With 11 quarterbacks on a pace to pass for more than 4,000 yards, it's pretty clear that the passing game has become more important than a running offense. Sure, it helps to have the balance of the New Orleans Saints, who have Drew Brees' passing backed by the No. 5 running offense. But the rules encourage passing, and to win consistently, teams need a quarterback who can throw for 225 to 250 yards a week and put up at least 22 points. For what it's worth, none of the top four rushing teams have winning records.Standing tall: Even though it's been criticized for being overly protective about hits on the quarterback, the league has done a remarkable job of keeping quarterbacks upright. Chad Pennington of the Dolphins has been the only starting quarterback to suffer a season-ending injury since the regular season started. Six other quarterbacks have combined for 11 missed starts; no starter has missed more than two games. LJ update: For Larry Johnson to land in Houston, he may have to wait an extra week or two. The Texans are on a bye this week and they clearly want to see how Ryan Moats and Steve Slaton do over the next few weeks against AFC South opponents. Johnson could also be a possibility for the Redskins, who have some injury concerns in their backfield.