Defense wins Championships... except... this year???

[Zealander]

Last year I was proud of my Denver Broncos illustrating this age old concept repeated over and over again in NFL lore;

Defense wins Championships!!! :lombardi::lombardi::lombardi:

What has happened this year guys?

The four championship teams left don't have a defense that comes close to the better teams in the league... last week and the week before, the better defense fell every time.

Who is the best defense left in the championship? New England?

What has happened this year? Why are all of the remaining teams in the competition offensive juggernauts? Are these four teams left the top four offenses in the league this year?

[rst08tierney]

Atlantas no slouch

[kingelway7]

Last year I was proud of my Denver Broncos illustrating this age old concept repeated over and over again in NFL lore;

Defense wins Championships!!! :lombardi::lombardi::lombardi:

What has happened this year guys?

The four championship teams left don't have a defense that comes close to the better teams in the league... last week and the week before, the better defense fell every time.

Who is the best defense left in the championship? New England?

What has happened this year? Why are all of the remaining teams in the competition offensive juggernauts? Are these four teams left the top four offenses in the league this year?

The Patriots have the #8 overall Defense. Their run Defense is #3 and their pass Defense is #12. While their pass Defense is #12, there was only a 5 yard difference betweem them at #12 and the Ravens at #8.

While their overall Defense doesnt rank in the top 5, they do have the #1 scoring Defense this year. The Patriots allowed only 250 points this year. Thats 46 points better than our Defense allowed last year of 296 points.

I despise the Patriots but I will admit that their Defense this year is Championship caliber.

[Hadez]

No 1, No 10, No 21 and No 27 defenses are left in terms of points against


Now offensive in terms of points scored

1st, 3rd, 4th 10th

[conannilsen]

The harmonious balance of both should always be the standard.

[conannilsen]

Strength of opponents you face each year has a direct correlation to those stats as well. Pats played a ton of sub par QBs to get that high. If they were in our division they wouldn't rank so high.

[DenverBlood]

Atlantas no slouch

Sure they are. They are rated 25th or below in every major defensive category.

Now New England on the other hand...

[DenverBlood]

The Patriots have the #8 overall Defense. Their run Defense is #3 and their pass Defense is #12. While their pass Defense is #12, there was only a 5 yard difference betweem them at #12 and the Ravens at #8.

While their overall Defense doesnt rank in the top 5, they do have the #1 scoring Defense this year. The Patriots allowed only 250 points this year. Thats 46 points better than our Defense allowed last year of 296 points.

I despise the Patriots but I will admit that their Defense this year is Championship caliber.

I agree with this. But still I think most people would say they typically win due to Brady not the defense. At least since about 2006 on.

Although without Gronk it may very well be due to D now.

[Sam_Z]

Last year I was proud of my Denver Broncos illustrating this age old concept repeated over and over again in NFL lore;

Defense wins Championships!!! :lombardi::lombardi::lombardi:

What has happened this year guys?

The four championship teams left don't have a defense that comes close to the better teams in the league... last week and the week before, the better defense fell every time.

Who is the best defense left in the championship? New England?

What has happened this year? Why are all of the remaining teams in the competition offensive juggernauts? Are these four teams left the top four offenses in the league this year?

Both Atlanta and New Rngland have pretty good defenses so don't be so quick to rule out defense here.

Both teams look like the favorite to represent their conference in the Super Bowl and they both have pretty good offenses for either teams defense to shut down.

[ELWAY421]

Sure they are. They are rated 25th or below in every major defensive category.

Now New England on the other hand...

Sometimes you have to ignore the stats, especially this time of the year. New England's defense isn't as good as it is on paper or stats wise, and Atlanta's defense isn't as bad. Atlanta's defense looked ok last weekend didn't they? They can get after the passer, now I don't trust their secondary so much.

The Texans offense left some plays out on the field against the Pats. Problem was the Texans QB is inept. To me, New England, right now, as a whole look overrated. They look like a product of a WEAK schedule. Just my two cents, but this looks like one the weakest NE teams I've seen a while.

[haciendadad]

According to this page: https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/sta...yards-per-game

We dropped from #1 in 2015 to #28 in 2016

I didn't realize we dropped that far.

[DenverBlood]

Sometimes you have to ignore the stats, especially this time of the year. New England's defense isn't as good as it is on paper or stats wise, and Atlanta's defense isn't as bad. Atlanta's defense looked ok last weekend didn't they? They can get after the passer, now I don't trust their secondary so much.

The Texans offense left some plays out on the field against the Pats. Problem was the Texans QB is inept. To me, New England, right now, as a whole look overrated. They look like a product of a WEAK schedule. Just my two cents, but this looks like one the weakest NE teams I've seen a while.

But you also can't judge them off one performance either. Seattle has one of the worst pass blocking Olines in football for the past two years and is very mediocre on the road.

[ELWAY421]

But you also can't judge them off one performance either. Seattle has one of the worst pass blocking Olines in football for the past two years and is very mediocre on the road.

Fair enough, but it's the playoffs where everything is stepped up a notch. I just feel like Atlanta's defense, Pittsburgh's defense have improved as the season has moved forward. Both of those defenses have their work cut out for them this weekend, no doubt. I'll believe in the defense a little more if the Pats can shut down Bell, Brown and company. I think this could be the game where they may be wishing they still had Collins & Jones.

[TheAsianPA]

I get that defense is important, but take a look at this season. We had a very good defense despite poor against the run, and we didn't make the playoffs. So obviously, having an offense is still very important if you want to make it to the SB. Having talent on one side of the ball alone will bring success, but imo short term success. Offensively no team remains frightening for multiple seasons, and similarly no defense stays intact. Eventually the talent leaves, and if it was on one side of the ball it becomes devastating if the other side is not altered to make up for the deficit. Thus imo the most balanced teams, like the Patriots are the ones destined to find the most success on the field over a length of time. Defense is not the only factor in winning a SB, or else no one would ever invest in a strong offense.

[broncoslover115]

Both Atlanta and New Rngland have pretty good defenses so don't be so quick to rule out defense here.

Both teams look like the favorite to represent their conference in the Super Bowl and they both have pretty good offenses for either teams defense to shut down.

Interesting, I'm listening to Boston sports media right now and they are saying their defense is not as good as their stats and that because they have played crappy teams all year they are worried about this AFCCG against the Steelers.

A little off topic but they were also saying that Brady has not done well in the playoffs and has thrown 27 INTS in 22 playoff games. Just sayin because I'm hearing it right now.