A elite O says elite longer than an elite D, probably because they are dependent on a smaller number of elite players, rather than a top defense which needs full unit of great players to prevent one weak link from getting picked on.

CA contingent voted offense…

Look no further than our very own Superbowl

Ah yes, ceteris paribus. I just had a flashback to my AP Econ test today. Seriously though, I think that a great offense is better than a great defense(and a mediocre offense is better than a mediocre defense, as SB XLIII proved).

I want that one.

just makes me kind of proud of my home state.

I’m not sure if I believe the fans’ own responses. It’s been reinforced time and again by every “football expert” on the planet that “offense wins games, but DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS OK”, to the extent that fans accept this as objective truth.

But look underneath! Look at all the effort the NFL is putting into keeping star offensive players safe. What drives that? Owners want higher revenue. What drives revenue? Fan interest.

Despite what the polls say, fans don’t want to see 9-3 maulers, they want to see 38-34 shootouts. The NFL gives this idea supporting evidence through their rule changes of the past few years.

so… yeah. SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS: OVER.

… history has shown that it’s defense that makes the difference. You see, offense gets you to the playoffs, but defense allows you to make a deep run and also pushes you over the top. Can anyone identify any Super Bowl team that had a weak defense? Our Colts came the closest, but the weakness was all in the regular season; the defense caught fire in the playoffs. And even in the regular season it was dominant in one category (passing yards allowed). It was hardly a weak defense; rather, it was a regular season disappointment that became incredible in the playoffs. So Indy doesn’t really count. But when you turn that question around, you can actually find one that had a relatively mediocre offense: The Ravens, Super Bowl 35. 13th in the league in scoring, 16th in total yards, and 23rd in passing yards. 5 regular season games where they didn’t score a touchdown. Only two of their 4 touchdowns in the Super Bowl came from the offense. And that Super Bowl set the record for the lowest amount of total combined yards gained (Source for all these Ravens stats).

Look, I wouldn’t trade the way these Colts play for anything. And I’d go further and say that the Colts are an exception to the rule, they’re a team that can go all the way on a strong offense and a “caretaker” defense (although with Freeny and Sanders, Indy’s D is hardly that). So my answer to the ESPN question would be like any other Hoosier’s: I’d rather have this great offense, not just any random one. But for any other team and any other point in NFL history, it’s clear what wins championships.

Manning is what makes Indiana so unique in this regard. If it weren’t for him, even our state would be saying what everybody else is.

But it is a team sport right? I personally think that to make it to the playoffs, and win a championship it takes both. One game it might be the def. that clinches it, another game it might be the off. that makes the final winning play. Which comes first the egg or the chicken? Either way you win, in the NFL today, Offense does seem to sell the tickets for most teams. The map to me shows how we in Indy feel about Peyton and his offense. I guess He has us sold.
Since offense sells the tickets, you could argue that without a thrilling offense there wouldn’t be any games at all.
I know the Colts SuperBowl year we had a poor D for some of the time. What GOT us to the playoffs? There’s only one answer Peyton Manning. The D might have won us our Championship, but would we have even have had a shot at it without Peyton Manning and his offense?

first of all GO HAWKEYES today!

second…I love indiana blue like I like florida blue for real

third…everyone of those superbowl teams was lead by a very good qb if not great except one. baltimore

of course defense wins championships but YOU NEED A GREAT QB and in the end its who scores the most points who wins

NE would not have won without brady and those key recievers
the rams would not won without warners greatest show on turf
the steelers would not have won without big bens great key drives and superior recievers play
same with the giants…oh yeah it was that great offensive drive that won that game
denver had elway, those sure handed recievers and a guy named terrell davis
colts would not have won without peyton

oh and ps I LOVED THIS post
Which one does Peyton Manning play? I want that one.

the bucs vs raiders…that year must have been very sad when you look at who lead each team so throw out that game because nobody is impressed with anything about any of it that year

ask all the teams who dont have a great qb and they are losers mostly

to think you always have a chance to win at the end no matter how far you are behind and I mean every game…yeah give me a great offense

In Indiana, we love us some Peyton!

BBS, thanks for giving me credit for this, I fell like I’m starting to really belong around here.

The Ravens and Giants had two of the top 5 defenses in football that year. Ironically, it was the Ravens OFFENSE that won them that game….as they were the ones scoring points to the tune of 30+pts..

Defense CAN win you championships….but the defense didnt win the SB for the Steelers last year. Their OFFENSE won it..

Or wasnt that the Steelers offense scoring the final points of the game? Sure, the defense prevented the other team from scoring….but this is a game where the Steelers defense got owned most of it….

What happened to the vaunted Bears defense in SB 41??? They fell apart because their own offense couldnt do anything..