Ranking the last 4 defenses

[varjao]

Pats, Broncos, Arizona and Carolina all have good defensive fronts, so it's very likely that the SB champs this year will have the D# playing a big part on it.

I think the Pats defense is the #4 in this group, not that it's bad, we've seen some pretty bad defenses in recent years but I think last year was a turning point and they have a good thing going, this year is still a good unit, worse in the secondary and stopping the run, better in the pass rush. The point is that the other teams D# are overall better but BB can still scheme against all the other offenses, the cardinals offense presents the worst matchup in my opinion.

#1 Broncos
#2 Cardinals
#3 Panthers
#4 Pats

 

[supafly]

Still can't figure out who to root for in the other game. Hope I care when the second game starts.

 

[dales804]

Panthers
Broncos
Cardinals
Patriots

 

[MainePatsFan26]

The problem with ranking these units is that they are so close when it comes to scoring defense. The points per game are as follows for the regular season:

Denver 18.5
Panthers 19.3
Arizona 19.6
Patriots 19.7

With this in mind, I'd say the Patriots are 4th but the difference will be offense and special teams. For me, the big question in the playoffs is whether Carson Palmer can shake off the nerves and play up to his regular season level against the Panthers and potentially the Patriots/Broncos. It will be tough to stop the top scoring offense without a defense significantly better than Arizona.

The other question is whether these other teams have had as much garbage time scoring against them as the Patriots. A number of games this season were over when the other team started to put up 14-17 additional points to make things seem respectable on paper. If anything, I wish the Patriots had been able to finish these games for the defense's morale moving forward. However, I'm certainly not going to complain about getting to the AFC Championship Game.

 

[GodBrady]

Still can't figure out who to root for in the other game. Hope I care when the second game starts.

I think I'd rather see Arizona. Cam is just an absolute beast this year. He's so fearless when he plays. Palmer on the other hand doesn't have a strong postseason career, and he didn't play particularly well last week. I also really like Carolina's defense line, and then they've got nice playmakers in Norman and Keuchly throughout the rest of the defense.

Either is tough matchup. Cam reminds me of Dante Culpepper though, in the sense that he can absolutely bulldoze his way for first downs and touchdowns.

 

[ALP]

ill take our D over the broncos, and probably ARZ too...and why not also Carolina?

And I would take our O over any other quite easily

 

[supafly]

ill take our D over the broncos, and probably ARZ too...and why not also Carolina?

Put down the spice, Chandler--or else you'll end up barefoot and shirtless at the back of the police station again.

 

[MainePatsFan26]

Put down the spice, Chandler--or else you'll end up barefoot and shirtless at the back of the police station again.

I'm not sure we've got the best offense or defense on paper. This team, if it is going to win, will have to win with grit and experience. That being said, we might have more overall talent than everyone except Arizona.

 

[glm]

I'm not sure we've got the best offense or defense on paper. This team, if it is going to win, will have to win with grit and experience. That being said, we might have more overall talent than everyone except Arizona.

I'd say we have the best offense now that we have Jules back. Including the KC game, we average 33 points a game with Jules. The next closest is Carolina with 31.2.

On the topic of defenses I'll go
1. Carolina
2. Denver
3. Arizona
4. New England

 

[AzorianPats]

I think its razor thin ranking these defenses.

If i was to rank a #1 its be Denver. Their defense is the only reason they've made it this far.

Carolina D blows too many leads, and ours hasnt been healthy since October.

 

[luuked]

Still can't figure out who to root for in the other game. Hope I care when the second game starts.

I'd rather not deal with a mobile QB like Newton. But thats mostly preference.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Ranking the D is fine, however, it's a painting that is less than half finished. A team is composite of all things playing and coaching football. Offense, defense, STs, depth at position, coaching making right gameplans and adjustments and right snap decisions. The whole thing is interwoven and complimentary. And the complimentary thing is key as it allows you to overcome a lesser day on D or lesser day on O or unforced errors/TOs or make up for bad field position/lack of FG conversions on ST. For example, if Denver's D has a bad day then you should next ask, do they have other parts that are likely to make up for a bad day on D?

Based on that I rank the 4 teams as:
Patriots (O is always waiting to bust out, D has shown above average stopping power, STs are mostly quite good, adjustments usually work well)
Arizona (kinda same as the Patriots just less experienced at a couple of key positions)
Carolina (O isn't stellar but Newton and D are making up for it)
Denver (O is significantly below the D -- which makes them more imbalanced than any of the 4).

Anything can happen, however, I'll take the complimentary team's chances over an imbalanced one with the best D of the 4.

 

[supafly]

Carolina (O isn't stellar but Newton and D are making up for it)

Pretty sure I read that CAR currently has the top rated offense, although I'm not sure what that's going off of. I'm assuming points scored, although it may only have been in the regular season if the poster above is true and we're scoring 33.0 to their 31.2.

At any rate, I fear you may be selling them a bit short. They have a solid run game, a TE which is proven and comparable to ours, and a WR corps that produces far more than anyone expected them to (remember all of the threads and comments about how ****ty CAR was going to be due to their lack of receiving options?). Cam Newton, as you mention, is obviously the straw that stirs the drink, and is the clear cut MVP this season.

After considering this as well as their very strong defense, I will be rooting for ARZ, should we come to that point at 6:30 Sunday evening.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

For anyone assuming defense wins championships, please read:

Freakonomics » Does Defense Really Win Championships?

It’s at this point in the NFL postseason when every NFL analyst, pundit, and blogger will inevitably proclaim “defense wins championships.” With the NFL conference championships upon us this weekend, this phrase will be uttered more times than “yo” in a typical Jersey Shore episode. And why not?

Last weekend we saw two of the NFL’s top offenses — Green Bay and New Orleans — lose to better defenses. Moreover, as Chris Berman himself pointed out on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, 38 (out of 45) Super Bowls have been won by a top 10 defense and 22 have been won by a top three defense. The sentiment has hardened from cliché into an article of sports law. But is it actually true? Does defense really win championships?

In a word: no.

We found that when it comes to winning a title, or winning in sports in general for that matter, offense and defense carry nearly identical weight. For example, here’s what Berman didn’t tell you: the number of Super Bowl champs with a top 10 offense? Thirty-eight. And a top 3 offense? Twenty. In other words, offense wins championships, too.​

That doesn't include Super Bowl wins from teams below (offense/defense rankings using yards below):

2011: Giants (8/25)
2012: Ravens (16/17)
2013: Seahawks (18/1)
2014: Patriots (11/13)

So where we fall in those rankings doesn't really matter to me. Will the offense show up? Will the Special Teams keep it together? Those things also matter just as much.

 

[aluminum seats]

I'd rather not deal with a mobile QB like Newton. But thats mostly preference.

I would greatly prefer Carolina.

 

[Double TE]

AZ is not the same w/o the Honey badger and Carolina just gave up 24 pts in a half. Denver not the same without Bolden and a gimpy Harris. NE could be the best if Jones and Collins play. Or at least on par.

Ranking

Carolina
NE
AZ
Denver

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Pats, Broncos, Arizona and Carolina all have good defensive fronts, so it's very likely that the SB champs this year will have the D# playing a big part on it.

I think the Pats defense is the #4 in this group, not that it's bad, we've seen some pretty bad defenses in recent years, but I think last year was a turning point and they have a good,thing going, this year is still a good unit, worse in the secondary and stoping the run, better in the pass rush. The point is that the other teams D# are overall better but BB can still scheme against all the other offenses, the cardinals offense presents the worst matchup in my opinion.

#1 Broncos
#2 Cardinals
#3 Panthers
#4 Pats

If our offense is healthy........where exactly do any of these defenses matchup exactly?

patsfans.com spent a whole week convincing itself of the terror that was the KC front seven and pass rush.

What happened?

 

[luuked]

I would greatly prefer Carolina.

I see your point as Carolina has many weak points that Arizona doesn't have. Unless there are any major injuries in the NFC title game there is no real strong preference for me. I'd personally feel a bit more confident if there is no major running thread from a QB. That being said.. last year's SB showed that we can handle that so it might really be a wash.

 

[luuked]

Pretty sure I read that CAR currently has the top rated offense, although I'm not sure what that's going off of. I'm assuming points scored, although it may only have been in the regular season if the poster above is true and we're scoring 33.0 to their 31.2.

At any rate, I fear you may be selling them a bit short. They have a solid run game, a TE which is proven and comparable to ours, and a WR corps that produces far more than anyone expected them to (remember all of the threads and comments about how ****ty CAR was going to be due to their lack of receiving options?). Cam Newton, as you mention, is obviously the straw that stirs the drink, and is the clear cut MVP this season.

After considering this as well as their very strong defense, I will be rooting for ARZ, should we come to that point at 6:30 Sunday evening.

Apart from the obvious points of emphasis (take Olson away, minimize run game, keep contain on Newton) I think the key is to avoid cheap turnovers on offense. The Panthers have ridden their turnover differential this year to many wins. While they have great LBs and one great CB their defense wasn't particularly impressive against stronger offensive units. I know what the season stats say but I think we have a more consistent and balanced defense than Carolina.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

The problem with ranking these units is that they are so close when it comes to scoring defense. The points per game are as follows for the regular season:

Denver 18.5
Panthers 19.3
Arizona 19.6
Patriots 19.7


.

With all due respect, your numbers are off. You are taking points allowed and dividing by 16. You don't take into account special teams points ( blocked punt and punt return versus PHilly) or points allowed by the offense ( pick 6 versus Philly). That's 21 points right their off the top of my head. Not that other teams don't allow them as well but let's compare defensive points allowed to defense only...