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It’s all about the QB

Posted Dec 15, 2009 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Dec 15, 2009 at 10:58 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN
TAMPA—The NFL has evolved into a passing fancy.

You’ve heard it said for a long time that quarterback is the single most important position in any team sport. Judging by the numbers, that’s never been more true than the 2009 season.

Ranking clubs by overall passer rating, the top five teams in the NFL are the Saints (112.1), Vikings (106.4), Chargers (104.0), Packers (102.3) and the Colts (98.7). Is it any wonder those five clubs boast a cumulative record of 56-9?

The same goes for the cellar dwellers.

The bottom five clubs in passer rating are the Raiders (60.8), Panthers (60.3), Lions (58.5), Bucs (57.8) and Browns (56.3). The group’s record of 14-51 offers further evidence that if you don’t throw effectively, you don’t win.

That’s why clubs like the Colts, Eagles and Cardinals have basically abandoned the ground game, preferring to keep the ball in the hands of veteran quarterbacks who consistently get the ball downfield.

Unfortunately for Buc fans, Tampa Bay has been unable to compensate for its passing woes with an effective running game. Add it all up and you’ve got a Buc offense averaging 14.6 points per game, unable to generate a TD in the past nine quarters.