With two fascinating weeks of NFL regular season games in the books, there’s an interesting trend developing that should be a cause for concern for nearly half of the league.
Running the ball is something winning teams have always been able to do effectively. When a team needs to burn the clock to preserve a lead, rushing the ball is necessary. If the team is starting with a young or struggling quarterback, taking pressure off by handing the ball to someone helps. Getting the ball into the end zone or converting a short third or fourth down play generally comes on the ground.
But rushing numbers across the league leaves a great deal to be desired early in the new year.
Through the second week of the 2024 regular season, 14 teams in the NFL are averaging less than 111 team rushing yards per game. Among them are teams expected to have or have recently had strong rushing attacks. Some of these teams are paying their running backs well and need better production from the position.
Though they are averaging 139 rushing yards per game, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of two teams in the NFL that haven’t had a rushing touchdown in two games yet. With capable running backs and Justin Fields, who has a 1,000-yard rushing season at quarterback, starting right now, that’s a surprise.
The other team without a rushing touchdown thus far is the Falcons, who had a lot of excitement for their running game with Bijan Robinson coming back. After producing only 89 yards as a team in Week One, the Falcons accounted for 152 on the ground in Monday night’s 22–21 win over Philadelphia.
There are 12 more teams that only have one rushing touchdown in two weeks of action.
The Chiefs are the highest among the 14 teams at the bottom of the league, averaging 110.5 rushing yards per game. The defending back-to-back Super Bowl champions were forced to place starting running back Isaiah Pacheco on IR with a broken leg on Monday, further amplifying their ground game issues.
The Dolphins are facing a questionable future with starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion issues. Despite having two capable veterans in De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert (who combined to rush for more than 1,800 yards last year), the team averages only 110.0 yards per game. Mostert being inactive for Week Two certainly hurt their productivity.
The Browns have significant legal concerns (again) with quarterback Deshaun Watson, but they have been a team that has run the ball well in the past. They are averaging only 109 yards per game thus far in the 2024 season. Their highest-paid back, Nick Chubb ($6.27 million cap hit), is on IR.
The Giants moved on from Saquan Barkley this offseason and haven’t found a suitable replacement in their backfield yet. They are averaging only 101.5 yards per contest thus far.
The Seahawks, too, have run the ball well in the past. With a new offensive coordinator this season, they are struggling to get the ball moving on the ground, averaging only 96 yards per game.
The Buccaneers are averaging only 91 yards per game, and quarterback Baker Mayfield is one of the two players on their roster, with at least 50 yards of rushing thus far. Rookie Bucky Irving leads the Bucs with 84 rushing yards thus far. Mayfield has Tampa’s only rushing touchdown of the season.
The Dallas Cowboys have always been able to run the ball. However, they failed to adequately address their running game in the offseason when Tony Pollard left as a free agent and are now averaging only 85 yards per game.
The New York Jets have a good young back in Breece Hall but have only been able to generate 84.5 yards per game thus far.
The Denver Broncos have a rookie starting quarterback and have struggled with every aspect of the game. They have only been able to average 81.5 yards per game.
Similarly, the Chicago Bears are starting a rookie at quarterback. They added D’Andre Swift in free agency to help Caleb Williams, but they are averaging only 77.5 yards per game—and Williams was their leading rusher in their Week Two loss. Swift has a $5.83 million cap hit.
The Cincinnati Bengals lost Joe Mixon to free agency this summer and are averaging only 72 yards per game. Their highest-paid back, Zack Moss, is making $4.52 million this season.
The Los Angeles Rams are averaging only 68 yards per game. And the Las Vegas Raiders moved on from Josh Jacobs this summer and are averaging a league-worst 49 yards per game. Those are terrible totals.
Through the first two weeks of the NFL season, the 14 teams averaging under 111 yards per game on the ground have a combined record of 12–16. Kansas City, Seattle, and Tampa have started 2–0 with minimal rushing, while five of the nine remaining winless teams are averaging under that benchmark.
