Defense Does Not Win Championships

By: Sef Gold

The saying, “defense wins championships,” is often overused and provides less than know-it-alls with a blanket statement that tells half-truths. Every season, this adage is thrown around more than dollar bills at a gentleman’s club. In reality, defense only helps win championships as part of a trifecta that includes offense and special teams.

Of the past nine Super Bowl winners, four teams had defenses that were top three in points given up per game and only two were top three for yards given up per game. Stats suggest that the majority of the recent champions had defenses that were less than great.

This raises the question: does offense win championships? Similar to the last inquiry, the answer is no. Of the past nine teams to hoist the Lombardi trophy, three had offenses that were top three in points scored per game and two were top three for offensive yards per game.

If having a top-tier offense or defense will not guarantee a Super Bowl victory, the conclusion must be made that in order to achieve the ultimate football feat, a team has to posses the intangibles of being able to get the job done when the game is on the line. This may occur on offense, defense or special teams, but the bottom line is simple: Great defense does not win championships. Great teams do.

E-mail Sef: sef@afcnorthtalk.com