It's not even close. The three seasons since Mahomes has been starter the AFC Championship Game winner has scored 37, 35 and 38 points. That is the threshold in this era, unless we plan on getting lucky like Federer the one time he won the French Open, when Soderling knocked out Nadal in the fourth round.Agreed! Agreed! But you better be able to put up points because you can have an all world defense and that mobile QB can STILL make plays.
So given the option between let try and get even better on defense and let's get alot better on offense. I'll take the offensive side of the ball.
Defensive performance in the regular season doesn't mean a heck of a lot. In the playoffs you need a natural pass rush from your front line. That's what the Chiefs have and it made Josh Allen look very ordinary. Every time he tried to scramble right the end already had depth and was essentially baiting Allen to try. Likewise Tampa Bay took control of that Packers game via key sacks and pressures on Rodgers in the first half. Miami right now has a very admirable regular season defense but I don't see how it holds up against top caliber playoff offenses who would take advantage of our lack of natural pass rush, especially from the interior.
I'm glad I saw 1972 and 1973. I wouldn't want to be depending on anything forthcoming.