cstjohn17

Is there year that the old adage "defense wins championships" gets put aside?

Watching how Payton coached the Saints makes be think things have shifted, it is a about score, score, score. It will be interesting to see how the weather slows things down.

The league finally got its wish.

MoLewisrocks

Elements aside, last nights game reminded me of arena football or college football moreso than NFL football. The early game reminded me moreso that some things never change, like the Bungles...

convertedpatsfan

The 2009 Saints won with a prolific offense and a defense that wasn't ranked very high, though they got a lot of turnovers. And they beat a Colts team that was similar.

But yes, it seems that is the trend moving forward. While the top 4 defensive teams all made the play-offs (including 3 division winners and 2 byes), you could easily argue that 3 of the top 4 favourites would be offensive teams without much in terms of defense (Packers, Saints, Patriots). The only defensive team I'd add to the favs would be the Ravens.

Maybe you could add the Steelers or Texans if healthy, or maybe the 49ers if you believe in Alex Smith (seriously, it's Alex Smith). But it does seem to be shaping up as a shoot-out in the Super Bowl.

robertweathers

I'm torn.....

One one hand, I think the Pats are taking total advantage of the rule changes by implementing the double TE package. Seeing that defensive players aren't allowed to even breathe on receivers, the TE and their physical attributes have even more of an advantage in the passing game. Not to mention, but ensuring that the QB can't get roughed-up unnecessarily, that could pay dividends down the road when TB his his late 30s.

On the other hand i'm not a fantasy football guy or a Madden gamer (was in college though ), but I do love football and have an appreciation for the history of the game. I love good, tough, hard-nosed defensive football and power running games and I always will. With that said, watching a pass-happy 45-28 shootouts when the defense has zero chance to be stout bothers me as I don't think it's really "football". I like what the Texans did yesterday. While the QB play was rough to watch, the Texans pounding the ball and playing great D was closer to a real "football" than the track meet going on in NO. Maybe it was more of what I grew up with which is why I enjoyed that particular game more.

I've never been a believer in the "defense wins championships" bravado as I think the most balanced, toughest, smartest team wins Super Bowls. I still believe that in the best interest of football that SHOULD still be the case. However I am skeptical that we will see that this year. The league has changed no question.

Greg Bedard's column highlights this issue. I remember that 1983 SB- Raiders vs Skins. I knew that the Raiders would win because they had the tougher team and they were better defensively. Kinda sad that is potentially not true anymore....

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Willie55

It sucks!.......

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jays52

The league has legislated the soul out of the game for fantasy statistics and people who don't care about football.

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Pat the Pats Fan

The league rules have changed. It is more weighted to good quartebacks and receivers. Defensive players can't hit quarterbacks, they can't hit receivers coming across the middle, they can't get to near to defend a pass. This has completely openned up the middle of the field, and players like the Pats receivers and tight ends are set up to exploit it. The Pats, Packers and Saints have been built to take advantage of this. I believe we will see good offense beat good defense this year.

I, too, miss the hard hitting, but, I also have seen the long term effects on players that are my age. They are crippled, both mentally and physically. The league is trying to protect itself and it's players. The retired players living under bridges, suffering from dementia is not what the league wants to be known for.

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A sarcastic Bill Belichick on Tom Brady's finger injury, "It's not life threatening."

reflexblue

I hope not i couldn't watch. I couldn't watch a game where the last team to get the ball wins. I was thinking about this last night, at this rate in five years it could turn into fast break arena ball. If thats the case i'm done with it.

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cavtroop

I feel the same way. I used to watch every single game on TV on Sundays. Now I only watch the Pats game, unless there is some big matchup on. I used to watch any game - even crappy ones. But not anymore. I'm not interested in Arena ball, or 45-32 score games. I like defense.

It doesn't have to be super hard hitting, smash the receivers until dementia defense either. I just want DB's to be able to play the ball - I want to be able to watch a long ball thrown without having to hold my breath waiting for the inevitable flag. I don't want to see 3 play, 80 yard TD drives aided by a 60 yard marginal PI call.

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borg

I hate today's NFL. It's aweful. It's no longer the best team, its the team with the best QB. Thank God the Patriots are one of just a handful of teams that have such a QB. Never before have the other 21 starters been rendered so insignificant. Give me the '85 Bears, a team that inflicted its will on the opposition on both sides of the ball, despite their QB. Give me the '04 Patriots with a complete team and a RB that could close out games with pounding authority.
Look at Detroit, lots of premium assets on their defense....rendered obsolete. Because the way the rules are written and enforced, Belichick should go use '12 draft picks and just go offense.....acquire the big speedy outside WR, acquire a 3 down back, like Jonathan Stewart (binky alert) with size and pass catching ability, another stud interior lineman....and of course the next great TE. Trade for vets, draft for studs....I don't care. All I know is that Brady has a few good years left and it is clear that Superbowls will be contested by high powered offenses... not by teams that are balanced on both sides of the ball. Might as well have a complete arsenal of weapons.

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