Seattle is the example used every time, but what are some other current great defenses that fit this description?
I think the idea is something put forward when it’s teams who don’t have good pass rushers need to prop up their roster.
Right now we have maybe one guy capable of getting eight sacks, let alone four or five
Great defenses are few and far between in today’s game anyways, but both the Patriots and Eagles had top 5 defenses last year and neither had a guy who had 9 or more sacks.
Upon research:
“Among the 14 actual NFL playoff teams, 6 teams featured at least one defensive player who reached the double-digit mark of 10+ sacks during the 2025 regular season.
The remaining 8 playoff rosters (
Seahawks,
Bills,
Patriots,
49ers,
Eagles,
Panthers,
Jaguars, and
Steelers) navigated their path to the postseason tournament using more balanced, committee-driven pass rushes without an individual player hitting the 10-sack milestone.”
So yeah, I’d say it’s not a “prop a bad roster up” philosophy. It’s one that’s worked for not only the two Super Bowl teams, but the majority of teams that made the playoffs. Football is the ultimate team sport, it’s always better to have a lot of good than one great.
Wouldn’t be as cynical in thinking a roster philosophy you don’t agree with is one that doesn’t work or is only used as an excuse. There are multiple ways to build a champion and having a group effort in the pass rush department has proven to be one of them.
Yes you can be the Texans with two All-Pros, but that’s unlikely.
