RealGM Football: The Red Zone - Defense Still Wins Championships

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Defense Still Wins Championships

Authored by Andrew Perna - 17th May, 2005 - 1:34 pm

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Offensive numbers are on the rise and the sports world has become one big highlight reel, but one thing has remained true. Defense stills wins playoff football games and ultimately championships.

The 2004 NFL season was a perfect example of this fact. The Indianapolis Colts? quarterback Peyton Manning threw an NFL record 49 touchdown passes. With Manning?s help, the Colts offense became one of the most dangerous in history. However, when the Colts faced the New England Patriots and their complex defense in the AFC playoffs, it was the dominant defense that beat out the dominant offense.

If you look back to the last two Super Bowl match-ups, they were both battles between two terrific defensive teams. Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles squared off against the defending champion New England Patriots. The two teams were tied for second in the league for fewest points allowed during the 2004 NFL season. The only team ahead of them was the Pittsburgh Steelers who made it to the AFC Championship game before losing to New England. The Eagles and Patriots reached the 2004 Super Bowl because of their defense. On their way to the champion ship game, both teams defeated dynamic offensive forces in Michael Vick and the aforementioned Peyton Manning.

Should you look back even further to the previous Super Bowl, the New England Patriots faced off against the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers. It was another defensive battle that made for a hard fought Super Bowl. That year, the Patriots allowed the fewest points of any other team. The Panthers had an amazing 9 interceptions and 10 sacks in their 2003 playoff run. The last four Super Bowls have been won by teams who prided themselves on their defense. Three years ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl while allowing the fewest points in the NFL during the 2002 season.

If dynamic offensive players such as Michael Vick and Peyton Manning want to experience playoff success, they will need some help on the defensive end of the ball. Defense is very important in all sports, but it holds the greatest importance on the football field. The highlight reels, the endorsements, and the posters are important to a lot of athletes. The NFL offensive records are seen as tremendous personal accomplishments, but when it comes to winning Super Bowls, defense stills holds the key.

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