Best NFL Single Season Defenses Part 2

          I left you with my top 20 at the end of part 1.  That was a difficult list to cap considering so many teams have had great defenses from 1970-2013.  But I didn't make those decisions without hours of researching the data.  Now I know the data can't tell everything I'm also considering the many hours of NFL Network I've watched on some of these great teams.  If there are a few omissions to my top 20 that I'm surprised about here they are:

• 1986 or 1990 Giants:  with Lawrence Taylor on your team it's surprising they aren't in the top 20.  I spent tons of time on both of these defenses but when it came right down to it they just weren't among the very best.
• Orange Crush or Doomsday defenses of the 70s:  the "Crush" never really rose to the top as there was so much competition while the '71 and '77 Cowboys were considered at length.  Both were better in the postseason but neither could crack the top 20 due to their mediocre (in terms of the greatest) regular seasons.  
• more teams from the early '90s:  as you saw from the graphs for some reason the early '90s was not the greatest offensive show since the merger.  Many offensive stats dropped but no one defense stood out among the rest.  The closest was the...

#20 1991 Eagles

• The Case:  had an impressive 1359.6 total yards less than the NFL average, had 15.8 more turnovers than the league average, and yards per play was 1.1 less than the league average all of which are very high compared to the greatest defenses all time; included 3 All-Pro defensive lineman which is incredible considering there are only 4 spots on the team!!
• Why Not Higher?:  TD's and overall points allowed versus league averages were mediocre; per game averages were really not that impressive considering how league averages were at a lull during the early '90s; and finally, the '91 Eagles didn't make the postseason.  While that isn't all the defenses fault I didn't have any postseason data to use when making my final comparisons.

#19 1977 Falcons

• The Case:  unbelievably gave up only 9.2 points per game the lowest of any team I researched and their other per game stats were all very low compared to the greatest all-time.  Additionally, their offense was down right disgusting.  They lost one game 0-3.  Are you kidding me?  
• Why Not Higher?:  they played in the '70s so while their stats are great... compared to their peers in 1977 the differences aren't as high as others on my list.  Also, their team failed to reach the postseason.  I hate leaving them out of the top ten but how am I supposed to compare them to the greatest??  I feel real bad for this defense because their offense was so putrid that the team only won 7 games.  But I feel good about putting them in the top 20 because I doubt many of you knew about the 1977 Falcons.

DB Roland Lawrence was the only All-Pro for the '77 Falcons D

#18 1975 Rams

• The Case:  gave up 9.6 points per game and compared to the league average was over 150 points difference both of which are near the top for any team I researched.  Their TDs given up per game and compared to the league average were also in the top tier.  
• Why Not Higher?:  even though they did make the playoffs their defense suddenly looked like a team from 2013.  After only giving up over 300 yards once during the regular season they did it in both playoff games including 441 yards to the Cowboys at home.  And by the way their coach was Chuck Knox.

#17 2009 Jets

• The Case:  led the league in pts, yards, yds per play, and tds per game.  Compared to the league average their yards per game and yards per play are near the top of my lists of the greatest ever.  
• Why Not Higher?:  their turnovers were pedestrian and their scoring per game compared to their peers wasn't that great in the grand scheme of things.  Plus in the playoffs they did just enough to win 2 games but allowed two TDs in each of their playoff wins and a few more in their loss.     

#16 1988 Vikings

• The Case:  led the league in yards allowed, yards per play, tds allowed, and turnovers.  Their 53 turnovers compared to the league average and per game all-time are two of the highest I researched.  Plus their defense scored 7 TDs in the regular season and included 3 All-Pro players.  
• Why Not Higher?:  in the postseason they rank near the bottom of all my criteria among the final 16 teams on this list.  They did defeat the Rams but then were obliterated by San Francisco's treat of Montana to Rice three times and allowed an 80 yard TD run by Roger, I was never the fastest RB, Craig.

#15 1996 Packers

• The Case:  led the league in yards, yds per play, and scoring.  In the postseason they actually boosted their potential in the rankings especially in the turnover dept. gathering 12 in three games which is 2nd out of my final 16 teams.  They also only allowed 235 yds per game in the postseason which ranks in the upper half of my final 16.
• Why Not Higher?:  they're the only team in my final 16 to not record a shutout in the regular season.  They rank in the bottom half of my final 16 in each category when compared to the league averages in '96.  But, after this research I do have a greater appreciation for the '96 Packers as a whole.  They were a very good team considering the common fan would think their offense was the team's strength.

SS LeRoy Butler was the only All-Pro on the '96 Packers despite Reggie White upfront

 #14 1975 Steelers

• The Case:  stepped it up in the postseason averaging nearly 5 sacks and 4 turnovers per game both near the top of the final 16.  Plus they played 3 top ten offenses in the playoffs and yet the average difference between what they allowed versus what their opponent had done during the regular season was over 14 ppg.  Their defense also included 3 All-Pros and Joe Greene wasn't one of them but he was playing!
• Why Not Higher?:  frankly without the postseason the '75 Steelers might not be in the top 20.  They didn't lead the league in any of the five major categories but you have to remember the Rams were very good that year.  Their comparisons to the league average are all in the bottom half of my final 16. 

 #13 1986 Bears

• The Case:  out of all the teams I researched the '86 Bears, a year after winning the Superbowl, were at the top of my list in terms of touchdowns allowed versus the league average.  The difference was over 19 TDs.  The '86 Bears only gave up one touchdown per game that season.  Additionally, their overall scoring average was 141 points higher than the league average which was near the top of my list.  The '86 Bears were the league leader in 4 out of my 5 key categories as well. 
• Why Not Higher?:  pretty simple...they fell flat on their face in their one and only playoff game.  At home to the Redskins, the '86 Bears gave up over 300 yards and 3 TDs in their biggest game all season.  The result was much different than the year before.  Should one playoff game make such a big difference?  Well that's a debate that could go on forever but one thing is for sure in sports.  The best, and I mean the very best, are defined by how much they win in the postseason.  Like it or not it is the truth.

#12 1973 Dolphins

• The Case:  this team did win the Superbowl, in fact they repeated.  But that's a team accomplishment.  How about their individual defensive stats?  One, they only gave up 3.7 yards per play (3rd highest on my final 16 list).  Two, they gave up 15 TDs in a 14 game season.  And most impressively, numero trece they only gave up 2 TDs in 3 playoff games.  That's just filthy.



Though not intimidating now FS Dick Anderson was an All-Pro for the '73 Dolphins

• Why Not Higher:  well they played in the '70s.  Therefore their great per game averages don't stack up as well to the competition when comparing their stats to the '73 NFL averages.  The stat that stands out the most is turnovers.  The '73 Dolphins averaged over 2 per game but compared to the NFL average they were actually -5 for the season.  Even though this team did win the Superbowl the '73 Dolphins only forced 4 turnovers in 3 postseason games.

#11 1976 Steelers

• The Case:  let me just start by saying this might be the greatest single regular season ever by a Steelers D.  I'll start with the big ammo.  In 14 games the '76 Steelers shutout 5, count 'em, five opponents.  That's the most of any team in my top 16.  Can you imagine??  Five shutouts.  Boy Bradshaw and the O must have been A-maze-ing.  They also allowed under 10 points per game, 1 TD per game, and over 3 turnovers per game.  Also, in two postseason games the '76 Steelers gave up an average of 195 yards per game.  
• Why Not Higher:  knit-picking but out of my final 16 teams the '76 Steelers are the only team without a regular season TD.  That was a stat that carried over to their two postseason games also.  And in those two playoff games they gave up five TDs.  They had only allowed 14 all season!  In their playoff loss to the Raiders they didn't generate one turnover and the offense only had one.  So it's not as if they were put in horrible situations over and over again.  It just wasn't their day.

Well that's 20-11.  So the teams we have left are the following in chronological order:   

• 1970 Vikings
• 1971 Colts
• 1972 Dolphins
• 1974 Steelers
• 1985 Bears
• 2000 Ravens
• 2000 Titans
• 2002 Buccaneers
• 2008 Steelers
• 2013 Seahawks

Hope everyone is enjoying.  Comments are encouraged!  The top ten will be coming...

Kieth