Passing May Be Trendy, but Running the Ball Wins Games in the NFL

Trends are nothing more than fads. 

Right now, the NFL's hippest craze is moving the football by air. 

Throwing is flashiest way to run an offense, and spread formations are becoming as common as the I-formation was in the 1990s; passing is all the rage. 

But for teams without elite quarterbacks, should it be? 

To save your time and my fingers from the perpetual "elite signal-caller debate," here's my definitive list of elite quarterbacks in today's game: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning. 

Eight Super Bowl rings. A ridiculous 76 300-yard games between them since 2010. Perennially, they're the top statistical producers at the quarterback position, guys who make a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 4,000-yard season look easy.

Passing the football is probably in the best interest of these quarterbacks' teams. Obviously, they balance out their prolific aerial attacks with the run, but they rightfully choose to lean on their quarterbacks when it matters most. 

Those players and teams exemplify the NFL's current passing renaissance. 

However, just because that fab five has recently shred secondaries en route to countless records and world championships doesn't mean the rest of the league should follow suit. 

But they have. This is precisely when the league shouldn't be so "copycat."

Has anyone noticed how the small grouping of what used to be the "good" quarterbacks—you know, the signal-callers who neared the elite distinction but ultimately fell short—has become a rather large faction of simply "average" gunslingers and game managers? 

Let's get specific. 

Which teams can we honestly say are better off when they run the football, or just run it more?

Fans in Philadelphia would love to see the football in the hands of running back LeSean McCoy more often. Forget what's perceived to be a dynamic passing offense led by Michael Vick. Since his pro career began in 2009, the Eagles are 10-1 when "Shady" gets at least 20 carries. 

There's no need to slap down a stat here: The Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and even the Miami Dolphins with budding rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill would all be better off featuring their running game as prominently as possible. 

The Cleveland Browns have scored 34 points in both games against the Cincinnati Bengals this season, and they beat them in Week 6, but Trent Richardson has to be the focal point of the offense. His draft position speaks to that. 

Even with a usually efficient Matt Schaub under center, the Texans are at their best when Arian Foster is dicing through defenses in the club's punishing zone-blocking scheme. Ben Tate, too. 

The Jaguars? Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Blaine Gabbert. Enough said. 

The Kansas City Chiefs have arguably the worst quarterback situation in the league. Jamaal Charles is back to the 2010 form that garnered a spot on the All-Pro team. A heavy dose of the run is obvious for Romeo Crennel's squad. 

Jason Garrett's Cowboys had trouble establishing the run early in the season, but having Tony Romo sling it all over the yard—occasionally to the other team—wasn't anymore effective. 

Against the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 6, the Cowboys called 42 run plays, yielding 227 yards. Dallas was a dropped two-point conversion from tying and a field goal from victory. That's not a coincidence.

Actually, the Ravens, too, are much better when they're running Ray Rice. In the team's 17 wins through Week 6 since the start of the 2011 season, the small but powerful back averages 19.8 carries in victory and 10.4 carries in defeat. 

Sure, the team is trying to foster the development of Joe Flacco and run the no-huddle offense, but it's clear that Rice is the key to the offense's success. 

I doubt any Ravens fan is upset when Rice gets the ball at any juncture of any game. 

How about the Minnesota Vikings? Christian Ponder is maturing into a good quarterback, but there's no questioning the superior talent of Adrian Peterson. He needs the ball. 

Once Darren McFadden learns the intricacies of Oakland's zone-blocking scheme, getting him the ball has to be the Raiders' top offense priority. No offense to you, Carson Palmer. 

Believe it or not, the Washington Redskins are a more formidable club when their quarterback and featured runner are leading the offensive assault on the ground. The same goes for the Carolina Panthers.

Sadly, the receiving talent is so thin in St. Louis that the Rams are a tougher team when Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson have the football securely tucked away.

Greg Schiano wanted to implement a run-heavy system to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Do it, Greg. The organization that hired you drafted Doug Martin in the first round with LeGarrette Blount on the roster. 

The sporadic Jay Cutler is usually calmed when Matt Forte is regularly toting the rock for the Chicago Bears.

In Thursday night's NFC West clash, it was obvious that both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are more productive when their running games keep the ball out of their quarterback's hands.

Both Alex Smith and Russell Wilson were far from impressive.

Frank Gore (16 carries, 131 yards) and Marshawn Lynch (19 carries, 103 yards) were not. 

I'll even give the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals the benefit of the doubt here, but we can agree that none of those clubs would hurt themselves by utilizing their running backs more frequently. 

So, for as much as NFL fans and many head coaches have entered into an intense courtship with the pass, ask yourself this question: How often do you find yourself yelling at the TV for your team to run the football?

Probably more than you think. 

In football's modern era, when passing is most definitely "in," running should be much more stylish.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso