Do passing yards ultimately matter when trying to win it all? We're tied for last through seven games, and depending on who you talk to, it's either a cause for concern or no big deal. So out of curiosity, I pulled up the passing yards rank of all Super Bowl winners since 1980 and here's what I found:
Year | Passing Yards Rank of SB Winner |
2012 | 15th |
2011 | 5th |
2010 | 5th |
2009 | 4th |
2008 | 17th |
2007 | 22nd |
2006 | 2nd |
2005 | 24th |
2004 | 11th |
2003 | 9th |
2002 | 15th |
2001 | 22nd |
2000 | 22nd |
1999 | 1st |
1998 | 7th |
1997 | 9th |
1996 | 5th |
1995 | 13th |
1994 | 4th |
1993 | 7th |
1992 | 5th |
1991 |
5th |
1990 | 22nd |
1989 | 2nd |
1988 | 10th |
1987 | 4th |
1986 | 17th |
1985 | 20th |
1984 | 4th |
1983 | 9th |
1982 | 12th |
1981 | 7th |
1980 | 19th |
source: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/
The average passing yards rank of an eventual SB winner was 11th, which one could interpret as saying you don't need to be the best passing team, but you do need to have a passing game. As for the 49ers situation, some fans say, "We're getting Crabtree and Manningham back and should be fine down the stretch." Others say, "We don't know what we're getting back with Crabtree and Manningham, so we should trade for another starting WR." And then others say, "Who cares? We'll just power-run our way down the stretch." I guess we'll see what happens.