The Numbers Game

RUSH TO GLORY

Your quarterback is a future Hall of Famer: Steve Young, Jim Kelly, John Elway, Dan Marino or Brett Favre. So your game plan is to throw the ball 35 or 40 times every week, right?

Wrong. The 49ers, Bills, Broncos, Dolphins and Packers are running the ball more than anyone else this season. Through Sunday all were averaging at least 10 more rushes per game than they did last year, except Buffalo (which was up six a game going into its Monday-night showdown with the Steelers), and not coincidentally, all five were undefeated.

Here's a look at the rushing revolution at the top of the NFL standings:

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]