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2000 RAVENS vs 1985 BEARS: better "D"?

Blackout

By Blackout
in NY Jets Forum

which D was better?  

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  1. 1. which D was better?


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JoeWillie

JoeWillie

Posted
Posted

I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago ...

2000 Ravens

  • Ranked 1st in Overall Defense (1st against the run, 8th against the pass)
  • Points Allowed: 165
  • Yards Allowed: 3,967
  • 4 Shutouts (none in the playoffs)
  • Held opponents to 10 points or less in 15 of their 19 games that season
  • Forced 49 Turnovers (1st overall)

1985 Bears

  • Ranked 1st in Overall Defense (1st against the run, 3rd against the pass)
  • Points allowed: 198
  • Yards Allowed: 4,135
  • 4 Shutouts (2 in playoffs)
  • Held opponents to 10 points or less in 14 out of their 19 games that season.
  • Forced 54 Turnovers (1st overall)

Both defenses carried their teams to Super Bowl wins in these respective seasons, although the Bears only lost 1 game.

At first glance, the statistics are pretty close with a slight edge to the Ravens.

However, if you dig a little deeper, and look at the schedules of those teams, respectively, you'll find that the Ravens had a much easier schedule in 2000 than the Bears had in 1985.

The 2000 Ravens opponents had a combined record of 109-147. 9 of their games were against opponents that were less than .500 that year, and they had 7 games that were against teams that finished with 5 wins or less that season. They also had only 3 games against elite teams (teams with 10 wins or more) that year.

The '85 Bears opponents had a combined record of 121-135. 8 of their games were against opponents that were less than .500 that year, however only 4 games came against teams that had 5 wins or less. They also played elite teams 6 times that year, as opposed to the Ravens who played half that many. They also played in a time where the NFC had not only the best teams, but some of the greatest teams of the times (SF, NYG, Dallas, Wash, Philly), and the Bears had to play all of them that year, plus the Rams, Jets, and Pats (twice), all of who had 11 wins that year and the Dolphins who had 12. They also pitched 2 shutouts in the playoffs against the Giants and Rams.

Obviously, both were great defenses.

If I had to take one, I'd take Chicago, mostly on strength of schedule, but you wouldn't go wrong with either one.

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Blackout

Blackout

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The '00 Ravens didnt get a real SB opponent either, that '00 Giants team may have been the worst SB team ever.

i'd say these teams were worse:

1979 Rams

1985 Pats

1966 Chiefs

1967 Raiders

1998 Falcons (i was rooting for them over the Vikings but looking back, that 15-1 Minny team vs the Broncos would've been the best superbowl match EVER)

the Giants in '00 atleast had a great all purpose RB (1700+ yards by Barber) and some great defensive players (Strahan, Armstead, Hamilton etc.)

and Collins was a great QB that year

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Gainzo

Gainzo

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I'd add the 94 Chargers to that list. I still don't know how they beat Pittsburgh.

The Chargers had Stan Humphries & Natrone Means! Not mention a rookie named Rodney Harrison ;)

Those Cowher teams pretty much sucked when hosting AFC Championship Games.

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Blackout

Blackout

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The 1966 Chiefs were pretty good. They were playing the Packers well (14-10 at halftime) before Willie Wood's pick broke open the game in the second half. And the 66 Packers were the greatest of the great Packer dynasty.

well you are a better source than myself on the 1960's AFL teams

but the Chiefs team was a major underdog for a reason...the AFL just wasn't as strong. and they got blown out in the 2nd half 21-0 if i recall...and the Hammer got hammered.

until '68 :D

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Blackout

Blackout

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That 1998 Falcons team was a legit 14-2 team. Remember, one of their losses came against the Jets in New Jersey with 44-year old Steve DeBerg as the starting quarterback. That team beat a 15-1 team on the road in the NFC Championship Game.

they had a GREAT RB that year (Anderson) but they were majorly over-matched in the SB

i was rootin' for them but they wore themselves out against the Vikes

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