Defense still wins championships

[Doomsday101]

I was impressed with both defense in the game. Cinn defense caught fire hitting the playoffs including a great performance vs KC where they held them to 3 points in the 2nd half of that game. Last night they played a high powered offense and caused a lot of headaches for the Rams. Of Course the Rams would not even been in the SB had it not been for some big stops in games where Stafford looked like he was trying to give the game away. Last night Ram defense was able to sack Burrow 7 times and was in his face much of the night including the 4th down play to end the game with Donald all over him. The notion defense does not win Championship? It does when you play as these teams did last night

 

[TheHerd]

The Rams stopped Cincy twice in the last few minutes. That's why they won.

Last year Tampa's defense held Mahommes in check and pressured him all game. That's why they won.

Defense does still win championships.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Agreed. A quality QB and high powered offense can win you games in the regular season, and consistently get you into the playoffs. You have to have a good defense to take that next step though.

 

[Diehardblues]

Yes, but you need a good enough QB to lead you to a game winning drive.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Yes, but you need a good enough QB to lead you to a game winning drive.

Or even get there, unless your that elite level defense....Great defense without a QB gets you the Broncos/Steelers/etc. Takes a complete team to win a superbowl, but I would much rather build around a great qb with a high level defense than continue to add pieces to the offense.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes, but you need a good enough QB to lead you to a game winning drive.

and yet a great defense to stop a top QB from making the game tying or winning drive.

 

[Kingofholland]

I hated the Bengals playcall on 4th and 1. Burrow had been under constant pressure and ran a play that took too long to develop. Though they got stopped on the prior play their run game had been pretty effective. Would have run it again, Moore would have been roasted if that was his play on 4th and 1.

 

[willia451]

We say it every year. And it's still true to this day.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Or even get there, unless your that elite level defense....Great defense without a QB gets you the Broncos/Steelers/etc. Takes a complete team to win a superbowl, but I would much rather build around a great qb with a high level defense than continue to add pieces to the offense.

Bingo! .....all the talk about you have to have an elite QB is BS. Hell, if was that simply, Rodger, Mahomles, Brees would have several. I do believe an elite QB can get you to the post season but after that, you better have a complete team as stated.

 

[CouchCoach]

The Rams stopped Cincy twice in the last few minutes. That's why they won.

Last year Tampa's defense held Mahommes in check and pressured him all game. That's why they won.

Defense does still win championships.

And TB gave the rest of the league a template for handling Mahomes and CIN used that in the AFCCG.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Bingo! .....all the talk about you have to have an elite QB is BS. Hell, if was that simply, Rodger, Mahomles, Brees would have several. I do believe an elite QB can get you to the post season but after that, you better have a complete team as stated.

And this superbowl was a great example. I look at Burrow and Stafford in the realm of really good QBs, but it's tough to put them in the elite category. Burrow young enough to still get there though. Both brought really good defense (In very different ways which is interesting) and with that combo really can match up with anyone in the league.

 

[CouchCoach]

Defense does still win championships but the best ones are when the GM realizes they are always unfinished.

Both of these teams added key players to their D's and LA didn't stop when the season started adding Miller. The LA GM had his orders, win now.

 

[Miller]

Defense does still win championships but the best ones are when the GM realizes they are always unfinished.

Both of these teams added key players to their D's and LA didn't stop when the season started adding Miller. The LA GM had his orders, win now.

Agree! Von Miller didn’t even have his name called 1st half but when it counted and the teams were tiring he and Donald wreaked havoc

 

[Diehardblues]

and yet a great defense to stop a top QB from making the game tying or winning drive.

Yep

It’s still about balance . Both are needed and why we haven’t sniffed the SB this era.

 

[Diehardblues]

Or even get there, unless your that elite level defense....Great defense without a QB gets you the Broncos/Steelers/etc. Takes a complete team to win a superbowl, but I would much rather build around a great qb with a high level defense than continue to add pieces to the offense.

Balance is needed .

We haven’t had a great defense or elite QB. No wonder we haven’t seen a SB this era.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yep

It’s still about balance . Both are needed and why we haven’t sniffed the SB this era.

I think it is about playing your best when it means the most. Both Rams and Cin did just that. Neither were top seeded teams but both played very good football when everything was on the line. Question do you think Rams and Cinn where the best teams in the NFL? Or did they catch fire at the right time? Personally I think both are talented teams so not trying to say they lack the talent but both were 4th seed teams but got hot at the right time.

 

[Diehardblues]

I think it is about playing your best when it means the most. Both Rams and Cin did just that. Neither were top seeded teams but both played very good football when everything was on the line. Question do you think Rams and Cinn where the best teams in the NFL? Or did they catch fire at the right time? Personally I think both are talented teams so not trying to say they lack the talent but both were 4th seed teams but got hot at the right time.

In a single game elimination tournament the best teams don’t always win. But in the end they were good enough to make the tournament over a 17 game season . And yea, they played their best when it mattered most.

Lower seeds teams are not the normal but when only one team receives a bye now this could become more of the norm. Time will tell. But we have seen a few lower seeds this era go all the year way. Something that wasn’t historically seen in the league before.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Shut down defenses are a thing of the past, but i agree you do need opportunistic defenses that can make some stops at key points of the game. And an offense that doesn't implode, you know penalties/turnovers.

 

[Cowboyny]

I was impressed with both defense in the game. Cinn defense caught fire hitting the playoffs including a great performance vs KC where they held them to 3 points in the 2nd half of that game. Last night they played a high powered offense and caused a lot of headaches for the Rams. Of Course the Rams would not even been in the SB had it not been for some big stops in games where Stafford looked like he was trying to give the game away. Last night Ram defense was able to sack Burrow 7 times and was in his face much of the night including the 4th down play to end the game with Donald all over him. The notion defense does not win Championship? It does when you play as these teams did last night

Couldn't agree more. Just look at some the the SB winners in the last few years: TB, DEN, SEA

 

[Doomsday101]

Shut down defenses are a thing of the past, but i agree you do need opportunistic defenses that can make some stops at key points of the game. And an offense that doesn't implode, you know penalties/turnovers.

No doubt rules favor offense but Cinn holds KC to 3 points in the 2nd half of the game in the AFC playoffs. That is damn impressive and about as close to shut down as it gets.