Why does 1 extra yard scare teams into passing when 75 percent of the league is better at rushing on third-and-2? Also: QB sneaks, Cam Newton's unique runs, and the Super Bowl-winning defense stepped up when it had to.
For those complaining that offense is too easy in today's NFL, this may be the most telling piece of evidence yet: the last eight seasons (2008-2015) are the top seasons ever in average yards per play. The 5.48 yards per play teams averaged in 2015 set a new high-water mark in league-wide production.
Yet when teams only need a yard or two to extend a drive, we still see conversion rates centering around 61 or 62 percent.