Super Bowl 2012: Predicting How Each Championship-Caliber Defense Will Fare

Even though most of the focus in the NFL these days is on prolific passing offenses, the importance of a strong defense shouldn't be overlooked. While teams like the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots can score with the best of them, none of them play defense particularly well.

The mantra "defense wins championships" may seem a bit outdated, but I think it still has merit. It seems like strong defenses are even scarcer than good offenses in the current NFL, so a team that can play defense has a distinct advantage. With that said, here is how the three remaining championship-caliber defenses will fare the rest of the way. 

Houston Texans

For essentially their entire existence, the Houston Texans have had a defense ranging somewhere from mediocre to terrible. That all changed this season, however, with the hiring of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. While you can't give Phillips all the credit for Houston's transformation on that side of the ball, his schemes had a lot to do with the fact that the Texans finished the regular season third against the pass and fourth against the run.

The Texans also brought in several high-impact acquisitions during the offseason. Free agent cornerback Jonathan Joseph and rookie pass rushers J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed, in particular. The Texans will clash in the Divisional Round against another elite defensive team in the Baltimore Ravens. I love the Texans' makeup, but I ultimately think the fact that they have to start rookie quarterback T.J. Yates on offense will prevent them from outlasting the Ravens. 

San Francisco 49ers

There were a lot of reasons for the San Francisco 49ers' turnaround that saw them win 13 games and the NFC West crown this season, but the biggest had to be the evolution of their defense into a top-notch unit. Thanks to linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman and a stout defensive line, the Niners were easily the best team in the league against the run, allowing just 77 yards per game. Furthermore, they yielded only three rushing scores on the year, all of which came in the season's final two weeks.

The San Francisco defense will face its toughest test of the year this weekend against the high-flying New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees, who happens to be on an unprecedented hot streak. While I like the Niners' chances to make the Saints' offense one-dimensional by stopping the run, I can't see them slowing down Brees too much. The 49ers proved to be vulnerable against elite passing attacks during the regular season and I think that will hold true as Brees and the Saints will roll. 

Baltimore Ravens

Perhaps no team in the NFL has a better defense or a more well-balanced overall squad than the Baltimore Ravens, but they have somehow managed to fly under the radar. That is unlikely to be the case moving forward, though, since they are always a contender to make some noise in the playoffs. This year is no exception as their perennially dominant defense was at it again during the regular season, ranking fourth in defending the pass and second against the run.

The Ravens will have a rough-and-tumble clash with the Houston Texans this weekend and whichever team emerges will likely have the best defense remaining in the tournament. I simply think the Ravens are better and more experienced in every aspect than the Texans, especially on defense, with veterans like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs. Once the Ravens win their next game, I like them to get all the way to the Super Bowl in an eventual matchup with the Green Bay Packers. The Pack may be superior offensively, but I would favor Baltimore to win it all.