Green Bay Packers Defense: Is It As Good As Advertised?

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews has been doing some reading.

"I always say defense wins championships. We've been playing some very good ball all across the board," says the Packers play maker, one of many on a Green Bay defense that will have its hands full on Super Bowl Sunday coming soon to a television screen near you.

Intuitive fellow, that Matthews. Defense wins championships. It HAS to be one of the most repeated phases in the history of football, something both these Packers and their Super Bowl opponent, those rough-neck Pittsburgh Steelers, use as their mantra to live by and smash opponents in the process.

Defense is king in Pittsburgh and it's how Green Bay has scratched and clawed its way to Dallas as the NFC's first sixth-seed to get to the Big Show.

"If we can do it one more game, we can etch ourselves in history as being one of the dominating defenses," Matthews added.

Dominating? That's a way of life on that side of the football in Pittsburgh and these two defenses do stack up nicely, perhaps the reason that the Packers are a slim 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 early favorite, depending on which Las Vegas joint you subscribe to.

The Men of Steel gave up an average of 14.5 points per game, the Pack, 15. Total yards surrendered is close, 276 for the Steelers, 309 for Green Bay. The Packer secondary is more stingy, 194-214 in passing yards given up while the Steelers have that eye-popping run blockade, just under 63 yards a game compared to a little less than 115 for the Pack.

Okay, enough of those sleep-inducing stats.

Is this Green Bay bunch as good as advertised, as good as Pittsburgh?

"We play with one heartbeat with a bunch of talented guys," explains linebacker Des Bishop, talking about the Packer defense that can make a big play at any moment during a game. "

"We never panic," says Bishop. "We know someone's going to step up and come up with a play whether it's Charles Woodson, Sam Shields, B.J. Raji, Tramon Williams, A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews, myself, Cullen Jenkins."

As good as advertised? The walking billboard for big plays was Raji in the Chicago win. He calls himself "the Freezer" and he scored the game-winning touchdown against the Bears when he got his hands on a Caleb Hanie pass and lumbered 18 yards for the touchdown.

"B.J.'s always telling me how athletic he is," Bishop said after that game. "I said B.J. you're three-something. I really don't believe you. He made a believer out of me."

Big plays? Quarterback Aaron Rodgers auditioned for that side of the ball in the third quarter against the Bears. Brain Urlacher was headed to what looked like a sure touchdown when Rodgers brought him down to save the day. "I figured it was either make that (tackle) or he was going to score," Rodgers recounted. "I don't get paid to tackle. But that was probably one of my better plays of the day."

Yes, this Packer group is good and it is anchored by veteran corners Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson, who allow the up-front guys to damage opposing quarterbacks.

Defense coordinator Dom Capers has finished his second season. The zone-blitz is his bread and butter and when you think about elite play makers on the Pittsburgh defense, the Packers can counter with a really good bunch on their D.

Neither of these teams are prone to any sort of trash-talk but Raji was feeling pretty good about life in general after making it to this upcoming Super Bowl.

"I think the d-line has something up our sleeve for this trip," said the big fellow, the Freezer.

Yes, these Green and Gold defenders are as good as advertised.

Advertising is one thing, backing it up is another.

Pittsburgh is taking notes.