Throwback Thursdays is a new weekly series that I’ve started during the offseason where I will post older content from my Macro Sports days on this website. Enjoy this article from June 2021 that was behind the Macro Sports paywall at the time.
You’ve surely heard the NFL cliché “defense wins championships,” but has anyone ever investigated the topic? This is my investigation into the topic, where I look at the defenses from the past 5 Super Bowl winners. I’m analyzing their season statistics (points per game, yards per game, turnovers, sacks), Super Bowl team stats, and individual player stats in the Super Bowl. Without further ado, here is my answer to the question, “does defense win championships?”
Super Bowl LI Winner: New England Patriots
- 2016 stats: ppg (1st, 16) pass ypg (12th, 238) rush ypg (3rd, 89) TO (14th, 23) SK (16th, 34)
- Super Bowl stats: 28 points, 5 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, 8 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
- Key player: DE Trey Flowers (6 TKL, 2.5 SK, 2.5 TFL, 5 QBH)
These defensive stats certainly support the notion that defense wins championships. The 2016 Patriots defense wasn’t perfect, but the unit was an elite scoring & rushing defense while being average in other defensive metrics. Tom Brady led them to a comeback win, but the Patriots DEF certainly supported him along the way. Their biggest play was a fumble recovery by DE Alan Branch in the 3rd quarter at the Falcons 25-yard line. This play really changed the momentum of the game & helped in securing the Patriots win.
Super Bowl LI Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
- 2017 stats: ppg (4th, 18) pass ypg (17th, 227) rush ypg (1st, 79) TO (4th, 31), SK (16th, 38)
- Super Bowl stats: 33 points, 1 SK, 6 pass breakups, 9 QBH, 1 FR
- Key players: DB Jalen Mills (9 TKL, 2 PBU) & Derek Barnett (1 FR)
The 2017 Eagles defensive stats support the notion that defense wins championships; however, this one wasn’t as clear cut as the Patriots defense was the year prior. Their overall stats are comparable, as the Eagles unit was elite in terms of scoring, rushing, & turnovers while being average in other defensive metrics. They gave up 33 points in the Super Bowl though, & their offense put up 41 points to win. That being said, the unit had 9 QB hits & 6 pass breakups which helped in securing the win. DE Derek Barnett made the biggest defensive play of the night with a late 4th quarter fumble recovery at the Patriots 28-yard line.
Super Bowl LIII Winner: New England Patriots
- 2018: ppg (6th, 20) pass ypg (22nd, 246) rush ypg (11th, 113) TO (5th, 28), SK (30th, 30)
- Super Bowl stats: 3 points, 7 TFL, 12 QBH, 4 SK, 8 PBU, 1 INT
- Key players: DB Jonathan Jones (8 TKL, 1 SK, 1 TFL, 1 QBH)
Defensive metrics for the 2018 Patriots are inconclusive in supporting the defense wins championships argument. The defense played well in the Super Bowl, but they weren’t very helpful in helping the team get to the big game. They were mediocre in terms of passing defense, rushing defense, & sacks. This is a vast difference from the defenses mentioned previously. That being said, the unit showed up & played lockdown D in the title game.
Super Bowl LIV Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
- 2019: ppg (7th, 19) pass ypg (8th, 221) rush ypg (26th, 128) TO (11th, 23) SK (11th, 45)
- Super Bowl stats: 20 points, 4.5 TFL, 6 QBH, 1 SK, 6 PD, 2 INT
- Players: DB Breeland (7 TKL, 2 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 INT), DB Fuller (4 TKL, 2 PBU, 1 INT)
Patrick Mahomes & the Chiefs offense gets most of the credit, but it was their defense that supported them in winning their 2019 championship. They were an above average unit in terms of points, passing yards, takeaways, & sacks. Most importantly, their coverage was phenomenal in the Super Bowl with 6 pass breakups & 2 interceptions. This was highlighted by Kendall Fuller’s late 4th quarter INT on the Chiefs 42-yard line that sealed the Chiefs win.
Super Bowl LV Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2020 stats: ppg (8th, 22) pass ypg (21st, 247) rush ypg (1st, 81) TO (28th, 25), SK (5th, 48)
Super Bowl stats: 9 points, 5 TFL, 10 QBH, 3 SK, 9 PBU, 2 INT
Key player: LB Devin White (12 TKL, 2 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 INT)
Listen, the Bucs defense was great against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl; however, were they the main reason why the team made it to the big game? I argue no because the defense was awful against the pass & in creating turnovers, so this is inconclusive for me. That being said, their title game performance was historic. LB Devin White was all over the field in the big game.
Closing Statements
Defense WINS championships! This is a strange development, given that the NFL has become a passing league & that offensive minded head coaches are all the rage right now. Most of these defenses impacted both the team getting to the big game & them finally winning it. All of these defenses feel massively underrated after writing this piece. Shame on me because I never really thought that defenses played such a pivotal role in teams winning the Super Bowl.
The Sports Beacon 