I prefer the storyline of running plays to passing plays:

A man has obtained a great treasure — can he evade his pursuers and get home in time?

Tecmo Bowl

It’s like the Odyssey — they even call home port the “end zone”.

The RB travels to the QB for the ball (his need), encounters obstacles, suffers setbacks, and goes home changed (+6 points).

A passing play, in comparison, shortcuts a lot of the human drama with physics: will the receiver run the correct pattern unimpeded and end up in the right place to catch the object of his desire?

This is partially a matter of perspective: I identify with the running back and his Hero’s Journey; from the quarterback’s point of view, each possession is a drama in 4 downs.

Even so, I think the running back has a better story. You can’t just wait for your destiny to arrive, and you can’t pass it off to someone else. You have to run with it.

Bo knows drama Bo knows drama