Defense win Championships?

[boston_aloha]

Only four teams are now giving up fewer than two touchdowns a game (PA average).
1. Denver, which leads the AFC West
2. Chicago, which leads the NFC North
3. Baltimore, which leads the AFC North
4. New England, which leads the AFC East

Do you buy into the "defense win championships" debate or not? If so, which of these 4 teams (if any) do you think can win the SB?

I'll start with New England. Looks like their passing game is coming together, although they didn't get much out of the running game on Sunday. But with and easy schedule and the fact that they play in the AFC East, I think they will get a 1st round bye into the playoffs - then Tom Brady can take over.

Chicago - These guys are just beaten people up. I said that their MNF game was just a fluke IMO - and I still believe that. They have what it takes to go deep in the playoffs. Also, like NE, they play in a very weak division so I see them also cruising into the playoffs with a bye.

Denver - Great defense - that's about all I can say. My only worries for them are the same evey year. Jake Plummer. Again, that's about all I can say.

Baltimore is tricky. We haven't seen much from them in a while (past years) and I always thought that they lacked a decent QB. The defense has been there for years. Steve McNair is a good addition, but is he the final piece to the SB puzzle? I'm not so sure - but hey, they did it with Dilfer in 2000 so what the hell do I know? If McNair can stay healthy this is another team that has a chance.

So if I had to rank the top four teams 1 thru 4. One being best chance at winning a SB:
1. Chicago
2. New England
3. Denver
4. Baltimore

[Anthony]

Well actually Cincinnati, not Baltimore, leads the AFC North: Both teams are 4-2 and have not played each other yet, and Cincinnati has a better division record (2-0 to Baltimore's 1-0).

But if Chad Jackson is ready to step in at wide receiver, New England could easily pull this thing off - and while you don't necessarily have to have the best defense in the league or very close to it to go all the way, you certainly won't if your defense is mediocre or worse (but a team with a modest offense and a super defense can win a championship, as the Ravens proved in 2000).

[boston_aloha]

Ok, lets flip the coin. What about the high powered offense? Is that enouh to win it? I think we are all thinking Colts of the past and that would mean No - you can't win it.

Do you see any teams now with a high powered offense that can win it?

[coachJ]

I think you could have the best offense in the history of the NFL, but if you dont have at least a decent defense that can hold their own, you dont have a shot to win the Super Bowl. Remember back when Oakland and Tampa played, it was the #1 offense in the NFL vs the #1 defense in the NFL, and the defense won...

[boston_aloha]

Good point. I'm trying to think back to 1999. Remember the Rams then? So called "greatest show on turf"? They did beat Tenn but then lost the Pats in 2001 (again good "O" met a good "D"). Their offense was very high powered... I can really remember who their defensive stars were )on the 99' team)???

[Anthony]

Well the Eagles should be 7-0 - and if they're anything less than 7-3 after their next three games (all at home, against Jacksonville apparently without Byron Leftwich, then a bye, then Washington at home - and they're unbeaten coming off a bye week under Andy Reid - then Tennessee at home) you can cross them off even the most inclusive list of realistic Super Bowl contenders.

And it is rather shocking to use "Eagles" and "high-powered offense" in the same sentence, now isn't it? Also note that Donovan McNabb has apparently outgrown this stupid "I don't wanna be thought of as a black quarterback" business - through seven games he already has 163 yards rushing and three touchdowns, as opposed to just 55 yards and one TD in all of 2005.

[Marc]

Denver: I don't think so. They aren't running the ball with effectiveness anymore, and Plummer has reverted to his old self.

Chicago: I'm skeptical of Rex Grossman leading them to the Super Bowl. He has less than a season of experience and has cooled off. The Bears don't really have the experience.

Baltimore: This is not the Super Bowl McNair of yesteryear, and I don't think he's enough to take them deep into the playoffs.

But out of the teams listed, I like New England the best. Brady has formed new weapons like Doug Gabriel and they have the experience.

Overall, I think it takes balance, good fortune, and getting hot at the right time...

[boston_aloha]

Denver: I don't think so. They aren't running the ball with effectiveness anymore, and Plummer has reverted to his old self.
I think tomorrow's game against the Colts will be a good test. The defense will have its work cut out for them, and we'll see if Plummer can keep up with Manning (this of course is assuming that Plummer's defense keeps him in the game)

[Tarkus]

Defense always dictates the winners, whether dramatically or just being more effective. A team doesn't have to be top 3, tho it doesn't hurt, but needs to be on peaking & have a good game plan.

As far as offenses, yea..it's great to be high powered but the game's about adjustments & it's always easier to adjust defensively. There's only so much an offense can do due to schemes being pretty well set come SB time except a trick play or 2. A high ranked D usually sets the tone...

It's just like in baseball, the great pitching usually cancels the great hitting....

[boston_aloha]

I was surprised to see Denver favored over Indi by 3. I would of thought it'd be even or around 1 point. Just cuz Indi's 6-0.

[Anthony]

I was surprised to see Denver favored over Indi by 3. I would of thought it'd be even or around 1 point. Just cuz Indi's 6-0.


Well actually the line opened at 1 1/2, and it's gone up to 3 because most of the people who have bet on the game have been betting on Denver.

But the move of Edgerrin James from Indianapolis to Arizona could turn out to have been bad for both teams - bad for Arizona because James hasn't clicked there, but also for the Colts because his departure has undoubtably weakened their running game, and it's a whole new ballgame in the playoffs, where gameplans tend to be considerably more conservative.

[buckeyefan78]

Defense always dictates the winners, whether dramatically or just being more effective. A team doesn't have to be top 3, tho it doesn't hurt, but needs to be on peaking & have a good game plan.

As far as offenses, yea..it's great to be high powered but the game's about adjustments & it's always easier to adjust defensively. There's only so much an offense can do due to schemes being pretty well set come SB time except a trick play or 2. A high ranked D usually sets the tone...

It's just like in baseball, the great pitching usually cancels the great hitting....

Easy with the blasphemy old man. :P

[Tarkus]

:lol:

Yea, I'm close to that 'soap box on a corner' preachin', aren't I? :P

[buckeyefan78]

:lol:

Yea, I'm close to that 'soap box on a corner' preachin', aren't I? :P

Yea...next thing ya know you'll be in the NBA Forum telling us shooting at a high % from the field and rotating on defense are more important than dunking. :rolleyes:

Crazy old bat...stay away! :lol:

[doublee]

I was surprised to see Denver favored over Indi by 3. I would of thought it'd be even or around 1 point. Just cuz Indi's 6-0.

I don't know it is not all that shocking. Dome teams traditionally don't play all that well on the road on grass, especially when it gets to this time of year when the temperatures get a bit nippy.

Of the four listed here New England probably has the best shot as they have a core group that has been there before and a QB who typically does not lose the big games.

The Bears will go as far as Grossman takes them. I think we saw as such against Arizona a couple of weeks ago.

Plummer always seems to choke in the playoffs.

Baltimore really has not shown anything to lead us to believe the offense is significantly better than in previous years.

Really the only thing teams with a lights out defense need is a good ground game and a QB who does not lose games for you to win.

[GilbertArenas]

doublee i thought balmer looked damn good yesterday. from what i saw of the game, billick's play calling was in stark contrast to any game plan they've had so far this year.

not that they didnt catch breaks, but stilll....

[catman]

Defense may win games, but a team has to score points to win championships. The Ravens would have had quite a dynasty if defense were all that were necessary to win championships.

[doublee]

doublee i thought balmer looked damn good yesterday. from what i saw of the game, billick's play calling was in stark contrast to any game plan they've had so far this year.

not that they didnt catch breaks, but stilll....

But, the offense only put 21 points on the board. The only reason Baltimore won that game is because the Saints turned it over five times and the Ravens' offense didn't make any major blunders of its own. Whether the play calling was better or not they still only averaged 3.5 yards a run and less than 10 yards a completion.