The NFL Gets Defensive: Top Ten in Points Allowed/Game All In The Playoffs

[Brady'sButtBoy]

In fact, every playoff or potential playoff team is number 14(Giants) or higher. Of that top 14 only Philadelphia at number 11 is out of the playoffs - Vikings and Redskins still need to fight out the last spot; and I'm assuming Tenn. is in. Really nothing new in these numbers. What's interesting though is so many people talk about how the NFL has become all about the offense these days when the near constant rule of 'defense wins' continues. A look at the offensive points leaders will show a number of pretenders near the top.

* The Pats now lead the league in points scored and points allowed (tied with Tampa) - just like those '72 Dolphins did.

D - http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?stat=team&sort=ppg&pos=def&league=nfl&season=2&year=2007

O - http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?stat=team&sort=ppg&pos=off&league=nfl&season=2&year=2007

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

And we've beat 6 of them...........

In fact, Washington would surley have been much higher (2-3 spots) had we just hung our average 36 point on them instead of that 50+ spot :singing:

In fact, since we beat several of them quite handily, you could say that list is greatly skewed due to us.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Not only did we beat several in the top ten, and whack them while we were at it, I'm certain that some teams we beat in the top 14 would be named before us in answer to the question, who's got a great D this year? But the fact is we've got one of very best and yet even home town fans spend hours whining about Ellis Hobbs being soft, Seau and Bruschi being too old, Thomas not tough enough, etc.

We've played the toughest schedule of the playoff teams, and other top O's like Cincy and Cleveland and shut them down to the tune of 15.9 points/game - what more can you ask for? A Super Bowl!! Because if D wins championships then the Pats are in fine shape.

One thing I haven't been able to check - how does 15.9 points/game compare to the D leaders from other years/eras?