The Blueprint to Victory

[razazteca 0]

Well in your opinion what is the best way to get the win?

 

Running Game Several teams use the run as the main focus as in game of the Dolphins over Bills and the Ravens over Browns both had big performances by the star running back.

 

Passing Game Nearly half the league are in love with the West Coast Offense, using short passes for the running game. Mike Martz along with several other coaches are in love with the passing game so much that they refuse to run the ball even with a star RB.

 

Defense Well it is an old proverb that Defense wins championships and it is true as in the case of the 2000 Ravens. This season the Panthers won the game vs the Bucs by blocking several kicks............it came down to a block PAT for the upset of the year.

 

Kicking Somebody has to kick the PATs and FGs right? This season the New York Giants lost a game in the final seconds of the game because the kicker made the mistake of kicking the ball out of bounds. So with 11 seconds left in the game the Cowboys made a big play and won the game with a Field Goal.............hell the Cowboys won the game with 7 F'N Field Goals.

 

Field Possession Again I go to the MNF game of Cowboys vs Giants because the NYG kicker made the fatal mistake of trying to be a hero and kick the ball out of bounds inside the 5 yard line but it bounced out and he became the scapegoat for the loss. Punters are also scapegoats for losses at times especially when the punt is not high enough or long enough giving the opponet advantage.

 

Time Possession I think the NY Giants won a Superbowl when Bill Parcells had a 10:00+ minute drive late in the game. Again I go to the Dolphins vs Bills game with Ricky Williams running the ball 42 times and killing the clock. By doing this the Dolphins gave the Bills little time on offense to do anything and helped out their own Defense by giving them ample time to rest and think about destroying the enemy.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Defense.

 

Let's look at some of the recent Super Bowl champs. Each of them played excellent defense and the Buccs and Ravens were the no.1 rated defense.

 

Also look at the Rams. The only year they won the Super Bowl was the best defense they ever played. The offense improved a lot and they still couldn't win another big one.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I voted Defense but I'm bored and in between classes so I'll make a case for each category.

 

Running Game - Helps wear down the clock, tires out the opposing defense and allows openings for the passing game on play action plays.

 

Passing Game - Enables teams to march down the field quicker and sustains a two minute drill better. Also allows the chance for big plays in more opportunities then the running game.

 

Defense - Helps stop the offensive momentum and shift the tide. Is capable of turnovers and can deliver great field possession off turn overs. Helps keep scores low for the opposing team and gives offense a chance to score more.

 

Kicking - Could decide a close game. Is often the route chosen in overtime games to win victories. Missed FG;s allow the opposing team great field possession and made FG's help add to the lead/get back in the game.

 

Field Possession - Allows teams to get pinned near their end zone and have to go through long drives. This not only tires the defense but also tires out the opposing offense. Helps give the offense an easier opportunity to score if they have great field possession and gives them more opportunities to score the better FP they get.

 

Time Possession - Kills the clock while wearing out the opposing defense. Helps give the offense the momentum in close, low scoring games.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Defense wins championships. Secondary to that, a solid running game is important, as it keeps your offense on the field longer, runs the clock, and tires out the other defense.

[CanadianChris 0]

Offense sells tickets...defense wins championships.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

This shouldn't even be a poll. In every sport, defense wins championships - period.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Defense may win championships, but you need pretty much all of those to have a shot at winning it in the first place. If you have a serious deficiency in any one of those catergories, you will lose. Period.

 

You may win a few games, and you may even get lucky like the Rat Birds, but you won't typically win without the entire package.

[sfaJack 0]

This shouldn't even be a poll. In every sport, defense wins championships - period.

Not baseball.

 

Good pitching and clutch hitting are the key there. Lots of poor defensive teams have won titles.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

Defense may win championships, but you need pretty much all of those to have a shot at winning it in the first place. If you have a serious deficiency in any one of those catergories, you will lose. Period.

 

You may win a few games, and you may even get lucky like the Rat Birds, but you won't typically win without the entire package.

The Baltimore Ravens won a Super Bowl and they went 5 weeks in a row that season without a touchdown. Their offense sucked that year. Tampa Bay got to the Super Bowl last year with their defense. The New York Giants beat the Bills in Super Bowl 25 because of their defense. It's all about defense.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

This shouldn't even be a poll.  In every sport, defense wins championships - period.

Not baseball.

 

Good pitching and clutch hitting are the key there. Lots of poor defensive teams have won titles.

Pitching is part of the whole "defense" thing as far as I'm concerned. You are either hitting, or in the field. So, I'd lump pitching in with defense. There is no clutch hitting in the playoffs if your pitching can shut the opponent down.

[razazteca 0]

#1 Running the ball it the most important part of the game to me. I think Dick Vermiel is a genius on offense as he took average running backs and made them MVP caliber players. Forming the whole offense around a player like Marshall Faulk or Priest Holmes and shifting the RB to play split end or flanker is genius. This was the set up for "Greatest Show on Turf" Charlie Gardner and the Raiders had it down to near perfection but two key members got injuried and look at them now.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Defense is a constant with all Super Bowl winners. Some are better than others but tell me a Super Bowl winner who didn't have at least a top 10 defense.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

where's turnovers on this poll?

 

or dumb luck? that's the biggest by a mile.

 

anyway, I vote defense. Football more than any sport relies on defense to set up the offense, not the other way around.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

#1 Running the ball it the most important part of the game to me.  I think Dick Vermiel is a genius on offense as he took average running backs and made them MVP caliber players.  Forming the whole offense around a player like Marshall Faulk or Priest Holmes and shifting the RB to play split end or flanker is genius.  This was the set up for "Greatest Show on Turf"  Charlie Gardner and the Raiders had it down to near perfection but two key members got injuried and look at them now.

When the Rams won the super bowl, their defense was #6 in the league. Their defense is what made the tackle at the end of the game at the 1 yard line. More importantly, their defense held the Bucs to 5 points in the NFC championship game, when their offense only scored 11.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I picked defense, but I also think injuries and coaching play critical roles, too...

[razazteca 0]

When the Ravens, Jamal Lewis got injuried the season after the super bowl the team went back to being status quo.........of course Ray Lewis got hurt that season also.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

For all the defense wins championships supporters, look no further than the LA Dodgers.

 

In my view, you need the overall package. Offense AND defense. A little luck doesn't hurt either.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

The problem the season after the Super Bowl for the Ravens was they went against what got them there.

 

They spent tons of money to bring in Grbac and tried to score a ton of pts. instead of eating up the clock and letting the defense do their part.

 

It's been awhile but I think they lost a few key parts to the defense.

[razazteca 0]

I think Tony Siragusa retired that year or something.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I think he was still around but he has hurt for most of the year.

 

I guess having him not sit on opposing QBs to get through the playoffs hurt them a lot.

[razazteca 0]

Same thing is happening to the Packers now that Gilbert Brown is playing hurt.

[Dr. Tom 0]

When the Ravens, Jamal Lewis got injuried the season after the super bowl the team went back to being status quo.........of course Ray Lewis got hurt that season also.

Incorrect. Jamal Lewis got hurt during the Super Bowl defense season of 2001. Ray Lewis was injured last season.

 

Yes, bringing in Grbac and getting rid of Dilfer was incredibly fucking stupid, but I've ranted about that enough.

 

I voted for the running game. Having a strong running game allows you to control the clock (thus subsuming the TOP choice), and allows even a mediocre defense to play better by staying off the field more.

[razazteca 0]

I thought Jamal Lewis got hurt in the preseason around August and was out for the whole year.

[Guest Just J]

I think the running game is definitely the most important. If you have a great running game the rest will come.

 

It will open up the passing game every time.

 

It will also help you own the clock. And with that in mind you keep your defense off the field, which helps them to be well rested.

 

I tell ya, the running game is where it's at.

[phoenixrising 0]

Defense. Pretty much every NFL champion has had a strong or above average defense. Defense makes it easier on the offense. Take Tampa Bay last year. There was no explosive playmaker or a 1,000 yard runner on offense, yet they won the Super Bowl because they were able to completely shut down opponent's offense while theirs only needed to put up 14 or so points to win. Same with the Baltimore offense in 2000...that might have been the worst offense ever for a Super Bowl champion, but it was able to control the ball and avoid turnovers while its defense completely shut down the other team.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Eh. It all goes back to the Running Game.

 

RB gets 30 + Carries in a game which basically means that that team will have the time of possession advantage.

 

Other Team's Defense gets worn down from trying to stop the rush and they lose focus on the pass allowing for some key pass plays to keep a drive going.

 

Having the time of possession advantage means that your defense isn't on the field as much and won't get worn down as much as the other team's, which would be important in the 4th quarter of a close game.

 

Other Team's Offense turns desperate early and makes mistakes by the start of the 2nd half that they wouldn't make if they thought they'd get the ball more than 10 minutes in the whole second half.

 

Sustained drives usually will mean that your team will at least get into FG range on most drives so the kicker will get several oppertunities to hit FGs at least (provided they don't score TDs).

 

Longer failed drives (to the 50 or so) mean the punter can pin the other team inside the 10 or so making the other team have to go a long way for points against a fresher defense.

 

And yes, the above is basically how the Ravens play when they win. I think that the Ravens only have 1 loss in the 2+ seasons when Jamal Lewis has played when he has rushed for 100 yards.

Edited September 26, 2003 by MarvinisaLunatic

[Vern Gagne 0]

where's turnovers on this poll?

that could be included with defense. usually good defenses force alot of turnovers.

[Dr. Tom 0]

I thought Jamal Lewis got hurt in the preseason around August and was out for the whole year.

He was. And he missed the entire 2001 season. Ray Lewis was injured during the 2002 season.

 

Here's some examples from my recent (and very excellent) NFL Report about the running game:

 

# of teams with 20 or fewer attempts: 7

# of those teams that won: 1 (Cleveland)

 

# of teams with 30 or more attempts: 11

# of those teams that won: 10 (San Diego has the lone blemish here)

 

# of 100-yard rushers: 6

# of their teams that won: 4 (Fred Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson shined in defeat)

 

Oh, and Miami rushed the ball 44 times against Buffalo, and had the ball for more than 40:00. If that's not a blueprint for victory, then I don't know what is.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

But then what about that stat last year where the league's top rushers weren't on playoff teams? Just playing Devil's Advocate here...