Tramon said it was the CBs were the key to Pettine's D.
And Tramon is right.
Many of you are living in the past! Time to ditch the group think confirmation bias.
In general, it is very easy to negate a pass rush, all ya need is have a decent QB without an ego that will get rid of the ball in 2.5 seconds. In the SB, Philly has a great DL, NE's OL is mediocre; but the NE OL beat the Philly DL, because NE has a great QB without a messiah complex.
Plus, if you got 2 good CBs, 2 receivers cant get separation and then 5 non rushers guys can cover the other 3 receivers.
In the age of the cap, no one can pay an OL and a top QB. If ya do, there's no $$$ left for the defense.
Seattle's plan was to spend the $$$ on securing that bumper crop of D-players they developed from 2010-2012 drafts, Wilson and a couple of weapons. And 100% ignoring paying an OL. They thought Cable could take 5 not so good OLmen and make them close to average, then quick passes, runs and Wilson's scramblebility would negate much of the rest of that DL/OL mismatch. Though the Seattle experiment was a failure [in no small part because they had a 10M TE that wouldn't block, fight for a contested pass, or know how to run routes]; this idea is a trend taking over the league. As it should!
Another example: we started 4-1 last year with an OL on paper was down right scary; because Rodgers got rid of the ball. In game 6 [v. Minnesota] we FINALLY had our stud starting OL back. How how unstoppable our O would be now? Ahh scratch that, glory boy stopped getting rid of the ball in 2.5 seconds and broke his god damn collar bone.