Saints averaged 6.2 yards per play. On any given play they were expected to earn 50% more yards than the Arizona Cardinals on any given play, that's crazy.
Most yards per play
#1 Saints 6.2
#2 Redskins 6.2
#3 San Fran 6.0
#4 NY Giants 5.9
#5 Denver 5.8
#6 Atlanta 5.8
#9 Carolina 5.8
#10 Seattle 5.8
The worst
Arizona 4.1 YPP
Jets 4.6
Jacksonville 4.8
San Diego 4.8
Cleveland 5.0
KC 5.0
Chicago 5.0
What have these teams done to improve? Arizona got a new coach and QB, Jets have a new QB, new RB, Jacksonville has a new coach and the QB is on the hot seat who ever it is, probably a place holder for next year, SD has a new coach, Cleveland has a new OC, KC has a new coach and QB, Chicago has a new coach.
A crappy team with a poor offense and decent defense makes the coach more likely to be fired than a crappy team with a decent offense and a crappy defense. It's as simple as that. Your offense sucks the coach gets fired and most likely your staring QB as well.
Total Plays
New England 1191
Detroit 1160
Indy 1109
Denver 1090
Least # of plays
Titans 957
Giants 968
San Fran 969
Seattle 974
Miami 981
Buffalo 983
New England ran a high tempo offense, they focused on speed and they pass a lot. Detroit and Indy are dome teams that passed a lot. Denver had Peyton Manning.
Giants/San Fran/Seattle all ran less plays but averaged between 5.8 and 6 yards per play which was at the top of the league so these offenses were more efficient.