NFL Playoffs 2012: Why Defense Is Key in the AFC and NFC Championships

This year’s leaders in passing efficiency (Aaron Rodgers), rushing yards (Maurice Jones-Drew) and receiving yards (Calvin Johnson) are absent from conference championship weekend.

In their place are two notoriously destructive defenses and two defenses that are peaking at the right time.

The old “defense wins championships” adage holds true again this season.  In the NFC and AFC Championship Games, individual and team defensive performances will dictate who moves on to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers were third and fourth in total defense this season, respectively.  The Ravens had just 227 yards of offense in their AFC divisional matchup with the Houston Texans.  In the final three quarters, the offense produced three points.  But that was enough for the defense.  Smart fourth-quarter play from Ed Reed and Ray Lewis stymied T.J. Yates, who threw an interception in the waning minutes.

Drew Brees set the NFL record for passing yards in a regular season in 2011, but the Saints were dramatically sent home thanks to the 49ers' opportunistic defense in the NFC divisional round. 

In consecutive weeks, the New York Giants held the Atlanta Falcons without a touchdown and the Green Bay Packers' prolific offense to two touchdowns.  And the New England Patriots held the top rushing offense of the regular season 20 yards below its average.

In the AFC Championship, Terrell Suggs and the Ravens front seven will have to pressure Tom Brady into quick decisions if they want to give their offense a chance.  Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington led the NFL in interceptions during the regular season. 

If he can give Tom Brady a short field, Joe Flacco and the Ravens’ offense will not be able to keep up.  Either way, defensive performance will determine who controls the game.

The NFC Championship will be a sloppy slugfest at Candlestick Park.  Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul have the speed to collapse the pocket and aggravate Alex Smith.  Eli Manning will face the best defense he has seen in the playoffs this year.  Manning threw two interceptions and had his final pass broken up in a 20-27 loss to the 49ers in the regular season. 

The 49ers must control the pace of the game with their defense.  If they abbreviate the length of New York’s time of possession, their offense will have enough time to patiently run its way to victory.

In the 2012 NFL playoffs, good defense conquers good offense.  The Ravens, 49ers, Giants and Patriots all turned in strong defensive performances to make it this far.  Sustained defensive excellence is vital for continued success.