teams since 2015:

2019: 30-35, .462

2018: 46-33-1, .581

2017: 51-29, .638

2016: 51-28-1, .644

2015: 46-34, .575

ACTION JACKSON

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is 23 yards away from breaking Michael Vick’s single-season record for quarterbacks. Vick had 1,039 in 2006.

LOCKED IN

Broncos quarterback Drew Lock became the first rookie in the Super Bowl era to pass for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in his first road start in Denver’s 38-24 win at Houston.

OVERLOOKED

Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay is the third undrafted player with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his first two seasons since 1967.

OVERLOOKED II

Chargers Austin Ekeler had 101 yards rushing and 112 yards receiving in a 45-10 win over Jacksonville. He joins Arian Foster, Priest Holmes and Pierre Thomas as the only undrafted running backs to have 100 yards rushing and 100 receiving in a single game since 1967. Ekeler’s eight TD receptions already are the most by an undrafted running back.

DUAL THREAT

49ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders had seven receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown and threw a 35-yard touchdown pass in San Francisco’s 48-46 win at New Orleans. Sanders joined Walter Payton, LaDainian Tomlinson and Odell Beckham Jr. as the only non-quarterbacks since 1970 to have a TD catch and TD pass in multiple games in their career.

CHASING PEYTON

Drew Brees and Tom Brady are closing in on Peyton Manning’s career record for TD passes. Manning had 539. Brees has 537. Brady has 536. Brees last week threw five TD passes for the 11th time in his career.

R-TANN

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed 21 of 27 passes (77.8%) for 391 yards and three touchdowns with one interception for a 140.4 passer rating in the Tennessee’s 42-21 win at Oakland. Tannehill joined Aaron Rodgers as the only players to complete at least 75% of their passes with a passer rating of 130 or higher in three consecutive games in a single season in league history.

JAMEIS JAMS

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston became the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for 450 yards and four TDs and run for a score in the same game. Norm Van Brocklin did it in 1951 and Billy Volek did so in 2004.

MATTY ICE

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan reached 50,000 yards passing in his 186th career game. Only Drew Brees did it faster, in 183 games.

AP’S CHASE

Redskins running back Adrian Peterson joined Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith as the only players with 14,000 yards rushing and 100 rushing TDs.

HUNTING QBS

Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter became the youngest player, at 25 years and 40 days old, to reach 50 career sacks. The stat became official in 1982.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/12/web1_124062150-bf9fb26ff74d49b7b557fafbb7e97d7c.jpgDenver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 20-7. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/12/web1_124062150-c6b77a18f61f4655b6eb5b5482ddc5c1.jpgMinnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 20-7. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

By ROB MAADDI

AP Pro Football Writer

No posts to display