Defense wins championships?

[Harlan Huckleby]

I was listening to Cris Carter & other ESPN boys talking about New England. The Patriots are tearing-up the league despite a mediocre defense because the offense controls the score and game. Pats defense is a bit better than mediocre, perhaps.

Colts have a bad defense, or at least an unbalanaced one, and they were a 12-4 team with Manning.

Are the Packers OK with an average defense?

[MadScientist]

Passer rating differential.

It can still be big even with a mediocre D, if you have a good enough QB.

[denverYooper]

Passer rating differential.

It can still be big even with a mediocre D, if you have a good enough QB.

Packers are 2nd to the Lions this year so far... Pats are close. Green Bay was number 1 last year.

The Belichick way lately seems to be to give up yards but not necessarily points and make the other team do a lot of work to score and rely on their offense being more efficient. I'd heard (can't remember the source) that the reason they were continuing to throw on teams during blowouts in '07 was that Belichick didn't trust the D at all. They're always in the mix but it hasn't earned them a Lombardi since they started doing it that way.

Colts and Saints won Lombardis by controlling the game on O. I know the argument that their Ds played well down the stretch but both of those teams were considered strong offensively and mediocre on D.

As far as the Packers go, the defense does look as though it might not be more than mediocre, although I still think it'll take 4-5 games to get a better idea. I don't think we've seen much yet as far as the offense goes. A few sorta interesting 3 TE formations, maybe, but if this group stays healthy on O we're likely to see some crazy shit go down later in the year. Perhaps we'll see a glimpse in the Bears game but I won't be surprised if they keep it relatively simple for now and wait for that Thanksgiving game to start really turning out the playbook. The line looks better so far (remember when we had to wait 8 games for Rodgers to stop getting killed?) and they have a real running game with Grant, Starks and a promising young RB in Green. Health will be key but this might be the year we really see the offense roll like we'd expected last year.

If this O can hang a 30burger on the Bears (and win, of course) I'm going to start double-fisting the kool-aid.

[Deputy Nutz]

This league is a changing. Defense in the post season is what wins championships, defenses don't win shit in the 2nd week of the season.

[vince]

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php?21596-Defense-Wins-Championships&highlight=passer+rating+differential

[gbgary]

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...g+differential

we better get our shit together then.

[vince]

we better get our shit together then.

The Packers currently have a Passer Rating Differential of +33.5 (126.4 vs. 92.9). They led the league last year with a PRD of +31.7. I'd say they're doing quite well. It ain't about the yards you give up. It's about touchdowns and turnovers.

[Fritz]

I sure feel like the D bailed out the offense toward the end of the year last year. Like, the Bears game that was, what 10-6? And the Jets game.

[bobblehead]

Passer rating differential.

It can still be big even with a mediocre D, if you have a good enough QB.

Correct. Just look at the Chargers last season.

[bobblehead]

This league is a changing. Defense in the post season is what wins championships, defenses don't win shit in the 2nd week of the season.

QFT....and you need to be able to pound the rock as well.

[Harlan Huckleby]

QFT....and you need to be able to pound the rock as well.

blocking and tackling too.


that was a smart aleck remark.


I don't think you need that much defense if you can put up 40 points.

[Pugger]

Most of the teams' defenses league wide have played pretty mediocre so far this season.

[vince]

QFT....and you need to be able to pound the rock as well.

Kind of like in the Super Bowl eh?

Pounding the Rock
Steelers - 126
Packers - 50

Correlations to winning in 2010 from the previous thread on this subject.
Passer Rating Differential - .77
Pounding the Rock - .30

Those are the undeniable facts. Are you saying you think they change in the playoffs?

[pbmax]

Correct. Just look at the Chargers last season.

Final 2010 Passer Rating Differential
  	Team 	        Off. PR	 Def. PR    Net
1 	Green Bay 	98.93 	 67.23 	   +31.7
2 	New England 	109.76 	 81.23 	   +28.53
3 	San Diego 	101.85 	 76.14 	   +25.71
4 	Pittsburgh 	95.25 	 73.78 	   +21.47
5 	Tampa Bay 	96.25 	 77.57 	   +18.68
6 	Baltimore 	93.64 	 76.34 	   +17.3
7 	Kansas City 	90.06 	 78.08 	   +11.98
8 	Philadelphia 	92.06 	 80.61 	   +11.45
9 	Atlanta 	90.80 	 82.19 	   +8.61
10 	New Orleans 	90.81 	 83.16 	   +7.65

Just look at New England and their 2nd ranked rush attack (FO). Or the Jets and their 5th ranked (FO) unit.

[Pugger]

It isn't surprising that the teams with the most success have QBs playing at a ridiculous level. The way the rules are today it favors offenses and passing in particular.