Does being number 1 in rushing matter if every team that plays us averages even MORE rushing yds?

[BigDingus]

The Bills lead the league in rushing averaging 147.6 yards per game. Great! That seems like a lot! 

 

Unfortunately, every single team that plays us suddenly becomes just as good at running the ball as we are & averages 153 rush yards per game...

 

I'm sure we all know our defense has been rough, but has any team won a Super Bowl while allowing teams to shred them on the ground? It's almost surprising that we've only allowed 4 x 100 yard rushers, but most teams have RB by committees or we got ahead on them to where they gave up on the run (like the Jets & Panthers).

 

Even though we have a great RB, our D is such a liability that they all but negate any advantage from our own running game & allow opposing teams to dictate time of possession as much as we do. At this point, we're going to need to find another advantage, and it'll have to be Josh Allen passing the ball to win offensive shoot-outs like last Sunday.

 

I know they're 2 separate sides of the ball & don't directly correlate with each other, but the advantages you expect from being a dominant run team usually benefit your D by allowing them more time to rest & recover. But this D allows every opposing offense to do the same thing, so it all comes back to Allen making plays to win.

[Big Turk]

The flip side is the Bills have been very good against the pass meaning they have a significant advantage in terms of total yards in a given game usually.

[BruceVilanch]

Imagine how bad Cook could torch this run D

[BuffaloBillyG]

Yes.

 

Difference is our run game controls the clock and game tempo. Used to wear down defenses. 

 

Their run game pops off constant long runs. Give the ball back to our offense. 

[Big Turk]

12 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Yes.

 

Difference is our run game controls the clock and game tempo. Used to wear down defenses. 

 

Their run game pops off constant long runs. Give the ball back to our offense. 

 

And on average 7 more points a game for us.

[dayman]

I’d say it matters on account of us being worse off without it, probably a .500 team. It carried us earlier in the season. Also, we gashed KC which was just personally enjoyable.