Defense still wins.

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

There has been a lot of talk on here about the temptation to add more weapons to our offense with the intent of just outscoring our opponents. People pointed to Green Bay and New Orleans as examples; if your offense was good enough, no defense would be able to stop you given today's rules.

This round of the playoffs has shown the fallacy in that approach. Balance is required, and good D still wins in December and January.

We all need to remember this as we consider FA/draft selections.

Who won the Super Bowl last year? Green Bay with their flag football style passing game. Both cases apply, it just depends on the year. That said, build our D. We're good with Cam and a bunch of guys on offense and we got more than that.

[Kevin Greene]

The funny thing is, despite that line, the NY Giants was 27th defensively this year. That's part of the reason they barely made the playoffs. They've gotten hot at the right time.

I wish the NFL wouldn't use yards allowed as the bar for rating defenses.

Points allowed is what is relevant, they dont put total yards on the scoreboard, only points scored.

The Patriots defense was 15th in points allowed per game at 21.4.

The Packers defense was 19th in points allowed per game at 22.4.

The Giants defense was 25th in points allowed but surprisingly better than the vaunted Bronco defense in that stat.

The Packers, Patriots and Giants were 1,2 and 6 in interceptions. Takeaway leaders.

Both these defenses spent more time on the field because thier offenses scored quickly and efficiently for their teams. They sucked in yards allowed but not points.

When you talk about the greatest defenses of all time like the '85 Bears and the 2001 Ravens, it's points allowed that sets them apart, nobody gives a poo how many yards they gave up.

ESPN, NFL Network and every other news media needs to use points allowed when talking about defenses, not yards allowed.

[beckersteen]

You can't point to any one thing. It's a team sport. So much more to this game than saying something relative to "oh the defense did it."

[DaCityKats]

most complete team will win. offense, defense, and special teams. have to be sound in all 3 phases of the game. and right now this team is decent in 1 phase.

[bleys]

well, there were a few people raising the idea that the Panthers could win a Superbowl by having a less than average defense because look at GB and NO..

well, as the OP pointed out.. Look at GB and NO.

[teeray]

49ers don't win without Alex Smith yesterday

Add this to the list of things i thought I would never hear before this season :lol:

[ChinaPanther]

We need Defense more than we do offense. Alex Smith had a role in winning that game yesterday but their defense had a pretty significant role also. The Saint's offense is a ball control offense at it's heart but they just couldn't do that consistently against San Francisco's defense. The game was played on San Fran's terms which is why they won.

[The_Mango55]

NE just won

You should predict them to lose to the Ravens next week then

I will do so.

The Patriots will lose to the Ravens next week (If the Ravens remember who they are and don't try to play like the Patriots).

[chef17]

I think you are missing the point. Of course the offense needs to be able to score, but we can do that already. What we can't do is stop anyone. We need the D to generate more turnovers, to get more 3 and outs, to put a little fear in the minds of Ryan, Brees and Freeman.

Try this exercise. Count how many 1st round picks and current or former pro-bowl players will be starting for us on O next year. Now do the same with the D. Do those two numbers look at all similar?

The thread title is defense still wins. I am simply disagreeing. All these games have showed is that it takes an offense and defense which everyone should know already.

[rayzor]

you've got to have both.

you have to have a top offense and defense. one without the other will screw you over.

we have a top offense. this offense, which was the worst in the league last year by a significant margin, became the 6th best in the league. it will only get better with a full offseason and a cam with a year under his belt.

now comes the task of getting the defense to the level of the offense.

getting beason and edwards and even TD healthy again is a huge push in that direction. having the guys that played this year with a year of experience in the system and a full offseason will go a good way towards getting us average. i think replacing meeks with wilks will help in getting our secondary coached up.

if we can beef up the interior of the Dline and add a CB and upgrade at FS i think we've got ourselves well on the way to having a top 10 D next year.

[bleys]

The thread title is defense still wins. I am simply disagreeing. All these games have showed is that it takes an offense and defense which everyone should know already.

I think most people know that an offense is needed, and coincidentally, we have one.. However, what I have seen posted recently are people trying to rationalize how the Panthers just need a barely average defense to make it deep in the playoffs and have pointed to Green Bay, NO, and Pats as prime examples.. It appears they are the ones who seem to have forgotten that an offense may score points, but a defense still wins championships...

[chef17]

I think most people know that an offense is needed, and coincidentally, we have one.. However, what I have seen posted recently are people trying to rationalize how the Panthers just need a barely average defense to make it deep in the playoffs and have pointed to Green Bay, NO, and Pats as prime examples.. It appears they are the ones who seem to have forgotten that an offense may score points, but a defense still wins championships...

I guess I'm not so much disagreeing with what is being said, as it is the evidence. IMO these games didn't show that defense wins, they showed that the more complete team wins. In both games the offense and defense of the winning teams both played well. Hell in the 49ers game the offense even had to come through and win it at the game. I guess I'm just being a dick but the Ravens showed that defense wins. The 49ers and Giants showed that a good offense and defense beats a great offense

[Kevin Greene]

All you have to do is look at this years reg season results.

The Panthers and Chargers tied at #5 and #6 for most points scored per game.

Final recored 6-10 and 8-8 and no Playoffs.

[Keith Moons Liver]

Offense was exactly the Packers problem today. Their receivers were awful. They play up to their regular season selves and the Giants don't have quite so many opportunities on offense and the packers win in a high scoring game. You can win as an offensive team, but not when you choke in the playoffs.