3/4 of the remaining teams have TOP defenses. Granted, the Giants were lower in rankings than ussual this season, with everyone healthy they are once again a strong defensive squad.
The Giants won b/c they were able to get turn overs and knock aaron rodgers around.
The 9ers got 5 turnovers and laid the wood on the saints all day.
Baltimore of course came up big on D when it counted.
Only the pats remain.
What does this say? It DOES NOT say that a QB and high powered offense is irrelevant. No, every one of the remaining teams (except maybe balt) also have capable offenses that could come through in the clutch when it counted, and could also make plays, HOWEVER. the reason these teams won was b/c when it counted, their DEFENSE was able to hold high powered offenses down long enough to give their team a chance, and with a chance, almost any team in this league can win ball games.
what it does say is that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. you may have glitz and records with just an offense, but when it counts most you still need one of the top 10 defenses just like you need a top 10 QB to make it in this league.
one thing i do find interesting is that Joe Flacco and Alex SMith (despite what debbie downers want to cry about) are comparable to most average QBs, be in matt moore, be it a second round draft pick etc. limited mistakes, and good supporting cast can win ball games. Eli wasnt in 07 what he is now btw. and that 07 superbowl was another example of this.
what im sayin is that with the dolphins - our solid D, if it can produce turn overs, and our play makers in place on offense - we can CONTEND (not necessarily be superbowl bound) RIGHT NOW. We just need a HC with some fire and a good idea about how to use what we have (harbaugh in san fran.)
for the rest of the league - it says that all this crap they are trying to pull and all the speculation taht "defense doesnt matter its an all offense league now" is not really true.
and mark my words - tom brady and the pats with that weak defense and that new gimmick double TE/Mighty midget offense will not win the super bowl. if Balt is too weak to stack up, NY and San Fran can and prob. will beat them.
that is all.