Eagles vs Patriots

Plays per First Down

In this Super Game the Total Rushing Plays stat falls on the shoulders of Pats' RB Corey Dillon. He's the playmaker. His running game added 4 1/2 PPG to the Pat's scoring differential. At 225 pounds Dillon is a horse. Because his huge (and efficient) 4.7 yards per carry goes to make up half of the key "yards per play" stat the Pats are moving the sticks and earning a first down on only 3.05 plays per game (5th, up from 18th). This improvement added 4.4 points per game.

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JUST MOVE THE STICKS: Plays per First Down is a clock control stat that plays an important part in the running game. Stats like the Run/Pass Balance, Total Rushes and Plays per First Down all move the clock. Coach Bill Parcells has said one of his fav expressions is "...just move the sticks." And Pats' Coach Belichick was the D coordinator at the New York Giants when the Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills with 40 minutes (count'em) of clock control.

Facing Coach Marv Levy's playmaker-packed Bills team the Giants had to keep Bills' hot QB Kelly and hotter RB Thurman Thomas off the field. The Giants didn't have all the playmakers they needed. So they ran-ran-ran the ball. And won by one point.

Bud Goode

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