WHEN HALL OF FAME quarterback Johnny Unitas put the finishing touches on his career in 1973, walking away from the NFL with an average of 191 passing yards per game over 18 seasons, he likely could not have conjured the numbers Patrick Mahomes would one day produce.
The Kansas City Chiefs star, who's in his eighth season, has an NFL-best career mark of 293.3 passing yards per game.
From the record-breaking salaries being paid to quarterbacks and wide receivers to rules that are skewed in favor of protecting offensive players, so much in today's NFL reflects an emphasis on the passing game.