Best rushing offenses in NFL history

Heres's a look at the greatest rushing attacks in NFL history, based upon average yards per attempt. It includes all 32 teams that averaged more than 5.0 YPA over the course of a season, dating back to 1934, the first year that this data is available.

 

The 2007 Vikings, led by rookie phenom Adrian Peterson, finished No. 6 all time, with an average of 5.332 YPA.

 

Click here for a complete wrap-up of the topic. The one big thing that jumps out from this list is that few of these teams were particularly dominant. Only 13 of the 32 teams on the list made the playoffs, just one won an NFL championship and two won AFL championships. This list, in other words, defies the conventional wisdom that running the ball well is a key to success in the NFL. If this conventional wisdom was correct you'd expect the greatest running teams of all time to have shown far more success.

 

By contrast, the great passing teams have been far more successful than the great running teams. 

 

You can also click here for a look at the Top 20 running attacks of the Super Bowl Era.

 

By Kerry Byrne