The greatest defenses of the Super Bowl Era

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.

 

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