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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/sport ... .html?_r=0

N.F.L. Completes Greatest Passing Season in League History

By CHASE STUART JAN. 4, 2016

Every year, the N.F.L. becomes more passer friendly, both in quantity and quality. That trend held true this season, and 2015 will go down as the greatest passing season in league history.

First, a look at quantity. N.F.L. teams averaged 35.7 pass attempts per game, the most in league history, breaking the record of 35.4 set in 2013. Teams used those attempts to also set per-game records for completions (22.5) and passing yards (243.8). Passing touchdowns per game were also at a new N.F.L. high. The record had been 1.63 a game, set, remarkably, in 1948. The league had been inching toward that mark — teams averaged 1.57 and 1.58 passing touchdowns per game in 2013 and 2014 — before surpassing it with 1.64 passing touchdowns per game in 2015.

For the first time in N.F.L. history, 12 quarterbacks threw for 4,000 yards. In addition, 11 quarterbacks threw at least 30 touchdown passes; that breaks the record of nine set last season. Before 2014, no N.F.L. season had more than five quarterbacks with at least 30 touchdown throws.

This can be seen in looking at the individual leaders in other metrics, too. Adrian Peterson rushed for a league-high 1,485 yards, but that is the second lowest mark by a league leader in the last 25 years (ahead of only the 2007 rushing champion LaDainian Tomlinson’s 1,474 yards). Over all, only seven men rushed for at least 1,000 yards, the fewest in any N.F.L. season since 1991 (also seven).

Wide receivers Antonio Brown and Julio Jones each caught 136 passes, which ties them for second most receptions in a single season (behind Marvin Harrison’s 143 in 2002). They also doubled the league’s number of 1,800-yard receivers, to four from two (Calvin Johnson in 2012 and Jerry Rice in 1995).

As for quality, it was another remarkable season for the league’s quarterbacks at avoiding negative plays. Passers threw interceptions on only 2.4 percent of all passes this season, the lowest in league history. Teams averaged 7.3 yards per attempt this season; while that average was higher in five seasons from 1957 to 1965, the 7.3 average is the highest in any season during the Super Bowl era. The N.F.L. set a record for completion percentage last year at 62.6 percent; this season, it increased that mark to 63.0 percent. For the sixth consecutive season, the N.F.L. set a record in passer rating (88.4 this season). For reference: In 1978, Roger Staubach led the league with an 84.9 passer rating.

In terms of quantity and quality, the 2015 season was the best passing season in history. And that, presumably, given the vast number of rules changes that favor the passing game, is precisely how the N.F.L. wanted it to be.

You ever feel like you're on the outside, looking in?

Gareth wrote:You ever feel like you're on the outside, looking in?

Well, I beleve it was Martz and the GSOT that really was responsible for this change in direction by the league.

Yep, a low scoring run offense is the way to win in today's NFL

Game manager Russell Wilson threw for 4,000 yards, 34 TD's, completed 68% of his passes and had a rating of 110.

Aren't we supposed to be modelling ourselves on Seattle?

I might be nuts but i think there's a real chance Fisher is going to make some major changes on the offensive side of the ball/philosophy. Normally Fisher says he doesn't anticipate any coaching changes, this time he didn't say that. If he was set on his offensive philosophy and direction, he'd have given Boras a strong vote of confidence...

Elvis wrote:Game manager Russell Wilson threw for 4,000 yards, 34 TD's, completed 68% of his passes and had a rating of 110.

Aren't we supposed to be modelling ourselves on Seattle?

I might be nuts but i think there's a real chance Fisher is going to make some major changes on the offensive side of the ball/philosophy. Normally Fisher says he doesn't anticipate any coaching changes, this time he didn't say that. If he was set on his offensive philosophy and direction, he'd have given Boras a strong vote of confidence...

He also did say in the presser "that he though Boras had done enough to earn his place here" (or something close to that).

But you may be right. We'll know in a couple of days.

The season would have been even greater if the Rams team knew how to pass. Or at least their QB's.
As deiter pointed out, it's hard to win games the way the Rams play unless you dominate the T.O.P. With all the great passing offenses, that's really hard to do.
We need a gunslinger under center. One with all the different caliber bullets.

Elvis wrote:Game manager Russell Wilson threw for 4,000 yards, 34 TD's, completed 68% of his passes and had a rating of 110.

Aren't we supposed to be modelling ourselves on Seattle?

I might be nuts but i think there's a real chance Fisher is going to make some major changes on the offensive side of the ball/philosophy. Normally Fisher says he doesn't anticipate any coaching changes, this time he didn't say that. If he was set on his offensive philosophy and direction, he'd have given Boras a strong vote of confidence...

Seattle punctuates the fact even more by losing their top two RB's and then getting BETTER! They even lost their big FA acquisition TE. All of that and they start airing it out and are a much better team now.

Martz and Co. may have arguably started this trend but I've long contended that Belichick and Co. stole what the Rams were doing and made it better by protecting the QB and making it plug-and-play. Hate those bastards through and through but I have to admit they've done it better.