In the past few years, NFL scoring and offense have been on a roller-coaster of highs, a trend that some in the media have complained about.
They say that the NFL is becoming a pansy league, how you can't hit QB's at all, how it's not the rugged, tough football that they grew up with in their time, etc.
Well, here's my simple take on this:
1. I'm not saying every game should be like the Packers/Cardinals 51-45 shootout last January, but I don't want every game to be the polar opposite (i.e. the Browns/Bills 6-3 game last October or the Dolphins/Steelers 3-0 game a few years ago.)
2. Also, it was the opposite case a while ago. I have read on how up until 1978, offenses were held in check big time and defenses were REALLY dominant, perhaps too dominant (back then, throwing for 3,000 yards in a season was a big deal. We didn't see the 4,000 yard passer until 1979, the league's 60th year). I wonder if these same people would have complained that the NFL was legislating offense out of the game. If the shoe was on the other foot, would they have said the same thing?
3. You have to be able score points to win. Defense may win championships, but you must put some points as well in order to be triumphant. Even when the Giants held down the Patriots in the Super Bowl a few years ago, they had only 10 points on the board until their final drive. The 2000 Ravens were fortunate to have their dominant defense to camouflage a somewhat punchless offense (they went an entire month without scoring an offensive touchdown), but other teams that have had fierce defenses were able to muster their own points. Defense alone can't win a championship. After all, if you hold a potent offensive team to 6 points, your team better have more than 6 points!
4. Defense is not the end-all, be-all of football. After all, think about some of the great names of football lore- Unitas, Montana, Elway, Rice, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders. Football is romantically viewed as a fierce, hard-hitting game, but it's not just about crushing someone. It can also be a beautiful game on the other side of the ball too.
They say that the NFL is becoming a pansy league, how you can't hit QB's at all, how it's not the rugged, tough football that they grew up with in their time, etc.
Well, here's my simple take on this:
1. I'm not saying every game should be like the Packers/Cardinals 51-45 shootout last January, but I don't want every game to be the polar opposite (i.e. the Browns/Bills 6-3 game last October or the Dolphins/Steelers 3-0 game a few years ago.)
2. Also, it was the opposite case a while ago. I have read on how up until 1978, offenses were held in check big time and defenses were REALLY dominant, perhaps too dominant (back then, throwing for 3,000 yards in a season was a big deal. We didn't see the 4,000 yard passer until 1979, the league's 60th year). I wonder if these same people would have complained that the NFL was legislating offense out of the game. If the shoe was on the other foot, would they have said the same thing?
3. You have to be able score points to win. Defense may win championships, but you must put some points as well in order to be triumphant. Even when the Giants held down the Patriots in the Super Bowl a few years ago, they had only 10 points on the board until their final drive. The 2000 Ravens were fortunate to have their dominant defense to camouflage a somewhat punchless offense (they went an entire month without scoring an offensive touchdown), but other teams that have had fierce defenses were able to muster their own points. Defense alone can't win a championship. After all, if you hold a potent offensive team to 6 points, your team better have more than 6 points!
4. Defense is not the end-all, be-all of football. After all, think about some of the great names of football lore- Unitas, Montana, Elway, Rice, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders. Football is romantically viewed as a fierce, hard-hitting game, but it's not just about crushing someone. It can also be a beautiful game on the other side of the ball too.
