Defenses target new standards of stingy

(See the companion piece, "Firing blanks")

 

If you feel like your team can't punch the ball in the end zone this year, well ... you're not alone. Offenses have hit a sudden roadblock this season after three decades of rising scores.

 

In fact, defenses have been so dominant this year that there are no fewer than four teams with a reasonable shot at setting a new Super Bowl Era record for scoring defense.

 

The stingiest defense of the Super Bowl Era was fielded by the 1977 Falcons, who surrendered just 9.2 PPG. (The 25 toughest defenses of the Super Bowl Era are listed below.)

 

The four teams on pace to meet or exceed that mark this season are:

The scorching defense is impressive on its own. But it's truly unbelievable when we put it into historic context.

 

As Cold, Hard Football Facts loyalists know, the Super Bowl Era can be broken down into two distinct phases: 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 modern history (the aforementioned Falcons, 9.2 PPG) and the most inept offense in modern history (the 1977 Buccaneers, who managed a pathetic 7.4 PPG).

 

In an effort to boost scoring, the NFL instituted a series of rule changes after the 1977 season. The Live Ball Era was born, and scoring rose steadily for nearly three decades, culminating in a 2004 season when passing records fell like panties at a prom and scoring reached an all-time high (43.0 PPG).

 

The NFL's institutional effort to boost scoring made it far more difficult for defenses to meet the stingy standards of the Dead Ball Era. Thirteen of the 14 stingiest defenses in modern NFL history, for example, played in the Dead Ball Era. So, too, did the most famous defenses in modern NFL history. Dallas's Doomsday Defense, Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain, Minnesota's Purple People Eaters, Denver's Orange Crush, Miami's No-Name Defense and the Rams' Fearsome Foursome were all products of the Dead Ball Era.

 

The Super Bowl champion 2000 Ravens (No. 9 overall) were the only Live Ball Era defense to crack the top 14 stingiest defenses of the Super Bowl Era.

 

Which brings us back to today, and the sudden reversal of offensive fortunes in the NFL. It's doubtful that the Ravens, Chargers, Broncos and Bears will all keep up their torrid defensive pace.

 

But it's not unreasonable. Our money is on the Bears, though, thanks to a very favorable schedule. Their combined opponents the rest of the way are just 20-33 (.377), with their toughest date a Nov. 26 visit to New England. Even then, it won't be easy. The Bears need to hold their final 11 opponents to a total of 111 points (10.1 PPG) to surpass the 1977 Falcons.

 

If all goes well, they may find themselves at the very top of this list of the 25 stingiest defenses of the Super Bowl Era. At the very least, barring a massive defensive collapse, it seems like Chicago will find itself somewhere among the best defenses of all time.

 

And in this day and age, that's no small feat.

 

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	14	140	10.00	10-4	Lost AFC title game
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
1972 Dolphins	14	171	12.21	14-0	Won SB VII
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
1971 Dolphins	14	174	12.43	10-3-1	Lost SB VI
1972 Steelers	14	175	12.50	11-3	Lost AFC title game
1973 Raiders	14	175	12.50	9-4-1	Lost AFC title game