Through four weeks, teams have rushed 3,181 times. They have thrown 4,587 passes and been sacked 320 times, which means teams have rushed on 3,181 out of 8,088 plays. That’s a run ratio of just 39.3%, which would set a new record. This makes some sense, of course: given that this has been the most efficient passing season in NFL history, you would think teams are shifting more to the pass than the run. The graph below shows the percentage of running plays for each season in NFL history since 1950; as you can see, it’s not 1956 anymore.

This is reflected in the raw rushing numbers, too. Teams are averaging just 25.2 attempts per game, which would set a new record for fewest rushes per game. And teams are averaging 106.7 rushing yards per game, which would be the third fewest in league history. One thing that *is* relatively high, however, is yards per carry. This makes sense, too: if defenses are expecting pass, and are worried about how efficient the passing game has become, teams will devote fewer resources to stopping the run. Teams are averaging 4.23 yards per carry, which would be the 5th-most since 1950 (behind 2011 and 2012, 2009, and 1958; all four seasons had YPC averages between 4.23 and 4.29).

That said, there has been no correlation between team yards per carry and team pass efficiency, which might be surprising but is consistent with research I’ve done in the past. The Chargers, Rams, and Saints are really good at both, and the Jets, Bills, and Cardinals are really both at both. On the other hand, the Cowboys, Broncos, and Browns have great rushing numbers but terrible passing metrics; each rank in the bottom 6 in ANY/A but the top 6 in yards per carry. Meanwhile, the Bucs, Ravens, and Vikings have very good passing attacks but the three lowest YPC averages in the NFL.

As a whole, however, the league seems to be rushing more effectively. And given the shift to the passing game (which always has a higher per-play average) and the record-setting pass efficiency numbers, it should come as no surprise that 2018 is setting a new record in terms of yards per play. As recently as 1997, the NFL averaged under 5.0 yards per play, and in 2005, the 32 teams averaged only 5.05 yards per play. This year? That average is up to 5.64 yards per play, easily topping 2016’s record of 5.48 yards per play.

Yes, what you’re seeing is real: 2018 is truly the year of the offense.