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NFL Notebook, Week 11: Browns-Steelers incident, Tua injury, awards and more

By Zach Cohen

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns hits Quarterback Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers over the head with his helmet during the second half in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns hits Quarterback Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers over the head with his helmet during the second half in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 17: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs in a fourth quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 17: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs in a fourth quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Running to a Championship

Consider this my mini running back series, I guess. Last week, I analyzed the downfall of the workhorse running back. I pointed out how it feels like each top running back only has a few years among the NFL’s best before they slowly fall off the face of the Earth.

This week, it was finally time for me to point out a strange, maybe even scary fact about winning: You don’t need a top running back.

I looked back at previous Super Bowls and found that since 2007, only three winning teams had a 1000-yard rusher: 2007 Giants (Brandon Jacobs), 2013 Ravens (Ray Rice) and 2014 Seahawks (Marshawn Lynch). Interestingly enough, you can make the argument that all four of those teams were led by elite defenses.

Checking the teams that reached the last three postseasons, I zoned in on who their primary running backs were. I found that last season, three playoff teams had a 1000-yard rusher. In 2018, that number was six teams and in 2017, it was also six. However, take a look at how many teams were in the top half of total rushing the season they made the playoffs:

2018-19: 10-of-12 (7 in top 10)
2017-18: 11-of-12 (9 in top 10)
2016-17: 8-of-12 (6 in top 10)

Of course, those numbers were likely inflated by positive game scripts, so I looked at yards per attempt. While those numbers were more spread out than total rushing yards, it still spelled the same story: Teams that run the ball the best, do the best.

Nonetheless, I still wouldn’t advise a team to go out and find a singular, do-it-all workhorse running back. Sure, it’s great for fantasy purposes, but look at the best running backs in the NFL in recent years.

Between Ezekiel Elliot, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, David Johnson, Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell and even Adrian Peterson, they have one career Super Bowl trip and 12 trips to the postseason across 26 total seasons when they were their teams leading back.

Combining this research with my research from last week, it only makes sense that a team utilizes a young, cheap backfield with multiple, versatile players. The Patriots, Eagles and Falcons were the best teams to do it recently, as they never relied on one main running back to fo everything.

In essence, NFL teams should invest in their running backs to a certain extent. You don’t need a superstar running back to reach a Super Bowl, but you will need a great rushing offense.

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