Rating the 9 Best Defenses in Tremendous Bowl Historical past

[ad_1] A calling card for each groups in Tremendous Bowl LX is protection. The Seahawks gave up the fewest factors within the NFL this season (292), whereas the Patriots — ranked fourth in factors allowed — have been dominant defensively within the postseason, conceding simply two offensive touchdowns in three playoff video games.

So that is the right time to acknowledge one of the best defenses which have performed on soccer’s largest stage.

In descending order, listed here are my prime 9 defenses to have appeared within the Tremendous Bowl — a subjective rating primarily based on lore, regular-season numbers, playoff success and expertise.

Boasting probably the greatest defenses of the twenty first century, the 2015 Broncos featured a chief Von Miller alongside fellow stars in pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. Denver had the NFL’s finest cross protection, with a league-leading 52 sacks and permitting fewer than 200 passing yards per recreation.

The unit held 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton and the Panthers to at least one landing in a 24-10 victory in Tremendous Bowl 50.

Tremendous Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller holds up the Lombardi Trophy through the Broncos' victory celebration in February 2016. (Picture By John Leyba/The Denver Submit by way of Getty Pictures)

The 1990 Giants featured arguably one of the best defensive participant of all time in Corridor of Fame outdoors linebacker Lawrence Taylor, together with Professional Bowlers in nostril deal with Erik Howard and inside linebacker Pepper Johnson. New York led the NFL in scoring protection (13.2 factors allowed per recreation) and held opponents to 10 or fewer factors in 9 of its 19 video games (common season and playoffs).

The Giants edged the Payments 20-19 in Tremendous Bowl XXV.

The 2013 Seahawks boasted probably the greatest secondaries of the trendy period, the long-lasting "Legion of Growth" that includes Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. However the defensive entrance was elite, too, with probably the greatest center linebackers of the trendy period in Bobby Wagner — at present with the Commanders — plus standout defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril.

Seattle led the league in scoring protection (the second of 4 straight years), whole protection, cross protection, takeaways and red-zone effectivity. The Legion of Growth held the Peyton Manning-led 2013 Broncos, the league’s prime offense that season, to at least one landing in a 43-8 Seattle rout in Tremendous XLVIII.

The 2013 Seahawks lowered the growth on the Broncos in Tremendous Bowl XLVIII. (Picture by Tom Hauck/Getty Pictures)

Of all of the "Metal Curtain" defenses of the Seventies, this group could have been one of the best to play within the Tremendous Bowl. The '75 Steelers allowed simply 11.6 factors per recreation, which ranked second within the league that season, serving to the franchise to a Tremendous Bowl X victory over the Cowboys.

Pittsburgh’s 1975 protection had Corridor of Famers on each degree — defensive deal with Joe Greene, linebackers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert and defensive again Mel Blount. Eight of the 11 starters had been Professional Bowlers that season.

The 2002 Bucs protection is likely one of the most iconic models of all time. Its basis was set by former head coach Tony Dungy, who led the crew from 1996-2001 and popularized the "Tampa 2" protection.

This Bucs crew featured 4 Corridor of Fame defenders in cornerback Ronde Barber, defensive deal with Warren Sapp, linebacker Derrick Brooks and security John Lynch, who's now the overall supervisor of the 49ers. Former Professional Bowl cross rusher Simeon Rice additionally made his lone All-Professional crew with the Bucs in 2002.

Tampa Bay’s protection led the NFL in factors allowed, red-zone effectivity and yards allowed, serving to the franchise to a 48-21 Tremendous Bowl XXXVII win over the Raiders.

Buccaneers defensive deal with Warren Sapp celebrates a deal with towards the Raiders throughout Tremendous Bowl XXXVII in January 2003. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)

The '71 Cowboys protection posted one of many best-ever Tremendous Bowl performances, holding the Dolphins to only three factors in a 21-point beatdown in Tremendous Bowl VI. Only one different crew in Tremendous Bowl historical past (1966-present), the 2018 Patriots, has held its opponent to 3 factors.

In 1971, Dallas led the NFL with 51 takeaways. The unit had 5 Corridor of Famers: defensive lineman Bob Lilly, linebacker Chuck Howley, and defensive backs Herb Adderley, Mel Renfro and Cliff Harris.

The crew with the one good season in NFL historical past not surprisingly had probably the greatest defenses ever. The '72 Dolphins led the league in scoring protection (12.2 factors per recreation) and didn’t enable an offensive landing of their 14-7 Tremendous Bowl VII win over Washington.

Linebacker Nick Buoniconti is the one Corridor of Fame defender from the crew, however he had three different Professional Bowlers alongside him: defensive finish Invoice Stanfill and safeties Dick Anderson and Jake Scott.

Dolphins security Jake Scott (13) intercepts a cross in the long run zone towards Washington in Tremendous Bowl VII. (George Lengthy/Sports activities Illustrated by way of Getty Pictures)

The 2000 Ravens have a case for one of the best protection ever. They led the league in factors allowed (10.3), run protection (60.6 yards allowed per recreation) and takeaways (49). Corridor of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis was the center of the unit, nevertheless it additionally had a Corridor of Famer within the again finish in security Rod Woodson, plus Professional Bowl defensive deal with Sam Adams.

In 4 playoff video games, Baltimore allowed only one offensive landing, which got here within the divisional spherical at Tennessee. The Ravens clobbered the Giants 34-7 in Tremendous Bowl XXXV.

The '85 Bears are well known as having probably the most feared protection in NFL historical past. They'd 4 Corridor of Famers — linebacker Mike Singletary, defensive deal with Steve McMichael and defensive ends Dan Hampton and Richard Dent — main their well-known "46" protection, an aggressive scheme that overwhelmed opposing offensive traces.

The Bears allowed zero factors within the NFC divisional spherical and convention championship video games mixed, after which held the Patriots to at least one landing in a 46-10 Tremendous Bowl XX rout.