ESPN NFL

Last season the NFL's top six rushers and 11 of the top 13 played on teams that did not make the playoffs. But that was a fluke, and in Week 2 everything was back to normal.

Sunday's top nine rushers all played for winning teams. Five of those teams had more than 100 rushing yards by halftime and went on to blowout victories. In the "no duh!" category of football strategy, running the ball successfully leads to success in all aspects of the game. Unless of course you're the Ravens, who had no reason to do anything but to continue giving the ball to Jamal Lewis.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider