Championship Weekend Again Highlights Need for Great 'D'

Nick Foles may have had a career night against the Vikings--but that's not reason enough the Eagles are in the Super Bowl. 

As the dust finally settles from championship Sunday, fans will take note of the well-publicized similarities between the non-Brady/Belichick teams that competed. 
 
Great defenses. 
 
Indeed, Blake Bortles, Case Keenum, and Nick Foles entered the weekend with a chance to start in the Super Bowl, while the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Russel Wilson, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger—the list goes on—all watched from home. 
 
A fourth-quarter comeback notwithstanding, Bortles, who by any standard (and certainly his own) played very well, nearly outdueled Brady, a six-time Super Bowl champion. Had Keenum and the Vikings not turned in their collective worst performance of the season, they’d be playing “host” to the Patriots two weeks from now in Minneapolis. Foles, who is known better for his likeness to Jon Heder’s Napoleon Dynamite, turned in the most shocking performance of the weekend—carving the top-ranked Vikings’ defense to the tune of  350-plus yards and 3 touchdowns. 
 
But even as Bortles, and especially Foles, deserve credit for playing above and beyond expectations, what they mostly share is having great defenses back them up. Bortles’ yeoman-like effort against the Patriots would never have been without carrying a 20-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Foles was fantastic against the Vikings, but the Eagles defense turned in a pick-six and kept pouring on the third-down stops and turnovers. 
 
From close up or from 10,000 feet, a great defense is the sustaining quality of Super Bowl contenders—and almost without exception in recent years. 
This year’s Patriots may have been a paltry 29th in total yards, but they made up for it by finishing fifth in points allowed. Philadelphia is ranked fourth in both yards and points. Last year’s Patriots? Thirteenth in yards; first in points allowed. It’s a trend that follows strictly going back the past decade. The 2016 Broncos were first in yards and fourth in points; the ’14 Patriots were around 10th in both categories, and the ’13 Seahawks dominated both categories. 
 
Two recent caveats? The 2012 Ravens (17th in yards, T12th in points) benefitted greatly from a superman-like postseason stretch from Joe Flacco. The ’11 Giants were 27th in yards and 25th in points but survived because of their prowess attacking quarterbacks. Those Giants finished T3rd in sacks (48) and T6th in interceptions (20). 
 
Indeed, the Packers’ championship in 2010—which still featured a high-flying, Aaron Rodgers-led offense—had the benefit of a defense that finished fifth in total yards and second in points allowed (to go with 47 sacks and 25 interceptions, both second-best in the league). 
 
Duh, right? “Defenses win championships,” is as cliched a phrase as talking about quarterback intangibles. But the numbers back it up. 
 
And so even as the Packers have legitimate question marks on offense—at tight end, wide receiver, backup quarterback and along the offensive line—history tells us that erecting a championship defense is most important. The Eagles are a great example of a team that used reasonably-priced veteran free agents to bolster an already impressive roster.  Green Bay may need to do the same to give new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine the pieces he needs to begin and complete an emphatic turnaround.
 
The advantage Green Bay has always purported to have—that with Rodgers, an average defense is all that’s needed—hasn’t shown to be true. When it counts, a great defense can make up for huge questions at quarterback—and if you need to look any further, take a look at Nick Foles. 
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Comments (24)

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Horse's picture

January 22, 2018 at 04:35 pm

Hmm. Great D is great, no doubt.

But I noticed something yesterday. It's almost as if it wasn't enough.

Vikings #1 D kicked some ass, but nah. Jags great D, uh.

So, a radical idea here, I know, but maybe there's something else that makes the Magic Formula a little more complex than that.

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Ds300916's picture

January 22, 2018 at 04:58 pm

Totally agree!

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John Kirk's picture

January 22, 2018 at 07:32 pm

Defense does NOT win Championships. Tom Brady has more SB rings than any current QB. He is the greatest QB of all time. New England wins their rings because of him and Bill Belichick.

Right coaching is as or more important in winning than defense.

Go look up Allen Barra and his... 10 Myths of Pro Football...or go google the Freakonomics piece on if defense really wins championships.

Yes, the Packers need a BETTER defense for sure. We have the QB. New England doesn't have anywhere near an elite D, this year, or last, and they're playing for back to back.

It's about total strength of your team. If your O rates a 9 out of 10 and your D rates a 3 you get 12 points. If you face a team with a D that's a 9 and an O that's a 5 you're not as good. Of course, ST's factor as well, and coaching. This odd need to pin it on defense being the singular thing that makes a team win SB's is a curious origin.

Quarterback is in a category all by himself. He can elevate or tank your franchise all by himself almost. So, there is a huge effect on your overall strength based on one position. That's why it's been so hard watching us fall short year after year. We have the one variable that affects things more than any other and we can't get back to the SB? It's a ton on the D, but coaching hasn't done us any favors either nor has ST's over the years.

We need better coaching. We still have MM. We now have Pettine and not Dom. So, we should be a little better in the overall coaching aspect raising us up.

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Bearmeat's picture

January 22, 2018 at 06:18 pm

Agreed. We need a defense that is top 10 in points against and top 10 in turnovers. That is achievable in one offseason.

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Minniman's picture

January 22, 2018 at 08:44 pm

I'm not sure what others saw but I saw a pats D in the second half that got stops when they needed.

I wonder what their rankings were down the stretch (I suspect higher than their whole year aggregates), as this D got it done when it mattered...... then Brady was Brady

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 23, 2018 at 01:58 am

"The NFL has used YARDS as a more accurate measure [than scoring defense] for YEARS."

I don't think total yards is more accurate than points allowed per game. Thus, we disagree. Completely.

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John Kirk's picture

January 23, 2018 at 08:04 am

The NFL has used yards for decades. That part isn't debatable.

New England's D is rated below the Packers for yards. 25th and 29th and back to back SBs.

I think it's interesting that the Top 2 defenses stacked up that way in yards and points. A huge discrepancy with New England. I saw a ton of New England games this season. That defense was not good. Yards more accurately reflected their defensive performance than points. Not much pass rush. Not very good vs the run and not great against the pass. I challenge you to tell me you watched a lot of them this year and you think they were a top tier defense. You can cite points as a stat and speak in generalities but do you honestly think they were good? Belong in bottom tier not top just as yards shows. No surprise to me.

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Coldworld's picture

January 22, 2018 at 05:02 pm

Good D, good offense: good chance

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4thand1's picture

January 22, 2018 at 05:09 pm

NE doesn't have a great defense, just guys doing what they're asked to do. They always come up with a play when it matters most. Execution is the key, NE does it better than anyone. Every other coach still hasn't taken notice.

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Minniman's picture

January 22, 2018 at 08:57 pm

I totally agree with this comment.

Case in point Ricky Jean Francois - the Packers midyear cast off - not necessarily lighting it up for the Pats but executing when called on.

Same too James Harrison.

Kudos to Belichick and Matt Patricia. They really understand the fundamentals of a good D [not that I do] and know just HOW to assess what a player can do and what role they need them to plug - and most importantly, how many reps per game they need them to do this.

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ricky's picture

January 22, 2018 at 05:09 pm

Great D? Jax gave up over 40 to Pitt. Eagles scored almost 40 on Minny. Coldworld said it best, a balanced attack of offense and defense is key. And when push domes to shove, the D or O (depending on who has the ball) has to rise to the challenge. Jax, Minny, NO and Pitt didn't. Philly and NE did.

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Bure9620's picture

January 22, 2018 at 05:13 pm

Situational defense is key in the NFL, you can be a bend don't break style, but you have to make plays on 3rd down. How many 3rd and longs did we give up this year????? If our defense had a 3rd and 8 or longer there was a long completion. We actually were okay on first and 2nd. We dont need to be the '15 Broncos or 2000 Ravens. We just need to get off the field in key situations.

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CAG123's picture

January 22, 2018 at 05:19 pm

That’s what she said! Okay got that out the way, now let’s talk Packers football

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Chuck Farley's picture

January 22, 2018 at 06:23 pm

Ive always beleived that to win the sb a team must have above avg special teams, excellant defense that includes pass rush and pass defense, quality qb play an above avg run game. Any of those elements missing, and your an also ran. Only one team in my recollection that won a sb without the above, the ravens. They had a crap offense but the shut down d stopped other teams cold and scored enough points to win. They were not a complete team.

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Since91's picture

January 22, 2018 at 07:29 pm

Sorry David! You can keep your "D"
I will take the offense every day and twice on Sundays!

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JohnnyLogan's picture

January 22, 2018 at 07:33 pm

... and home field advantage. NE has a great QB and an all time great coach. They generally have a weak division and end up with home field. It's a big plus. NE doesn't blow people away, they somehow end up winning, often late. Their D came through in the 2nd half but so did the refs. Ten yards of penalties all game. They were holding and half their completions are on blatant pick plays, and the DB's were grabbing the whole game. Yet 10 yards of penalties. In today's NFL, if the refs give you extra yardage, you have an added element to offense, defense and special teams. Refs.

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Lphill's picture

January 22, 2018 at 09:08 pm

Give Rodgers a defense in the top 12 and he will do the rest . Trent Dilfer and Payton Manning on the Broncos needed number 1 defenses to win , Rodgers does not.

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Rossonero's picture

January 22, 2018 at 09:27 pm

I could've sworn MIke McCarthy was on the Jaguars sideline calling plays in the 2nd half. Predictable runs up the middle on first down, abandoning the play action that had been successful and in general, playing not to lose instead of playing to win.

I hope McCarthy watched the Patriots dig into their bag of tricks. When is the last time we did a flea flicker? Or the pitch and lateral play? Patriots had to dig deep, but they do whatever it takes to win. I hope McCarthy is taking notes during these playoffs. His job depends on it next season. Getting to the wildcard or divisional round is not enough.

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Tundraboy's picture

January 23, 2018 at 06:46 pm

Spot on. I also felt like Capers was coaching the Vikings secondary yesterday as well last.

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Rossonero's picture

January 23, 2018 at 05:09 am

Thanks. Good point about the Vikings secondary.

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Chuck Farley's picture

January 23, 2018 at 11:23 am

Ya the irony, the Vikes play small ball and always have and the Eagles did too turning it on them. Quick hits down field, out passes to the tight ends, crossing routes and slants, all plays that the MM offense doesnt have. It all verticle.

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Coldworld's picture

January 23, 2018 at 08:24 am

These kind of tweaks largely left when Philbin did. Let’s hope they return with him too.

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Chuck Farley's picture

January 23, 2018 at 11:20 am

I dont think the Pats have a great D. they are above avg is all. That is why I can see the Eagles winning this game by getting ahead and staying there. I dont see a huge comeback against there defense as they did last year.
Still you got to have a decent defense. The packers sucks and the team is going nowhere but 8-8 with them.

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Chuck Farley's picture

January 23, 2018 at 11:27 am

You guys want a good laugh, the vike fans and doing what ever they can to unload their super bowl tickets.
Saw and irate fan on TV yesterday bitching that 'hey we paid a lot of good money to fly to Philly for his game only to see the team play awful, what a waste of money that was'.
Not a Vike fan I got a good laugh on that one. Happy campers they aint around here. Not hearing anyone praising the season the team just had thats for sure. Theres a lot of four letter words being used the last few days.

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