Defense Wins Championships| Which Defense Is Better: 3-4 Or 4-3?

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Like the saying goes in football, "Defense wins championships."

I would definitely have to agree with that. I mean, how did the Pittsburgh Steelers manage to win their Super Bowls in 2005 and last season? Most of the success came from their defense.

That goes same with the Baltimore Ravens when they won the Super Bowl against the New York Giants, resulting in a 34-7 blowout. Defense does win championships, and that myth is true.

But they're two schemes in the NFL, which is the 4-3 defense and the 3-4 defense.

The 4-3 defense involves four lineman up front with three linebackers behind them. The 3-4 defense is the other way around, involving three lineman up front with four linebackers eager for a tackle behind them.

Which defensive scheme is better, though?

I'll dig deep in by analyzing the top defenses from the last five seasons to determine which defense is better. I will be showing the top ten defenses, because there are 32 teams in the National Football League, so you get the idea.

Let's do this.

2003

The number one defense in the NFL during the 2003-04 season were the Dallas Cowboys, in which they used a 3-4 defensive scheme by allowing only 253.5 yards total to their opponents' offense on their 16-game schedule.

The Bills came in second, allowing only 269 yards by using a 4-3 scheme. The Ravens came in third with a 3-4 while the Broncos, Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars followed behind with a 4-3.

The Pats came in at seventh with a 3-4, allowing only 291 yards. The Panthers then fell at eighth with a 4-3 while allowing only 295 yards. Behind them were the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins, who both used a 3-4 defense while allowing about 299 yards.

Overall, five teams in the top ten used 3-4 while five others used a 4-3.

2004

With the Steelers as the number one team in the league, with a 15-1 record, they had the number one defense as well by allowing only 258 yards with their powerful 3-4 defensive scheme.

Four others followed; which were the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; in which they used a 4-3 scheme that season. Impressive, eh?

But the four teams behind them used a 3-4: Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. The tenth and final team on this 2004 list was the Philadelphia Eagles, who used a 4-3 defense.

All-in-all, it was a tie again. 5-5, the record, which makes the record 10-10 total.

2005

The top three defenses that year used a 4-3 scheme, which were the Buccaneers, Bears, and Panthers. The Steelers then followed with a 3-4 as the Ravens followed behind them.

The next four teams were in the 4-3 scheme; which were the Jags, Packers, Cardinals, and Redskins. Tenth came with the Dallas Cowboys, who obviously used a 3-4.

Seven teams that season used a 4-3 scheme. The 4-3 scheme leads so far with a 17-13 record.

2006

The Ravens were the best defense that season with a 3-4 defense. The Jags and Raiders followed as they used a 4-3. The Dolphins came in with a 3-4 while the Bears came in fifth place with a 4-3 defense.

Behind the Bears were the 12-4 Pats, who had a 3-4. Then the Panthers came by with a 4-3 with Vikes right behind them. The Steelers slipped into the top ten list, again, with their famous 3-4 along with San Diego right behind them.

Both teams were tied for this season, but the 4-3 defense still leads with a 22-18 record so far.

2007

The Steelers were the number one defense with a 3-4 while the Bucs and Colts followed with a 4-3. Behind them were the 16-0 Pats with a 3-4. The Titans then came in with a 4-3, Ravens then with a 3-4.

4-3 teams followed with the Giants and Redskins. Along were the Cowboys with a 3-4. The Eagles were in tenth place with a 4-3 defense.

The 4-3 defense won this round with a 6-4 record, leading so far with a 28-22 record total.

2008

The Steelers were the number one defense with a 3-4 with B-More right behind them. The Eagles, Redskins, Giants, Vikings, and Titans followed with their powerful 4-3. The Cowboys came in with a 3-4, Bucs with a 4-3, and the Pats with a 3-4.

The 4-3 defense won the fifth and final round, winning it with a 6-4 record.

According to the math, 34 teams in the last five seasons made the top ten list with the best defense overall had a 4-3 defense while the 26 other teams had a 3-4. So if you analyze with stats, the 4-3 defense is better than the 3-4.

But it isn't all that true that the 4-3 defense is better. Remember, the Steelers made the top ten list every season in the last five years I analyzed as they also were number one twice.

The Ravens also made the list every season as they had a 3-4 as well. Nobody really knows which defensive scheme is better.

A 3-4 defense really helps for stopping the run and if you want to put pressure on another quarterback as far as I have observed. The 4-3 defense is also a good scheme for run- stopping and they are also pretty good at defending the pass.

Both are good in their own skills. Comment below to have your own opinion on which scheme is better.

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