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Clichés become clichés because they hold universal truths told in simple and easy-to-understand statements.
The most truthful—and also most overused—cliché in sports is "defense wins championships." This is especially meaningful in the NFL.
On rare occasions, an offensive team will be so good (like the 1999 St. Louis Rams) that a strong defense isn't needed—but those are the exceptions, not the rule.
In the majority of NFL history, a dominant defense can equal a championship, while a weak one means looking ahead to the draft.
There have been great defenses in NFL history, but who is the best of the best?
Ask any fan, player, sportswriter, or coach, and you'll get radical differences in opinion. That's what makes writing and discussing sports so fun. It creates lively conversation.
Now, it's my turn to create some of that conversation with my own top 10 list.
In making this list, I didn't base my selections on just one outstanding season, so those expecting to see the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles will be very disappointed.
To make my list, there were two criteria involved: The defense had to be consistently good for at least three years, and it had to be in the Super Bowl era.
Without further adieu, here is my version of the Top 10 Greatest NFL Defensive Teams of All Time.
10. Kansas City Chiefs 1960s
Hank Stram's "Triple Stack" defense was a force in the AFL during the 1960s and early 1970s, capturing a Super Bowl crown in 1969.
Four players on the Chiefs defense have busts in Canton: DT Buck Buchanon, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, and CB Emmitt Thomas. In addition, DT Curly Culp, CB Jim Marsalis, and S Johnny Robinson were All-Pros.
In 1969, Kansas City held five opponents to fewer than 10 points and gave up an average of less than two touchdowns a game. The Chiefs surrendered only 20 points during the playoffs on their way to a Super Bowl victory.
9. The Orange Crush Defense—Denver Broncos
Led by OLB Tom Jackson, ILB Randy Gradishar, and DE Lyle Alzado, the Orange Crush defense was a force from 1977-81. In 1977, the defense gave up only 148 points (10.6 ppg) to lead Denver to its first Super Bowl appearance, a 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Broncos went 50-28 with three division titles during the Orange Crush heyday.
8. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew—New York Giants
From 1985-90, the New York Giants, affectionately known as the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew," were one of the most feared defenses in the National Football League. The strength of the unit was at linebacker, where two Hall of Famers roamed: OLB Lawrence Taylor and MLB Harry Carson.
Carson was the brains of the defense—the run stuffer and the captain who kept everyone in line.
Taylor was the wild animal, let out of his cage every Sunday to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Taylor, Carson, OLB Carl Banks, and ILB Gary Reasons formed the best linebacker corps of the 1980s.
Adding All-Pro DE Leonard Marshall to the mix only made them more ferocious.
The Giants won two Super Bowls (1986, 1990) and four division crowns during that time.
7. The No-Name Defense—Miami Dolphins
From 1970-75, the Miami Dolphins ruled the AFC East—and for three years (1971-73), most of the NFL. The Dolphins were an incredible 67-16-1 over those six seasons, with three Super Bowl Appearances, two Lombardi Trophies (1972-73), and the only unbeaten season (1972) in NFL history.
The defense produced only one Hall of Famer (LB Nick Buoniconti) but had solid All-Pros in SS Dick Anderson, FS Jake Scott, DT Manny Fernandez, and DE Bill Stanfill. From 1971-73, the No-Name Defense surrendered just 11.8 points per game.
6. Monsters of the Midway II—Chicago Bears
From 1984-88, there was no better defense in the NFL than Buddy Ryan and his blitz-happy "46" defense. Da Bears were fast, physical, and loved to crush the quarterback.
Ryan's boys led Chicago to six division titles in seven years, culminating in a Super Bowl championship in 1985.
The '85 Bears are arguably the best defense ever put on the field for a single season. The stats are overwhelming: a 15-1 regular season mark, a 12.5 point scoring average, holding seven opponents under 10 points, and racking up 64 sacks.
The defense featured two players in the Hall of Fame: MLB Mike Singletary and DE Dan Hampton. DE Richard Dent, DT Steve McMichael, OLB Otis Wilson, OLB Wilber Marshall, and S Dave Duerson were All-Pros.
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