And after adding in the playoff games...
2009 offense: 55.2% pass to 44.8% run
2011 offense: 61.9% pass to 38.1% run
“Far more balanced” might’ve been a bit hyperbolic on my part yes, but that run-pass difference across the two seasons is still statistically significant. Especially considering we’re talking about tendencies where the result is one or the other and as each down is played, those percentages shift further in one direction as the game is decided.
The 2009 team had 8 games where they ran the ball more than they passed it and another 3 games where they were within 5 plays of being 50-50.
The 2011 team had 1 game where they ran the ball more than they passed it (blowout vs. Colts where they still threw it 35 times) and only 1 game where they were within 5 plays of being 50-50 (blowout vs. Vikings where they threw it 40 times). Personally, I wouldn't call that very balanced.
I guess it just comes down to what someone considers as "balanced".
If someone is using the 2011 offense (61.9% pass-38.1% run) as the measuring stick of being balanced, they had 10 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than their own season % total.
The 2009 offense had 15 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than the 2011 offense's pass-run % total.
If someone is using the 2009 offense (55.2% pass-44.8% run) as the measuring stick of being balanced, they had 11 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than their own season % total.
The 2011 offense only had 3 games where their pass-run % was more balanced than the 2009 offense's pass-run % (vs. Colts, vs. Vikings, vs. Panthers).
The 2011 offense only stayed as balanced at the 2009 offense was in games they were in control of and winning (which was more frequently than not). In games where they turned the ball over multiple times or were stymied and held out of the endzone, they had to get pass happy because they couldn’t run the ball. That’s not a coincidence. Teams made them one dimensional and collected turnovers, something the 2009 defense excelled at.