Interesting stat: Regular season passing leader has NEVER gone on to win SB

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

[AL_Royalty 489]

That is a crazy stat. It just goes to show that you don't have to be a pass happy monster team to win a title. In fact, it's gonna hurt you in the long run: unless your name is Aaron Rodgers

[Bay 2,003]

I'm willing to guess that most of those guys defenses weren't top notch.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Anybody think there's some meaning behind this, or is it just a weird coincidence? Really cool stat regardless, though.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

That is a crazy stat. It just goes to show that you don't have to be a pass happy monster team to win a title. In fact, it's gonna hurt you in the long run: unless your name is Aaron Rodgers

 

Drew Brees currently has 500 yards on Aaron... lol. Opening up us for another Super Bowl title... muhahaha

[oochymp 2,393]

That is a crazy stat. It just goes to show that you don't have to be a pass happy monster team to win a title. In fact, it's gonna hurt you in the long run: unless your name is Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is currently #4 and 500 yards behind Brees so he should be good, although he has played one less game than two of the three QBs ahead of him, he's still behind Brees and Brady in yards per game, so assuming they continue their current paces he should be good to go. I saw F4E commented on this fact already, but I thought I'd add some context in.

 

Anybody think there's some meaning behind this, or is it just a weird coincidence? Really cool stat regardless, though.

I think there could be some correlation, if you think about it teams are more likely to pass when they're trailing, so it should follow that teams that throw more do so because they're behind on the scoreboard more often which means they're probably not the best teams in the league, but maybe I'm just trying to create a connection, also, I wouldn't be surprised to see this change some time in the near future as we've shifted to much more of a passing league than there's been in the past.

[Thanatos 2,847]

I think there could be some correlation, if you think about it teams are more likely to pass when they're trailing, so it should follow that teams that throw more do so because they're behind on the scoreboard more often which means they're probably not the best teams in the league

 

I could see your reasoning working for teams with passing leaders who didn't make the post-season, but otherwise, not sure that argument holds.

 

For teams that did make the post-season, I think the connection is more like this:

 

The team in question has a great passing attack, obviously. But unless they are absolutely dominant in both phases of the offense, they do not also have a good running-attack- they are one-dimensional on offense. This scheme has worked just fine in the regular season, but in the postseason if one of the teams they play stops their passing attack, they lose because they are one-dimensional on offense. This may have even happened a few times during the regular season as well, but it doesn't matter because the team still went 13-3/12-4, etc. However, in the post-season, all it takes is one loss, one sub-par performance by the passing game, and that team is done.

 

So its not that they're not one of the best teams, it's that they aren't a complete team. They come to rely on that ridiculous passing game pulling them of everything, and if it ever falters, they don't have the tools to pull out a win without it.

Edited November 19, 2011 by Thanatos19

[oochymp 2,393]

I could see your reasoning working for teams with passing leaders who didn't make the post-season, but otherwise, not sure that argument holds.

yeah, I'm sure it's a combination of factors, the main reason I made the point I did was because 22 of the passing leaders didn't make the playoffs, although 11 of those were in the first 13 Super Bowl seasons when passing wasn't a major thing, and it clearly isn't playing out this season as 4 of the top five passers are on division leading teams and only two of eight division leaders don't boast a top ten passer (one of which being Oakland who switched QBs and Palmer's average through two starts would put him at #4), so I think your point about being one dimensional plays into it as I doubt there have been many occasions when the #1 passing team is even near the top in rushing, and I think it also shows that there is some truth in the idea that you have to be able to run the ball to win in the playoffs.

Edited November 19, 2011 by oochymp

[blotsfan 2,112]

I think its just because teams pass more when they play from behind. If you're regularly behind, chances are you arent gonna win the super bowl.

[AL_Royalty 489]

I think there could be some correlation, if you think about it teams are more likely to pass when they're trailing, so it should follow that teams that throw more do so because they're behind on the scoreboard more often which means they're probably not the best teams in the league

 

 

So its not that they're not one of the best teams, it's that they aren't a complete team. They come to rely on that ridiculous passing game pulling them of everything, and if it ever falters, they don't have the tools to pull out a win without it.

If you look at the guys who have done this just since 2,000, You're both right. Peyton did it twice, who has NEVER had a running game. When Warner did it, they had Marshal Faulk but couldn't stop a virgin from scoring. Brady did it twice, but the Pats have always ran by committee and have never been that overpowering with it. Brees was also RB by committee and relied on a defense that created turnovers. When the turnovers stopped, so did the Saints. Also, lolRich Gannon, lolTexans defense (Matt Schaub), and Phillip Rivers last season is just lolChargersFail.

 

As for Culpepper, lolthatguy. Fluke year.

 

See: both right.

[Patriots2994 43]

Surprising fact. I would have thought Montana was the regular season passing leader in at least one of the four seasons they got a title but I guess not. This just goes to show that an offense that relies on the pass can't get a title without a run game and/or defense. Brady won his three titles with seasons throwing 28ish TD's, not 40+. I really wish the Patriots could become the tough team of the early 2000's who could run the ball and play some physical defense. That combined with a dominant Brady would be unstoppable.

[BigBen07 285]

Wow, that is an interesting stat.

 

I have to agree with these posts. Just because you have a great pass offense doesn't mean you'll win it all.

[Patriots2994 43]

Wow, that is an interesting stat.

 

I have to agree with these posts. Just because you have a great pass offense doesn't mean you'll win it all.

 

The Steelers sure have proved that defense wins championships!

[BwareDWare94 723]

That's because the passing leader is always the product of a bad defense and nonexistent running game.

[funnygunny 521]

THROW MOAR RODGERS.

[RazorStar 4,025]

For those curious in how the real passing leaders fare (Going by Yards per Attempt), here you go.

 

YPA Leaders:

2010: Philip Rivers (no Playoffs) 2nd best won the super bowl

2009: Philip Rivers (Loss Div) 3rd best won the super bowl

2008: Philip Rivers (Loss Div) 17th best won the super bowl

2007: Tom Brady (Super Bowl Loss) 26th best won the super bowl

2006: Tony Romo (Loss WildCard) 4th best won super bowl

2005: Ben Roethlisberger (Won Super Bowl)

2004: Peyton Manning (loss Div) 9th best won super bowl

2003: Steve McNair (loss Div) 11th best won super bowl

2002: Marc Bulger (Missed playoffs) 5th best won super bowl

2001: Kurt Warner (Lost Super Bowl) 16th best won super bowl

2000: Kurt Warner (Lost Wildcard) 21st best won super bowl

1999: Kurt Warner (Won Super Bowl)

1998: Chris Chandler (Lost Super Bowl) 4th best won super bowl

1997: Steve Young (Loss NFC CG) 7th best won super bowl

1996: Mark Brunell (Loss AFC CG) 9th best won super bowl

1995: Jim Harbaugh (Loss AFC CG) 4th best won super bowl

1994: Steve Young (Won Super Bowl)

1993: Steve Young (Lost NFC CG) 2nd best won super bowl

1992: Steve Young (Lost NFC CG) 8th best won super bowl

1991: Steve Young (Missed Playoffs) 2nd best won super bowl

1990: Jay Schroeder (Lost AFC CG) 9th best won super bowl*

1989: Joe Montana (Won Super Bowl)

1988: Boomer Esiason (Lost Super Bowl) 8th best won super bowl

1987: Wade Wilson (Lost NFC CG) 15th best won super bowl**

1986: Boomer Esiason (Missed Playoffs) 9th best won super bowl

1985: Dan Fouts (Missed Playoffs) 5th best won super bowl

1984: Dan Marino (Lost Super Bowl) 2nd best won super bowl

1983: Lynn Dickey (Missed Playoffs) 7th best won super bowl

1982: Dan Fouts (Loss Div) 5th best won super bowl

1981: Craig Morton (missed playoffs) 9th best won super bowl

1980: Steve Grogan (missed playoffs) 13th best won super bowl

1979: Richard Todd (missed playoffs) 2nd best won super bowl

1978: Terry Bradshaw (Won Super Bowl)

1977: Terry Bradshaw (lost Div) 4th best won super bowl

1976: Ken Stabler (Won Super Bowl)

1975: Ken Anderson (Lost Div) 8th best won super bowl

1974: Ken Anderson (Missed playoffs) 19th best won super bowl***

1973: Roger Staubach (Lost NFC CG) 12th best won super bowl

1972: Joe Namath (missed playoffs) #

1971: Roger Staubach (Won Super Bowl)

1970: Craig Morton (Lost Super Bowl) 12th best won super bowl

 

Before AFL/NFL Merger (combining leagues for expediencies' sake)

1969: Greg Cook (missed playoffs) ##

1968: Earl Morrall (Lost Super Bowl) 3rd best won super bowl

1967: Bart Starr (Won Super Bowl)

1966: Bart Starr (Won Super Bowl)

 

* Jeff Hostetler didn't qualify for rate stats, Phil Simms was 9th though.

** Doug Williams didn't qualify for rate stats, Jay Schroeder was 15th though.

*** Terry Bradshaw didn't qualify for rate stats, Joe Gilliam was 19th though.

# No Dolphins QB qualified for rate stats in 1972. Earl Morrall would be 1st, Bob Griese would be 12th.

## No Chiefs QB qualified for rate stats in 1969, Len Dawson would be 3rd considering both leagues.

[BigBen07 285]

The Steelers sure have proved that defense wins championships!

 

Damn straight.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

Brees & Co. bounced.

 

46 years and counting now.

[Bay 2,003]

That's because the passing leader is always the product of a bad defense and nonexistent running game.

 

Um, no. The Saints had the 6th best rushing attack this year.

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

Doesn't really matter when you're a team that has the 24th ranked overall defense, and 30th ranked pass defense in a pass happy league. If you're teams off at all on offense against a top-tier overall defense like the 49ers, you're going to lose. Just proves that defense still wins games...

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Just proves that defense still wins games...

 

I think it proves that turnovers will lose games, especially in the playoffs. Even with 5 turnovers, New Orleans still put up 32 points on San Francisco's defense.

[baltimoreravens 19]

Defenses win championships.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

Defenses win championships.

That's one of the most annoying myths in football.

 

Balanced teams win championships, son.

 

Whoever wins the NFC CG is most likely going to win the SB. 49ers and Giants are much more balanced than the Pats and Ravens.

[BC 331]

... relized i was to drunk aafter reading that.

Edited January 22, 2012 by BC

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

Brees ended up as the leader in passing yards for the season.

 

Streak continues.