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**Rain Man** · 12-30-2013, 06:49 PM

I'm really curious what happened in 1947. The per-game passing and scoring both jumped dramatically, but I see no substantive rules changes.

Here are the scoring stats by year: http://www.pro-football-reference.co...FL/scoring.htm

The 1948 season was the highest-scoring in NFL history on a per-game basis, even higher than 2013 (which is the second-highest). The top ten scoring seasons in NFL history are:

1948 - 23.6 ppg.
2013 - 23.4 ppg.
1965 - 23.1 ppg.
1950 - 22.9 ppg.
2012 - 22.8 ppg.
1949 - 22.7 ppg.
1958 - 22.6 ppg.
1952, 1962 - 22.3 ppg.
2011 - 22.2 ppg.
1947, 1963, 1964, 2008, 2010 - 22.0 ppg.

So we've had three offensive ice ages in the history of the NFL - a five-season stretch from 1947-1952, a four-season stretch from 1962-1965, and a current six-season stretch from 2008-2013 and counting.

Wikipedia lists the following rules changes in 1947. None of them would account for a huge 10+% increase in scoring. That increase was abrupt, and it was bigger than the increase we saw with the 1978 major rule changes.

A fifth official, the Back Judge, is added to the officiating crew.
When a team has less than 11 players on the field prior to a snap or kick, the officials are not to notify them.
An illegal use of hands penalty will be called whenever a defensive player uses them to block the vision of a receiver during any pass behind the offensive team's line.
During an unsuccessful extra point attempt, the play becomes dead as soon as failure is evident.
Roughing the kicker will not be called if he kicks after recovering a loose ball or fumble on the play.
All teams are required to use prescribed standard yardage chains, down boxes, and flexible shaft markers.
Games are no longer played on Tuesdays.

In 1962, wikipedia lists only one major rule change, which likely helped the running game a fair bit.

Grabbing any player's facemask is prohibited.

Here's an interesting article about NFL scoring: http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com...l-orgasm/7392/

They propose an interesting counterintuitive theory about scoring in the late 40s, noting that there were many more turnovers then, which may have given offenses short fields. I don't think that explains the sudden increase, though.

There's also a minor implication that perhaps if kickers weren't as good, teams pushed for touchdowns more often. That makes sense to me.

They also showed this chart of scoring by decade, which shows the 1960s as being the full decade with the highest average scoring. That's mindblowing considering it was the era of the middle linebacker.

1960s – 21.7 PPG (NFL only)
1950s – 21.5 PPG
2000s – 21.0 PPG
1980s – 20.9 PPG
1990s – 20.2 PPG
1970s – 19.2 PPG
1940s – 19.0 PPG (NFL only)
1930s – 11.4 PPG
1920s – 9.4 PPG

So far in the 2010s, the average scoring per game is at 22.6 and on an upward trajectory. So we're definitely in the highest-scoring era in history.

12-30-2013, 06:49 PM	#58
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-722449 VARSITY	I'm really curious what happened in 1947. The per-game passing and scoring both jumped dramatically, but I see no substantive rules changes. Here are the scoring stats by year: http://www.pro-football-reference.co...FL/scoring.htm The 1948 season was the highest-scoring in NFL history on a per-game basis, even higher than 2013 (which is the second-highest). The top ten scoring seasons in NFL history are: 1948 - 23.6 ppg. 2013 - 23.4 ppg. 1965 - 23.1 ppg. 1950 - 22.9 ppg. 2012 - 22.8 ppg. 1949 - 22.7 ppg. 1958 - 22.6 ppg. 1952, 1962 - 22.3 ppg. 2011 - 22.2 ppg. 1947, 1963, 1964, 2008, 2010 - 22.0 ppg. So we've had three offensive ice ages in the history of the NFL - a five-season stretch from 1947-1952, a four-season stretch from 1962-1965, and a current six-season stretch from 2008-2013 and counting. Wikipedia lists the following rules changes in 1947. None of them would account for a huge 10+% increase in scoring. That increase was abrupt, and it was bigger than the increase we saw with the 1978 major rule changes. A fifth official, the Back Judge, is added to the officiating crew. When a team has less than 11 players on the field prior to a snap or kick, the officials are not to notify them. An illegal use of hands penalty will be called whenever a defensive player uses them to block the vision of a receiver during any pass behind the offensive team's line. During an unsuccessful extra point attempt, the play becomes dead as soon as failure is evident. Roughing the kicker will not be called if he kicks after recovering a loose ball or fumble on the play. All teams are required to use prescribed standard yardage chains, down boxes, and flexible shaft markers. Games are no longer played on Tuesdays. In 1962, wikipedia lists only one major rule change, which likely helped the running game a fair bit. Grabbing any player's facemask is prohibited. Here's an interesting article about NFL scoring: http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com...l-orgasm/7392/ They propose an interesting counterintuitive theory about scoring in the late 40s, noting that there were many more turnovers then, which may have given offenses short fields. I don't think that explains the sudden increase, though. There's also a minor implication that perhaps if kickers weren't as good, teams pushed for touchdowns more often. That makes sense to me. They also showed this chart of scoring by decade, which shows the 1960s as being the full decade with the highest average scoring. That's mindblowing considering it was the era of the middle linebacker. 1960s – 21.7 PPG (NFL only) 1950s – 21.5 PPG 2000s – 21.0 PPG 1980s – 20.9 PPG 1990s – 20.2 PPG 1970s – 19.2 PPG 1940s – 19.0 PPG (NFL only) 1930s – 11.4 PPG 1920s – 9.4 PPG So far in the 2010s, the average scoring per game is at 22.6 and on an upward trajectory. So we're definitely in the highest-scoring era in history. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
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