Rams at Falcons

Saturday's playoff games matching the Pittsburgh Steelers--New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons--St. Louis Rams will test the classic question, is the running game or the passing game more important?

Falcon QB Vick ran for 902 yards, the team's second best effort relative to leader RB Warwick Dunne's 1106 yards. It's always nice to have a QB who can pull the ball down and run-run-run.

By comparison this season Rams' QB Bulgar earned 89 yards on the ground.

The Falcons lead the league averaging 136 running yards per game. It is one of the key stats spelling "clock control." When the Falcons are on offense this group of offensive rushing stats (total rushes, rushing yards and first downs rushing) give them an advantage of 4.6 points.

Total Rushing Plays Atlanta Falcons 2004 through Week 17

Opponent Tot Rushes St. Louis Rams 2004 through Week 17

Checking the graphic, above, the Falcons' TREND line (dark blue moving average) is above league average all season.

By comparison the Rams' D rushes allowed shows them weaker than average (light blue line) in 8 games. They lost 6.

If the two teams play to season stat form the Falcons should be favored by 7. (Stat graphics picturing Falcons' and Rams' offense and defense on Total Rushing plays follow).

Bud Goode

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