LogFAQs > #979830518

I post this every season the playoffs roll around, but I'm here to tell you who the SB contenders are this postseason based on historical data. I don't tell people ad nauseum that the best path to success is defense and the running game for nothing. I think we can also add turnover differential now that offenses are on the decline and defenses on the rise, but I never collected seasonal data for that.

Of the previous 36 teams to make the SB, 33/36 have finished in the top half of the league in running offense while 31/36 have finished in the Top 10 on defense. The exceptions were the inaugural season Dolphins (19th on D), S13's Pioneers (11th on D), S14's Pioneers (18th in rushing), S15's Vikings (11th on D), S16's Rams (24th in rushing), S18's Browns (25th on D) and S18's Vikings (25th in rushing, 13th on D).

Your SB contenders this season are...
Columbus Pioneers (7th in rushing, 1st on defense)
Denver Broncos (10th in rushing, 2nd on defense)
Oakland Raiders (T-15th in rushing, 3rd on defense)
Philadelphia Eagles (5th in rushing, 6th on defense)
St. Louis Rams (T-15th in rushing, 4th on defense)

The remaining are problematic (some very much so) in one or both areas
Atlanta Falcons (4th in rushing, 19th on defense)
Davenport Browns (17th in rushing, 17th on defense)
Detroit Lions (18th in rushing, 25th on defense)
Jacksonville Jaguars (14th in rushing, 24th on defense)
Miami Dolphins (31st in rushing, 7th on defense)
San Juan Orcas (27th in rushing, 16th on defense)
Seattle Seahawks (28th in rushing, 10th on defense)

It should be noted that the Dolphins, Orcas, and Seahawks have each suffered numerous injuries in the backfield and each have 3+ players record a start at HB. The Dolphins and Seahawks will each have their starting HB return for their first playoff game.