Defense Doesn't Always Win Championships

[IndianPat]

This discussion is going on because of the dominant Seattle victory. The victory would not be so dominant if Bronco's had been conservative in their offense. As a poster in the Denverpost pointed out: This game was lost on a botched center/QB exchange and two huge give-away interceptions and a bad special teams coaching mistake. This wasn't one of those games where the younger ball handlers screwed the pooch or the defense collapsed. Yes, the O line was getting moved around but they were fighting their blocks back, not getting rolled.

If Manning grinds out the first half rushing, punting, throwing the ball away, and maybe even eating it if he has to, then this is a completely different game with the second half starting off maybe 15-6, or something. At that point he has a chance to get a feel for the coverage, and the pass rush. They have a chance to make some adjustments on both sides of the ball.

We have seen Tom Brady take this approach to game management all the time. The grinding it out, I mean. Even in 2007 SB, Tom got hit mercilessly but he ground it out, Patriots kept punting to maintain field position and had a game going into the final possession.

 

[Brady6]

It never ceases to amaze me how people can't see more than 2 feet in front of their own faces. Yes, this past Sunday, defense won the Super Bowl Championship for Seattle. But I am not ready to completely and radically change the formula for success the Patriots have followed.

Fact is that in 6 of the 7 past years, the better defense on Super Sunday lost the game - and there's an awful lot of mediocre defenses in there.

Let's look at the previous years:

2012: The Ravens were 12th in the league and San Francisco was 2nd so defense sure didn't win any championships last year.

2011: The sad sack Giants were 25th. It still sickens me.

2010: The #1 defense in the league, the Steelers, went to the Super Bowl - and lost giving up 31 points.

2009: The Saints were a very mediocre 20th and beat #8

2008: Pittsburgh was the top defense and they won it all. Huzzah.

2007: Giants were #17 and NE was #4. It still sickens me.

2006: Indy was an abysmal #23 against the #3 Chicago Bears

Complete teams win Championships. The Seahawks ranked ninth in the NFL in points scored, they were third overall in rushing yards, Russell Wilson ranked seventh in the NFL in QB rating (101.2), and Lynch ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing yards.

They have a ton of offensive talent:

All Pro
Percy Harvin
Marshawn Lynch
Max Unger
Pro Bowl
Marshawn Lynch x4
Russell Wilson x2
Max Unger x2
Michael Robinson
Zach Miller
Percy Harvin
Sidney Rice*
Russell Okung
Rookie of the Year
Percy Harvin
Russell Wilson

Add to that Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, and Jermaine Kearse all who have progressed into very good NFL players.