The NFL is playing flag football...

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

THREE 5,000 yard passers this season...its only been done TWICE before. Dan Marino's pass yards mark was broken TWICE this season.

Eli Manning threw, for what would have been the third most yards in NFL history in a single season with his 4933 yards...he's the fourth leading passer by yards in the league this season.\

Of the Top 20 passing seasons of All-Time SIX (!!!) of them came from 2011.

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Rob Gronkowski put together the greatest statistical season by a tight end in NFL history. Jimmy Graham put together the second best statistical season by a tight end in NFL History.

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Darren Sproles broke the All-Purpose yards record.

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All in one season.

#AREUSERIOUSBRO

What a joke.

[ralaw]

All of this may be true, but fans do like high scoring.

[Houston]

Darren Sproles broke the All-Purpose yards record.

He did?

[Warner2BruceTD]

The passing records to me are like the steroid era HR records. Does anyone really think of Barry Bonds in a higher regard than Ruth or Aaron?

Three teams scored 500 points, too. Impressive I guess, but also just silly.

[Warner2BruceTD]

The passing records to me are like the steroid era HR records. Does anyone really think of Barry Bonds in a higher regard than Ruth or Aaron?

Three teams scored 500 points, too. Impressive I guess, but also just silly.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

The inflation of numbers in the NFL make the rise in power during the steroid era of baseball look miniscule.

[Buzzman]

Matt Stafford should have an asterisk next to his 5000 yards; they replaced his shoulder with a machine.

[mgoblue2290]

I don't. I like games where touchdowns have value and you feel like your team earned it.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

The passing records to me are like the steroid era HR records. Does anyone really think of Barry Bonds in a higher regard than Ruth or Aaron?

Three teams scored 500 points, too. Impressive I guess, but also just silly.

The league is scoring points in droves. The only time you saw point scoring like this was when the league was 10, 12, and 14 teams and they played 10 game seasons. Basically, the league is scoring more now, than the 40's, 50's, and early 60's where the league was playing high school football.

10 more yards per game, per team than any other season in history.

Second lowest turnovers per game in NFL history.

[killgod]

the yards is simply the kick returns removed.

starting all drives at the 20 will do that to you.

[mgoblue2290]

the yards is simply the kick returns removed.

starting all drives at the 20 will do that to you.

No. Even when kick returns were in the game, many teams still started around the 20. Its more offensive orientated rules and teams throwing like crazy.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

the yards is simply the kick returns removed.

starting all drives at the 20 will do that to you.

That isn't the whole story, but it is part of it.

Total returns was the second lowest of the modern era while the return average was at an all-time high.

[killgod]

No. Even when kick returns were in the game, many teams still started around the 20. Its more offensive orientated rules and teams throwing like crazy.

And many drives started past the 20, which is basically non existant now.

Sorry but, the field is longer.


apparently someone at ESPN is reading this thread

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/35597/kickoff-rule-change-has-big-effect-on-nfl

[Guest]

Its just the evolution of the game. 10 years ago, you had teams that HAD to have a running back who could take 20-plus carries a game. You got a lead, then put that guy in and ran the ball down the other teams throat.

Now, you've got teams that have two or three backs for a variety of situations. A lot of these backs get their touches out of the backfield as receptions. You also have the evolution of the slot receiver, as Wes Welker and Victor Cruz can attest to that. Then, there is the evolution of the tight-end, which started with Tony Gonzalez, became huge when Antonio Gates came onto the scene and now teams will start copying the two-receiving tight ends that New England has in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

It's just simply the offenses being built for the pass. Now, you can debate that there have been rules that severely hamper defenses being able to pass, but you also have a bunch of trends that have lead to this as well.

Me personally, I found this to be a pretty average season. Nothing really impressed me. My Skins sucked, the lockout took away a lot of excitement and these offenses breaking out really made some games unwatchable. I guess if you were a fan of those teams, the games weren't boring but some I just turned off because they weren't close. And I love watching football regardless, but didn't have that kind of fun this year.

[Liquidrob]

Tebow is old school, 60 yards all day, fuck all these yards people are throwing for