Look at the QBs of the final four teams.......Brees, Mahomes, Brady, and Goff. Goff doesnt belong with the other three but he works in the best offensive system in the league. Their defenses by total defense:
New Orleans 14
Los Angeles 19
New England 21
Kansas City 31
Explain that. I am not completely ignoring defense but the bread is buttered with the QB now.
I have already agreed that the QB has not changed in the equation. He is the most important piece
I would be cautious with calling Mahomes "elite". Andy Reid is one of the better QB tutors in the game. Revisit Michael Vicks resurgent year with the Eagles.
Mahomes has talent, Reid tapped into that kids ability and custom built an offense for him. That's what great coaches do. They marry talent with a system.
And exactly what Super Bowl did Mahomes play in?
Goeff had an elite D around him. Proving my point.
However he ran into the two GOATs. McVey and Goeff were not going to win that Super Bowl. The score doesn't reflect it, but they were outclassed.
And to add to the Defense influence...the Rams lost because NE took away the running game. Goeff was exposed and made to win the game. Old school coaching to defeat a young QB. Same formula that has always been there.
New faces, same lessons.
Many of these "offense wins championships" arguments are based on stats. True Defense is about scheming and taking away what the opponent's offense needs to do at the core. Play action is still a QB's best friend. Without it he is one dimensional and very predictable.
He might score 7 TDs in a game . But if he doesn't score the game winning TD, it's for nothing. A good defensive scheme takes away what you do best at the precise moment you need it to work.
You can surrender 40 points, but if youve saved a defensive play call or scheme that shuts down the QBs tendencies on the final drive, he loses. Some D's dominate and entire game. Some D's keep the game close and save the right calls until the last when the Offense can't adjust. The man in the booth can be a great D Coordinator by letting you think you've won the entire game only to take it away at the last. Sometimes, that IS the scheme.
Why did you think KC purged their entire Day in one season? Apparently Mahomes can't do it all by himself. Even Brady can play DE.
QB, D and Running Game. The equation hasn't changed.
Don't worry about stats. Look at the results. For as much Offense as we are seeing now, it is still the team who's D can stop the other at the critical moment that matters.
Don't quote stats and trends, look at results.