In 2018, the top 3 teams by rushing attempts were:

Ravens
Seahawks
Patriots

Y'know who was #5? The Saints.


Pats

The Patriots drew a lot of attention in the postseason by running the ball down their high-scoring opponents' throats. Pats averaged 160 rush yds per game in their three postseason wins. That would have tied them (with Seattle) for the lead league, if they had done that all season.

On the Patriots, Matt Waldman wrote after the draft:
After James White's performance this year, it will be difficult to envision a scenario where the Patriots elevate Michel to a featured role and bench a healthy White. Michel will remain a co-star in a committee with White for at least another year. The addition of Damien Harris reinforces the idea that New England will be running a lot.

Hawks

Seattle has Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, and a history of trusting their rushing game. (Except that one time in the Red Zone with time ticking away in the SB.)

DK Metcalf should help their running game, by (a) taking some coverage out of the box, and (b) helping them score more, which would let them play with a lead more often. Also he's probably a monster as a blocker.


Saints
Drew Brees had less than 500 attempts, for the first time in 15 years! In the four years thru 2016, the Saints averaged just under 400 rushing attempts. Then in '17 that ticked up to 444; and this past season to 471 rushing attempts, their highest number in a dozen years – highest since their SB season way back in 2009.

Then they spent their first-round pick on a Center.



That's FOUR SB-winning head coaches.

We've all heard the rationale: with the explosion of passing offenses over the last ~decade, defenses have had to get smaller and faster to match up. Now maybe the balance has shifted, and most defenses are more vulnerable to the run than they've ever been.

If the Ravens really are going whole-hog on a throwback smashmouth offense – which I don't fully believe; but if they are – well, they're in pretty good company. I know a lot of you think John Harbs is too stupid to pound sand. But Belichick and Sean Payton are going run-heavy too. Pete Carroll marches to the beat of his own drum a little, but he ain't dumb.

Maybe we're on the leading edge of a new wave on offense. Interesting.