The Run/Pass ratio in the NFL is a statistic that betrays the current Eagles plan
by John Kincade There is a lot of discussion about the need for balance in an offense to be successful in the NFL. Honestly that is a talking point that…
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 16: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
by John Kincade
There is a lot of discussion about the need for balance in an offense to be successful in the NFL. Honestly that is a talking point that needs revising. The amount of passing percentage in the NFL has risen over time, but the totals look like an erratic EKG. Take this quiz and see if this changes your opinion about trying to win by reliance on running the football.
How many NFL teams ran the ball more than 51% in the 2021 season?
In 2021: 1… the Philadelphia Eagles
In 2020: 3
In 2019: 2
Only one team was more than 51%! That was the Eagles at 52.7%. No more than 3 teams have thrown it 51% recently, so the shift in philosophy is dictating how the game is played.
How many NFL teams threw the ball more than 55%?
In 2021: 19
In 2020: 22
In 2019: 24
A 55/45 Pass to Run Ratio is becoming the new norm. Seeing the Eagles go from nearly 53% to 45% run seems too large a gap to adjust in one season.
How many NFL teams threw the ball more than 60%
In 2021: 7
In 2020: 9
In 2019: 10
The last 5 years Super Bowl Champions had a very decided slant. Three of the last five champions have passed over 59% of the time. Considering that championship clubs tend to run the ball a lot in the second half of games where they hold a lead it shows that first half passing numbers are actually closer to 70%+.
2021: Rams - 40.9/59.1
2020: Bucs - 37.1/62.9
2019: Chiefs - 39.4/60.6
2018: Patriots - 45.4/54.6
2017: Eagles - 45.6/54.4
The modern day championship average is 41.7/58.3
The Eagles are looking to move into the contender category. Running the ball 52.7% of the time isn’t going to cut it. How far do we want to see the needle moved this year? I’m hoping they get to passing it about 52% of the time. A jump of almost 5% seems extreme, but it’s the first half passing numbers that need to explode.
You can win in the NFL with a strong running game. What is apparent is that it can’t be what leads you to a championship.
Top 5 Reasons the Eagles Have the Best Fans
by Matt Minarik
Every fanbase in the NFL thinks their team is the best. They tell you things like: “We have more rings than you,” or “We are the loudest”. First off, rings has nothing to do with the fan base and second, every teams' fans are loud in their own way. What most fan bases are lacking is that true passion. Not the “we are in first place now so let’s jump on the bandwagon passion”. It’s the kind of passion that means your teams logo has to be on the very first piece of clothing your newborn baby wears. It’s the kind of passion that even when you have dress up in nice clothes, you still find a way to incorporate your team on your tie or socks. It is that passion where you embrace, defend, and criticize players on your team like they are your family.
Eagles Fans Are Everywhere
No matter where you go or what you do, there is a good chance you will run into an Eagles fan. I am not talking about walking down South Street, I’m talking about being at a grocery store in Georgia and seeing someone wearing a midnight green hat with an Eagles logo or seeing someone with a Brian Westbrook jersey at Taco Bell in the state of Washington. When you see those people, you are automatically connected. You usually start with a common phrase like “Go Birds” and your conversation is off and running. I once talked Eagles with a guy in a Georgia grocery store for about 15 minutes. I do not even know his name, but I know he is an Eagles fan and that’s all that matters.
PASSION, PASSION, PASSION
No fanbase wears their hearts on their sleeves more than Eagles fans. After a loss you would think someone lost a loved one or Fletcher Cox shot their dog. It is painful to see the Eagles lose. Not just because Eagles fans can pinpoint what went wrong but because they have to wait a week before they get to see the Eagles try and redeem themselves. That week is almost like a week in mourning. Philly is known to be tough on their players. It is tough love and the players know it. In an interview prior to the Super Bowl in 2018, Jason Kelce stated Eagles fans are “About as die-hard as they come. They’re tough, blue collar. They’ve booed us as a team”. The knocks Eagles fans get from other fanbases is out of pure jealously.
EAGLES FANS KNOW THEIR STUFF
It is easy to rattle off box score numbers or give vague explanations about why your team sucks or doesn’t, but not other fanbase can breakdown a game or players performance like and Eagles fan can. They don’t forget either. I know all teams have their smart ones and there are some Eagles fans out there that might leave a little to be desired but overall, Eagles fans are at the top. In five years if Jalen Hurts underthrows DeVonta Smith by 10 yards down the sideline, you better believe Eagles fans are going to point out exactly when he did that during the 2022 season. Talking to fans of other teams is another way to know who has the brains and who doesn’t. There is nothing more painful that having a debate with a Cowboys fan and all they can talk about are the rings they got back in the 1900’s. At that point, the conversation is over because you know nothing of substance will come out of that persons mouth.
EAGLES FANS WILL NEVER TURN THEIR BACK
It does not matter how good or bad the Eagles are. Eagles fans will always be there. Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report said it perfectly “Through thick and thin, we care, we show up and we don't ignore our team. We're a lot friendlier when they win, make no mistake about it, but you can guarantee that we're still watching whether they're 13-3 or 3-13.” During the rough times we might be tougher on them, but you will never see an empty stadium or a city of Philadelphia where people are not wearing green. There is no Eagles bandwagon. Some people might support a little harder during the good times, but I would say about 90% of the fans are at full throttle every day of the year.
ONLY WE CAN CRITICIZE OUR TEAM
It is the same as your little brother. You can say he is a punk or sucks at basketball but the minute someone else does, the gloves are off. Their point may be valid, but it is not their point to be made because it’s not their brother. Same goes with the Eagles. We can say so-and-so is not good, but Mr. Cowboys fan better keep his mouth shut. Eagles fans are very protective of their players, their team, and their city.
