OK, Pack. A little more info. I only went back to '87:

07 Giants 14th in scoring, 17th in points allowed
06 Colts 2nd in scoring, 23rd in points allowed
05 Steelers 9th in scoring, 3rd in points allowed
04 Pats 4th in scoring, 2nd in points allowed
03 Pats 12th in scoring, 1st in points allowed
02 Bucs 18th in scoring, 1st in points allowed
01 Pats 6th in both scoring and points allowed
00 Ravens 14th in scoring, 1st in points allowed
99 Rams 1st in scoring, 4th in points allowed
98 Broncos 2nd in scoring, 8th in points allowed
97 Broncos 1st in scoring, 6th in points allowed
96 Packers 1st in both scoring and points allowed
95 Cows 3rd in both scoring and points allowed
94 Niners 1st in scoring, 6th in points allowed
93 Cows 2nd in both scoring and points allowed
92 Cows 2nd in scoring, 5th in points allowed
91 Skins 1st in scoring, 2nd in points allowed
90 Giants 15th in scoring, 1st in points allowed
89 Niners 1st in scoring, 3rd in points allowed
88 Niners 7th in scoring, 8th in points allowed
87 Skins 4th in scoring, 6th in points allowed

EDIT: Added more. This is a lot of work so I'll stop here. anyone wants to continue, feel free.

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2001 Ravens..

3.7 YPC and 113 YPG on the ground.. 11th in the league.. Toted the rock 31 times a game.

25th in average yards per carry.

The were #1 in offensive plays from scrimmage.

They got more cracks at the opposing defense because they were so dominate on defense.

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Last two years have failed me.. argh... :lol:

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I can get with this. I don't want to choose, I want both of them.

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Well, I edited my post to go back to '87. Balanced team, or C, wins hands down.

Anyone want to do more, feel free. But I think it will be C who wins.

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By my count, that's 9 teams with an offense and defense in the top 10, one with neither, one with a top offense (that gets an asterisk because that defense was markedly improved in the playoffs with Bob Sanders), and three with dominant defenses. Looks like option C to me.

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Whiskey - go back up to my post. I added even more teams. C wins by a landslide.

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What's interesting is nine times when the team's offense and defense were in the top 10, the offense was ranked higher than the defense. Only twice was the defense ranked higher than the offense. That would appear to confirm Packnic's original post.

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How is one to say a great defense doesn't promote a great offense? Or vicy versy?

;)

But I agree. it takes balance to win..

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Both :)

I'd probably take a top five defense because a dominate defense can keep you in every single game. A dominate offense and poor defense means your in a shootout all the time. Look at the Colts for years before they had a really good defense. They won a lot of games, but come playoff time they wouldn't win because other teams handled their defense.

Another reason why defense is so important. If offenses can sustain drives on your defense, your top five offense won't see the field. That's how a lot of good teams beat teams with good offenses. They go at their weak defense and keep the offense off the field. I actually think it's what the Packers need to do to beat the Colts this week. Irony is I think the Colts need to do the same thing.

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