The Atlanta Falcons are gaining yards at a pace not seen since the days of The Greatest Show on Turf.
According to NFL Media Research, the Falcons are averaging 6.8 yards per play in 2016—the most by a team since Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and the St. Louis Rams gained 7.0 yards per play in 2000.
The @AtlantaFalcons are averaging 6.8 yds per play this season, the most by any team since the 2000 Rams aka "The Greatest Show on Turf"
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 4, 2016
The Falcons gained 461 yards and scored 43 points during Thursday night’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After nine games, Atlanta leads the NFL in yards per play, total yards and points scored.
The 2000 Rams also led the league in all three categories.
Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has maximized every one of his players.
Quarterback Matt Ryan leads the NFL in passing yards (2,980) and touchdowns (23). He’s on pace for almost 5,300 yards and 41 touchdowns, and his current passer rating (119.0) would rank fourth all-time.
The running back duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman has produced 1,404 total yards and 11 touchdowns.
All-Pro receiver Julio Jones is having another dominant season with 51 catches for 980 yards and five touchdowns, but free-agent acquisition has added 416 yards and three scores, including the game-winning touchdown against the Packers in Week 8.
Jacob Tamme, Levine Toilolo and Austin Hooper—Atlanta’s trio of tight ends—have combined for 43 catches, 578 yards and seven touchdowns.
Even receiver Taylor Gabriel—a castoff from the Cleveland Browns—has scored touchdowns in back-to-back weeks.
“We’re definitely a dangerous offense,” Jones said, via ESPN. “I’m not talking it up just to talk it up because I’m on this team, but it’s one of the best offenses that I’ve played on since I’ve been here. The way we can move the ball around, guys make plays all over the board.”
No team has been able to contain all the weapons in Atlanta. The Falcons have scored more than 40 points three times, with zero games under 23 points and an overall average of 33.9 per game.
The 2000 Rams averaged 33.8 points per game.
The Falcons still have seven more games to play, but we might be looking at one of the more productive offensive teams in recent NFL history.
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