NFL: Defense Wins Championships
A wild, Wild Card Weekend in the NFL to say the least. We had a lot this weekend everything from a blowout, three close games, big plays, terrible plays, lots of missed tackles, too many turnovers, missed field goals, dumb penalties, strange coaching decisions, great coaching decisions, to a 7-9 team winning a playoff game. "Holy Crap."
Like most of the country, I was stunned that the defending Super Bowls champs were eliminated from the playoffs by the 7-9, Seattle Seahawks. I bet even some Seahawk fans had doubt in their team's chances against the Saints, but hats off to them. Head Coach Pete Carroll knows how to win big games and even though some people are still upset at him for leaving USC the way he did, but the guy is a winner and the most enthusiastic and energetic coach in the NFL. QB Matt Hasselbeck played his best game of the year and he picked the right time to do it. A tough test in Chicago awaits, but don't be surprised if the Seahawks pull another rabbit out of their hat and pull off a win. It has been a strange year in the NFL and when you think something has no chance of happening, it usually does.
After watching the games this weekend, I noticed their was a common theme in all of them. In all four games, the team with the better defense won the game. Forget what the defenses did in the regular season, but focus on what they did this past Saturday on Sunday. The defenses of Seattle, New York, Baltimore and Green Bay, won the game for their teams and it looks like, as the old saying goes, "Defense wins Championships."
Just look at the four games this past Sunday and you will see why. First, the Saints-Seahawks game was no where close to being a defensive struggle, in fact more of an offensive explosion. The fact of the matter though, is the Seattle defense made plays when they needed to be made. They stopped the Saints on a two point conversion and the special teams was able to recover the ensuing onside kick. The Saints defense on the other hand, had one of it's worst performances of the season by giving up 41 points to a team that averaged 19.4 in the regular season.
Also, New Orleans allowed Marshawn Lynch to gain 131 yds rushing, the first Seahawk to eclipse 100 yds all season. Pretty sad for a team that only averaged 89 yds on the ground. Not to mention Lynch's 67-yd TD run, where he made 8 Saints miss, which will go down as one of the best playoff runs of all-time. Lynch. When your offense scores 36 points and your Super Bowl MVP quarterback throws for 404 yds, you should win the game, but the Saints defense let them down and ended any chances of them repeating as Super Bowl champs.
Like most of the country, I was stunned that the defending Super Bowls champs were eliminated from the playoffs by the 7-9, Seattle Seahawks. I bet even some Seahawk fans had doubt in their team's chances against the Saints, but hats off to them. Head Coach Pete Carroll knows how to win big games and even though some people are still upset at him for leaving USC the way he did, but the guy is a winner and the most enthusiastic and energetic coach in the NFL. QB Matt Hasselbeck played his best game of the year and he picked the right time to do it. A tough test in Chicago awaits, but don't be surprised if the Seahawks pull another rabbit out of their hat and pull off a win. It has been a strange year in the NFL and when you think something has no chance of happening, it usually does.
After watching the games this weekend, I noticed their was a common theme in all of them. In all four games, the team with the better defense won the game. Forget what the defenses did in the regular season, but focus on what they did this past Saturday on Sunday. The defenses of Seattle, New York, Baltimore and Green Bay, won the game for their teams and it looks like, as the old saying goes, "Defense wins Championships."
Just look at the four games this past Sunday and you will see why. First, the Saints-Seahawks game was no where close to being a defensive struggle, in fact more of an offensive explosion. The fact of the matter though, is the Seattle defense made plays when they needed to be made. They stopped the Saints on a two point conversion and the special teams was able to recover the ensuing onside kick. The Saints defense on the other hand, had one of it's worst performances of the season by giving up 41 points to a team that averaged 19.4 in the regular season.
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| Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks ran all over the Saints on Saturday. |
Again on Saturday night, you saw defense dominate in the Jets-Colts game. Peyton Manning and the Colts only had the ball three times in the second half and they scored all three times, but all field goals. The Jets defense got away from blitzing Manning, like they did last year in the AFC Championship game, and instead dropped seven or eight defenders in coverage. This urged the Colts to run the ball, where they only gained 93 yards.
The Colts defense could not get off the field in the second half and that ended up being the Colts undoing. They allowed the Jets to score 17 points, including a killing 17 play, 77 yard touchdown drive, that ate up 9:54. The Colts were manhandled in the ground game by giving up 169 yds on 38 carries, something they struggled with all season. Then late in the 4th quarter with a two point lead, the Colts could not stop the Jets from driving down the field for a game winning field goal. Can't blame Manning for this one, blame the Indianapolis defense.
The Colts defense could not get off the field in the second half and that ended up being the Colts undoing. They allowed the Jets to score 17 points, including a killing 17 play, 77 yard touchdown drive, that ate up 9:54. The Colts were manhandled in the ground game by giving up 169 yds on 38 carries, something they struggled with all season. Then late in the 4th quarter with a two point lead, the Colts could not stop the Jets from driving down the field for a game winning field goal. Can't blame Manning for this one, blame the Indianapolis defense.
I think Baltimore 30, Kansas City 7, speaks for itself. The Ravens dominated every facet of the game against the Chiefs, especially on defense. The Chiefs were second in the league at running the football and they were only able to run for 108 yds. Chiefs QB Matt Cassel had no answers for the Ravens defense going, 9/18, 70 yds, 3 Int; QB Rating 20.4 and was sacked 3 times "C'mon Man." K.C. turned the ball over five times and only held the ball for 18:16. Ouch. Ravens are known for their defense and I think they showed way Sunday.
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| Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore defense, led the Ravens to a win Sunday. |
Finally, there was Green Bay-Philadelphia. Neither defense played outstanding, but neither played poorly either. It was a case where, when your defense needed to make a big play, did they make it? The Packers needed to stop Michael Vick from leading the Eagles to a game winning touchdown with less than a minute to go and they came through. Vick was held in check for most of the game and Tramon Williams' pick in the endzone on the final drive clinched the game for the Packers and ended Vick's amazing season.
Defense, defense, defense. The team with the best defense usually wins and in the playoffs it does not matter how you got there, it matters how you play now. Seattle, New York, Baltimore, and Green Bay played better than their opponents this past weekend not just on the scoreboard or on the stat sheet, but on defense.
To win the Super Bowl or any game in the NFL, you need a good head coach, a good quarterback, solid offensive line, a good running game, but most of all, you need a defense that can make a stop when the game is on the line. Don't be surprised if the teams that win this weekend, win because of the play of the defense.
Speaking of defense, don't expect much in tonight's Tostitos BCS National Championship between #1 Auburn and #2 Oregon. Both teams have high powered offenses that put up tons of yards and points every game. Auburn QB, and Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newton will have his time in his spotlight and will make some spectacular plays, but can't win the game alone. Auburn's defense must find a way to stop Oregon's fast paced offense if they are to give the Tigers a National Title. Oregon has the better defense and even though I think it will be a shootout, I like the Ducks. Final prediction, Oregon 52, Auburn 45.
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