Best defenses of all time

[CyberB0b]

I'd rather rank our '71 team higher than them. In 13 games out of 17 we kept opponents under 300 yards 13 times. In our playoff/SB run we allowed a total of 18 points combined.

The rules were different and offenses are much more prolific now.

 

[cowboys1981]

The rules were different and offenses are much more prolific now.

It doesn't change 18 total points allowed in 2 playoff games and a SB combined.

 

[DFWJC]

They were far more impressive to me than the 1985 Bears who whipped up on a fairly hapless and one dimensional Patriot team. And the Ravens of '00 beat one of the least qualified SB teams ever.

This was an all-timer performance if you look at what they were facing.

All week, people were all about wanting to go defense but thought eventually the Broncos were just going to kill them. Did not happen.

You are referring to one game though.
I think the OP was referring to far more than that.

 

[Redball Express]

Is this seattle D one of the best ever? If not which team had the best D.

Dallas in '92-'96.

They were greatly underrated in their day but Wannstead, Butch Davis and several assistants went on to have fruitful careers elsewhere.

Book it.

 

[Blue&Silver]

This is an easy one.
I ranked the teams in terms of which had the toughest offensive schedules, as determined by the final offensive ranks that each team played. The rankings are:

1. 1976 Steelers
2. 1991 Eagles
3. 1985 Bears
4. 1977 Falcons
5. 2008 Steelers
6. 1973 Rams
7. 2000 Ravens

 

[Blue&Silver]

If you go by raw data these teams statistically are he best all-time.
In order
1973 Los Angeles Rams
1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
1977 Atlanta Falcons
1985 Chicago Bears
1991 Philadelphia Eagles
2000 Baltimore Ravens
2008 Pittsburgh Steelers

 

[Crown Royal]

He still was no Brady or Manning. He had never been in the crucible those two quarterbacks were and didn't have the extended big-game experience those two did. As good as the Bucs defense was, they played Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and Rich Gannon. The Seahawks played Drew Brees, Kaepernick and Peyton Manning. The quarterback Seattle faced are way more impressive than the three the Bucs faced.

Again, we're talking about Peyton Manning vs. Rich Gannon. I'm more impressed with the Seahawks defense and what they did. Denver was absolutely no threat to them whatsoever.

Rich Gannon was the Peyton Manning of 2001 and 2002. His regular seasons at that time were astronomically good, and 2002 he was the league MVP. You are retrospectively comparing Manning's career to Rich Gannon's two seasons in Oakland.

I'm not disagreeing that Seattle's defense this year is better than Tampa's 2002 defense. I think Seattle's is definitely better. But Rich Gannon was playing out of his mind those two years.

 

[Risen Star]

Rich Gannon was the Peyton Manning of 2001 and 2002. His regular seasons at that time were astronomically good, and 2002 he was the league MVP. You are retrospectively comparing Manning's career to Rich Gannon's two seasons in Oakland.

I'm not disagreeing that Seattle's defense this year is better than Tampa's 2002 defense. I think Seattle's is definitely better. But Rich Gannon was playing out of his mind those two years.

I don't really understand why it's important anyway. Facing better competition doesn't improve the talent of a defense. It just showcases it more.

Is the Seahawks defense great because they faced Brees and Manning this year? Of course not.

 

[camelboy]

People seem to get in the hype of a superbowl (basically ONE game) performance. I know they rank #1 but the seahawks defense did look leaky in some games this year and I still believe they (The defense) got lucky more than once against SF.. I am not sure they even should be top 5

 

[Blue&Silver]

Him

People seem to get in the hype of a superbowl (basically ONE game) performance. I know they rank #1 but the seahawks defense did look leaky in some games this year and I still believe they (The defense) got lucky more than once against SF.. I am not sure they even should be top 5

In historical terms the Seahawks defense was just above average, as was Tampa. They aren't in the same league as some of the older teams. A lot of the people here weren't around back then, and only remember teams like Tampa, Ravens etc. because of rule changes we will probably never see a shutdown defense like the old days, again.

 

[Nova]

I think Tampa's defense gets underrated on this forum

2002 was their best year, but they were a consistently good defense for a few years there. I remember watching them go up against the Greatest Show on Turf in 1999 and and held them to 11 pts. They held Faulk to under 50 combined yards, picked off Warner a few times. And that's before they went out and signed Simeon Rice.

The 2002 bunch was pretty darn good.

Edit: I didn't mean to quote Blue&Silver

 

[Doomsday101]

Is this seattle D one of the best ever? If not which team had the best D.

A case could be made in this day and age of rules that favor the offense that the seahawks is the best. 85 Bears no doubt where great but with rule changes who is too say how the 85 bears would rank

 

[Doomsday101]

Him

In historical terms the Seahawks defense was just above average, as was Tampa. They aren't in the same league as some of the older teams. A lot of the people here weren't around back then, and only remember teams like Tampa, Ravens etc. because of rule changes we will probably never see a shutdown defense like the old days, again.

I agree the old defense like the steel curtain or doomsday or 85 Bears were great but it is hard to play that style when you can't target a so called defenseless WR so seahawk players still over came that vs the top offense in the NFL. They made the bronco look like a high school team.

 

[KJJ]

The 85 Bears front 7 was the most dominate in NFL history. In most cases QB's didn't even have time to set up to pass before they got clocked but their secondary was vulnerable. Dan Marino pretty much carved them up in the Bears only loss that season. The Bears couldn't get to Marino with his quick release and he exposed their secondary. The Seahawks front 7 isn't even close to the 85 Bears front 7 but their secondary is far better. The Seahawks only sacked Peyton Manning once but they disrupted him the entire game causing him to misfire several times.

The 2013 Seahawks were ranked #1 against the pass while the 85 Bears were ranked #3. The Bears ranking is skewed because it was a result of their fierce pass rush not allowing QB's to get off passes. Manning had opportunities to throw but the Seahawks coverage and pursuit to the ball was outstanding. Most of Manning's yards and the Broncos only score came in garbage time when the game was over.

 

[burmafrd]

The Seattle Defense is as good as you can expect to see in the NFL of today.

 

[tyke1doe]

Him

In historical terms the Seahawks defense was just above average, as was Tampa. They aren't in the same league as some of the older teams. A lot of the people here weren't around back then, and only remember teams like Tampa, Ravens etc. because of rule changes we will probably never see a shutdown defense like the old days, again.

Which makes Seattle's defense even more impressive. They played tough, physical, agressive and shutdown in an era that favors the offense.

 

[tyke1doe]

Dallas in '92-'96.

They were greatly underrated in their day but Wannstead, Butch Davis and several assistants went on to have fruitful careers elsewhere.

Book it.

Fruitful???

 

[Risen Star]

This is ridiculous. He lost his top 2 receivers, he threw for more yards, same amount of TDs and 1 less interception than last year. He also led his team to a division title which he didn't accomplish last year. That's not a little step back. He grew up and became more of leader this year. I don't know how you could possibly come up with saying he took a little step back.

By not taking the step forward I expected. I liked Wilson last year. I wanted to see him mature as a legitimate pocket passer. I didn't see that. He's a very fortunate player with a supporting cast that conceals his weaknesses.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The 85 Bears front 7 was the most dominate in NFL history.

No, not even close. The most dominating front seven in the History of the NFL was the Fearsome Foursome, the Purple Gang, the Steel Curtain and the Doomsday Defense, all were more talented then the Bears front seven in 85, IMO. That 85 Bears team did it because of the 46 scheme. Not as much talent IMO. Once teams figured out the 46, game over.

 

[Direwolf63]

By not taking the step forward I expected. I liked Wilson last year. I wanted to see him mature as a legitimate pocket passer. I didn't see that. He's a very fortunate player with a supporting cast that conceals his weaknesses.

However I believe Wilson would have taken that step forward if he would have had Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin all year. Losing them really limited that offense. They had nobody to stretch the field. No real game breaking ability.

But he, along with a great defense managed to overcome the losses.