Since 1968, football reigns supreme for entertainment

Draws the highest sports television ratings, with the top three rated events in 2014

NFL revenues rival major corporations

And NFL revenue dwarfs other North American sports leagues

Football draws a substantial television audience every week

Despite limited action

Average game scoring per team has fluctuated with time and innovation, as shown in the following timeline.....

Points

Points per game 4 year running average

Statistically, the benefits of passing have increased since 1932

 Percentage of passes intercepted (left scale)

Percentage of passes resulting in touchdowns (left scale)

Pass completion percentage (right scale)

Yards per game have gone up to all record highs in 2012

Yards per game (right scale)

Plays per game (left scale)

Correlation factor of rushing to scoring has decreased over the years

Correlation factor to passing has increased over the same time.

The side by side comparison

Showing that the preferred route to scoring in the NFL has changed....

The ability to pass and stop the pass has become the most critical, as teams with the ability to do so win the most regular season games...

Helmets show playoff teams, gray helmets represent teams not making playoffs

And get into the playoffs, and often win the Super Bowl!

Effective pass efficiency is the strongest correlation.

Combined with the fact that the NFL and its audience has determined that this pass play is more entertaining

...to this running play

The emphasis on the passing game will continue

And the game strategy and tactics will continue to evolve