Week 1 NFL Picks: Teams That Will Ride Ground Games to Victories

The NFL is increasingly becoming a passing league, but some teams haven't yet gotten that memo. 

Combine the fact that running back injuries continue to pile up and the passing record book was re-written in 2012, and finding teams that enjoy running the ball is quickly turning into a tall task. 

For example, only two teams rushed the ball more than they threw it last season.

Nonetheless, matchups often dictate what teams will do, and as we look forward to Week 1, there will be plenty of teams focusing on the ground game for wins.

Houston Texans

When you have Arian Foster and Ben Tate, why wouldn't you run the ball 40 times per game? 

The Texans used to rely on the right shoulder of Matt Schaub and the safe hands of Andre Johnson, but when Schaub went down in 2012 and T.J. Yates was forced under center, the mentality of this team changed.

And changed for the good.

Schaub is back, but the Texans now understand that an elite defense and running the ball over 50 percent of the time wins lots of games. There's no reason for them to consistently drop Schaub back against an inferior Miami Dolphins squad. 

Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch could miss Seattle's opener against the Arizona Cardinals due to back spasms, but that won't change things. 

Rookie Robert Turbin proved during exhibition play to be more than capable of putting this team on his back just as well as Lynch, and even though fellow rookie Russell Wilson is as exciting as cheetah on roller skates, the Pete Carroll-led 'Hawks are much more of a grind-it-out team. 

Expect Turbin—or Lynch, if he plays—to carry the ball 20-25 times as Seattle lets its young, playmaking defense do most of the work against Arizona's anemic offense. 

New York Jets

Because Mark Sanchez certainly isn't going to beat the Buffalo Bills via the air. 

The Bills, led by the signing of Mario Williams, have made huge strides this offseason, and the Jets' arrow is pointing way down after an atrocious preseason, but don't be surprised if New York escapes with a home victory in Week 1.

If Rex Ryan's squad is going to do that, it will be via an ugly, low-scoring defensive battle. That means pounding the ball to Shonn Greene and using the legs of Sir Tim Tebow, not his arm. 

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