Before last year's playoffs, I wrote this: " I have to believe that defense still matters. Hopefully, next year, when 10 more QBs throw for 4,000 yards, I can take solace that at least defense matters in January. If not, well then, we might as well call the NFL what it is: Arena League, but outdoors and with better team names." This was in reaction to the NFL's steroid era, where QBs were routinely throwing for 4,000 (and now 5,000) yards. Scoring actually went up this year, but efficiency went down. Three QBs had a passer rating above this year's highest rating (108.0). Only one team scored over 500 points this year (3 did last year). Only one QB threw for 5,000 yards this year. Offense didn't go away, but it was more spread out across the league. The difference was this year's best teams weren't offense heavy, they were complete, and the two teams playing in the Super Bowl proves this.
In truth, defenses played very well throughout much of last year's playoffs. Only one QB in the last three games (title games, Super Bowl XLVI) threw for over 300 yards, and that QB (Eli Manning) needed to throw 58 times to make it happen. No team scored more than 23 points. This year was different, in that teams scored more across the board in the playoffs, but it wasn't because of Arena Football pass-heavy offenses, but it was balance, it was dynamic running attacks, and it was the rise of the read option. In the end, we are left with a Super Bowl where the starting QBs are the oft-embattled Joe Flacco and the young Colin Kaepernick. The previous six Super Bowls all featured one of these six QBs: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. All six of those men will be HOFers (though Eli probably has a little more work to do). For the first time since Rex Grossman laced it up for the Bears in 2006, we have a Super Bowl QB that doesn't have any real pedigree (I guess you could make the case for Eli in Super Bowl XLII). The Ravens and 49ers resemble an old NFL. A defense & deep-ball team against a physical defense & run-heavy team.. It is old-school. This is what the NFL used to be, and this is what it is again. Only one of those aforementioned six QBs made it to the Championship Game, and that guy had the worst performance of any QB yesterday. In a year with more passing yards than ever: irony? I think so.
Anyway, let's get to the Weekend Review...
