Below you'll find a list of the all-time stingiest defenses of the Super Bowl Era. Remember, there are two distinct phases of modern NFL history: the Dead Ball Era (1966 to 1977) and the Live Ball Era (1978 to present).
What's the difference? Well, scoring became exceedingly difficult during the Dead Ball Era, culminating in a 1977 campaign that marked the low point for offense in modern NFL history. The 1977 season featured the stingiest defense in the Super Bowl Era – the Falcons – a team which surrendered just 9.21 PPG but won just half its games (7-7) because of its inability to score in a season dominated by defense (the 1977 Falcons offense averaged just 12.79 PPG).
The 1977 season offered three of the 11 toughest defenses to score upon in the Super Bowl Era. It also included the worst offense of the Super Bowl Era: Tampa Bay scored just 7.36 PPG in 1977. To put that into perspective, the 2007 Patriots scored 7.36 points every 12 minutes.
Thirteen of the 14 stingiest defenses in modern NFL history played in the Dead Ball Era from 1968 to 1977.
The 2000 Ravens boast the best defense of the Live Ball Era.
The NFL finally instituted a series of rule changes before the 1978 season in an effort to open up scoring. Their efforts succeeded remarkably well and NFL scoring shot up quickly in 1978. The NFL's Live Ball Era was born.
THE 25 STINGIEST DEFENSES OF THE SUPER BOWL ERA
|
Team |
Games |
Pts. Allowed |
PPG |
Record |
Result |
|
1977 Falcons |
14 |
129 |
9.21 |
7-7 |
Missed playoffs |
|
1969 Vikings |
14 |
133 |
9.50 |
12-2 |
Lost SB IV |
|
1975 Rams |
14 |
135 |
9.64 |
12-2 |
Lost NFC title game |
|
1976 Steelers |
14 |
138 |
9.86 |
10-4 |
Lost AFC title game |
|
1971 Vikings |
14 |
139 |
9.93 |
11-3 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
1971 Colts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1970 Vikings |
14 |
143 |
10.21 |
12-2 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
1968 Colts |
14 |
144 |
10.29 |
13-1 |
Lost SB III |
|
2000 Ravens |
16 |
165 |
10.31 |
12-4 |
Won SB XXXV |
|
1977 Rams |
14 |
146 |
10.43 |
10-4 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
1977 Broncos |
14 |
148 |
10.57 |
12-2 |
Lost SB XII |
|
1973 Dolphins |
14 |
150 |
10.71 |
12-2 |
Won SB VIII |
|
1975 Steelers |
14 |
162 |
11.57 |
12-2 |
Won SB X |
|
1966 Packers |
14 |
163 |
11.64 |
12-2 |
Won SB I |
|
1986 Bears |
16 |
187 |
11.69 |
14-2 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
2000 Titans |
16 |
191 |
11.94 |
13-3 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
1973 Vikings |
14 |
168 |
12.00 |
12-2 |
Lost SB VIII |
|
1968 Chiefs (AFL) |
14 |
170 |
12.14 |
12-2 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
1978 Steelers |
16 |
195 |
12.19 |
14-2 |
Won SB XIII |
|
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|
2002 Buccaneers |
16 |
196 |
12.25 |
12-4 |
Won SB XXXVII |
|
1985 Bears |
16 |
198 |
12.37 |
15-1 |
Won SB XX |
|
1978 Broncos |
16 |
198 |
12.37 |
10-6 |
Lost div. playoff |
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