Defense still wins.

[Mr. Scot]

Balance wins most consistently.

Most teams are better on one side of the ball than the other, but if you flat out suck on one side, you have to be really dominant on the other to be a consistent winner.

We need to be good enough on both sides (and special teams) if we want to really threaten.

[Marguide]

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.

No one took the bait, so here it is just to illustrate the point:

Offense

Cam Newton - Number 1 overall

Jordan Gross - Number 8 overall, 2 time Pro Bowl selection

Deangelo Williams - Number 27 overall, 1 time Pro Bowl selection

Jonathan Stewart - Number 13 overall

Ryan Kalil - 3 time Pro Bowl selection

Jeff Otah - Number 19 overall

Jeremy Shockey - Number 14 overall, 4 time Pro Bowl selection

Greg Olsen - Number 31 overall

Steve Smith - 5 time Pro Bowl selection

Defense

Jon Beason - Number 25 overall, 3 time Pro Bowl selection

Thomas Davis - Number 14 overall

Chris Gamble - Number 28 overall

Any surprise we are much better on offense than defense?

[rayzor]

i think a better premise is that defense is still needed. not that defense still wins.

balance is necessary.

we have a ways to go before we have that balance on this team. we have to catch that defense up this offseason.

[Marguide]

i think a better premise is that defense is still needed. not that defense still wins.

Yes that would have been more accurate. I'm guilty of the old trick of trying to make headlines provocative to generate views. :)

[I am Hubby]

You guys are all close. But no cigar for you.

The only way to win a Super Bowl is to have as complete a team as possible. Play as well as possible. And have the breaks flow your way.

Just that simple. And GOOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS. The ONLY way we add a WR this year is if Blackmon is still there at 8/9. Or some 6'6 240 WR from Howknowsville State, that some scout absolutely loves, is invited to camp and impresses.

[L-TownCat]

A dominant defensive line can be such an advantage sometimes its not even fair. I wouldnt be mad if we used all our high picks on it.

I would be. I know we need Defense and it all starts up front, but that area is the least likely position to hit in the first round. Not to mention our draft record of D-line has not been too good(Pep & CJ aside). If we go CB im giddy as a school girl, hell id even take OT because statistically they are batting 1.000 since '03! This draft is loaded with defensive skill players get some of them and attack free agency(i know we wont).

[CRA]

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.

NO committed 5 turnovers.....GB had drops, missed passes, and turnovers.

Bad play will cause any team to lose. Offense is still king. NO committed 5 turnovers and were winning at the end. SF wouldn't of been in the game if they had turned it over.

Denver had good D and they got CURBSTOMPED by a team w/ with a weak D.

[The_Mango55]

Denver's D was only good because of the teams they had been playing recently.

[CRA]

Denver's D was only good because of the teams they had been playing recently.

not true. They are not great but they are a very good squad. They did take a hit late losing Dawkins and Von's hand. But they played some flat out great football this year on D.

[CRA]

Brady vs. 49ers D?

Give me Brady any day of the week. Plus, NE has perfected the small ball offense.....which makes attacking him different than Brees.

[csx]

And to that I reply: New England Patriots.

If they lose at home to the Ravens next week, that will prove your point. If they don't, well...

unless they win because their defense plays well

[Marguide]

Brady vs. 49ers D?

Give me Brady any day of the week. Plus, NE has perfected the small ball offense.....which makes attacking him different than Brees.

You mean the Brady that has yet to beat a team with a winning record this year?

I'll take SF over NE all day.

[CRA]

You mean the Brady that has yet to beat a team with a winning record this year?

I'll take SF over NE all day.

LMFAO.

You talking about the guy who arguably could go down as the greatest QB of ALL TIME? Don't try to pull that look at who he played card w/ Tom Brady. Brady played who was on his schedule. What you saw this weekend was the best QB in the game unleashing after weeks and weeks of talk about other QBs around the league being what should be talked about.

He will add another ring this year.

Brady has carved up better defenses before than what SF has.

Sorry, but ain't no way I am betting on Alex Smith/Harbaugh vs. Brady/Belichick in a AFCCG.

Patriots won't have 5 turnovers......and SF needed all 5 of those to BARELY beat the Saints.

[Udogg]

Patriots don't play well against good tackling teams. I don't think they can beat any of the remaining teams.