What it takes to be a playoff team

[Defensewins]

This morning I was watching NFL network and they were running stats. I have never been a stats guy but I was surprised at what it showed.

In the 2008 regular season stats

The top passing teams:
1) N. O. Saints - did not make the playoffs
2) Arizona Cardinals - made it but I am not impressed. They will get beat soon.
3) Denver Broncos - Did not make the playoffs
4) Houston Texans - Did not make the playoffs
5) Philly - Good team

The Top Running Teams:
1) NY Giants- Solid playoff team
2) Atlanta Falcons- average playoff team
3) Carolina Panthers- Solid playoff team
4) Baltimore Ravens- Solid playoff team
5) Minn. Vikings-ok team

The Top Defense fewest points allowed:
1) Pittsburgh Steelers
2) Tenn. Titans
3) Baltimore Ravens
4) Philadelphia Eagles
5) NY Giants

You have run the ball and play defense.
The passing game while important enough to be balanced on offense, is clearly overrated. The teams that can run the ball effectively a dn play good defense usually win.