If it seems that 2004 has seen an increase in long pass plays this season, that’s because there are definitely more such plays. The number of pass plays that have gone for 20, 30, and 40 yards have all hit 10-year high-water marks.

"It’s very hard to drive the field and it is very hard to go 14, 15, or 16 continuous plays," says Eagles offensive coordinator BRAD CHILDRESS, whose unit has helped Philadelphia reach 7-0, standing as the NFL’s last unbeaten team. "Somewhere, something big has to happen for you. If you are not swinging that bat or looking down the field or calling a play that has the chance to go down the field, you have no chance."

A look at "big pass plays" league-wide through eight weeks over the past 10 seasons:

Vikings offensive coordinator SCOTT LINEHAN has his team’s passing attack in high gear. Quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER leads the NFL with 2,180 passing yards and has a completion of 40 or more yards in five of seven games.

"I think that the increase in blitz-oriented defenses is a league-wide trend," says Linehan. "You look at the top defense last year, Dallas, and they were very aggressive. Teams are looking to duplicate that.

"There is the potential for a big play when the defense gambles, but there is the potential for them to make a big play too, that’s why they are doing it."

Eagles defensive coordinator JIM JOHNSON believes that blitzing has increased, but anticipates the big-play pace to settle. "Everybody always talks about being an aggressive defense," says Johnson. "I think certain coaches are blitzing more, there’s no question. I think that trend continues until you start giving up a lot big plays."

Another view, offered by Titans defensive coordinator JIM SCHWARTZ, believes that increased protection in the pocket is more amenable to long pass plays rather than more frequent blitzes.

"I think offenses have become very protection-conscious on first down because they can't afford to get in long yardage situations for second and third down," says Tennessee’s Schwartz, who has guided the Titans’ historically stout defense for the past four seasons. "I think that may explain some of the big pass plays. With teams protecting with seven or even eight players they can get time to take long shots down the field."

Pittsburgh defensive coordinator DICK LE BEAU, one of the first implementers of the zone blitz, sees an increase in passing helping an offense’s chances of big gains. "I think (the increase in long pass plays) is due to the league growing more into a passing league," says LeBeau. "One of your best defenses against passing is intelligent blitzing, so I think what you’re seeing is because offenses are throwing more."

"You need a package that is multi-dimensional," says Schwartz, "so that you can provide a number of different looks to an offense and avoid being predictable. That being said, it is a double-edge sword, because you still have to be able to execute those multiple packages. 

"There are also a number of teams around the league that have been successful on an annual basis that are some of the more vanilla defenses, like Miami and Tampa Bay. They don't do a lot of exotic things. They do what they do and do it consistently well."