2008 Steelers: The last team to allow 14 PPG or less?

[SeahawkFever]

Just did a look at Pro Football Reference and noted which teams allowed 14 points per game or less in a season.

The most recent one was the 2008 Steelers, a team that had three pro bowlers, a fourth player who had double digit sacks and ultimately a team that allowed ten points or less in eight games.

Out of curiosity could the 08 Steelers be the last NFL team to allow 14 points per game or less in a season? It is longer now, and quarterback safety rules were implemented the following year I believe.

[Brian wolf]

The 2013 Seahawks were very close according to PFR ... allowing 14.4 per game, the second of four straight years leading in scoring defense.

*edited ... the Steelers were fewest in 2011 as well at 14.2

[74_75_78_79_]

Anything is possible. It’s not the most undoable future accomplishment. But pretty likely, I think, we’ll see stronger defenses than the ’08 Steelers if there haven’t been some already (without looking at or going by stats, I simply place ’13 Hawks & ’24 Eagles defenses above theirs for starters), but for one to hold all opponents to that few points per game, especially with the rules being more and more offense-friendly along with that extra 17th game, it’s going to be too tall an order. Other defensive stats, ok, but points will be tough. Unless new rules at a later time ever go in-reverse in favor of defense.

[Brian wolf]

Close by a hair ... the 2008 Steelers gave up 223 points. The 2019 Patriots gave up 225 at 14.1 ...

[74_75_78_79_]

Close by a hair ... the 2008 Steelers gave up 223 points. The 2019 Patriots gave up 225 at 14.1 ...

But wasn't the bulk of that within their 8-0 start (perhaps, the 'last breath' of the Dynasty)? Yes, it did look scary at first, but then giving up 37 at Baltimore in that Wk#9 defeat and, from there, still solid defense to be played, but not like that first half of the season.

[Brian wolf]

Yeah, the Patriots collapsed after a 10-1 start losing the #2 seed to the Chiefs by getting upset by the Dolphins that final weekend of the regular season. Brady had an interception ran back for a TD. The same thing happened to Brady in the upset playoff loss to the Titans. After being fed up and leaving the Patriots, Brady's first game as a Buccaneer is another loss with him throwing another pick-six. What an incredible three-game span for him. He recovered nicely though, but what if he had stayed with NE?

[SeahawkFever]

Anything is possible. It’s not the most undoable future accomplishment. But pretty likely, I think, we’ll see stronger defenses than the ’08 Steelers if there haven’t been some already (without looking at or going by stats, I simply place ’13 Hawks & ’24 Eagles defenses above theirs for starters), but for one to hold all opponents to that few points per game, especially with the rules being more and more offense-friendly along with that extra 17th game, it’s going to be too tall an order. Other defensive stats, ok, but points will be tough. Unless new rules at a later time ever go in-reverse in favor of defense.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that there hasn’t been an NFL defense as good as the 08 Steelers since they played, just as that what they did feels more unreachable because of the longer season and more rules changes that have helped offenses since.

I broke down the full list of teams since 1936 that averaged 14 points per game or less in another thread.

[74_75_78_79_]

I've already opined in the past about my '08 Steelers not really being an all-time great team. In fact, I've always preferred 2005 over them due to their balance/run-game in-particular. On offense, '08 seemed to be Big Ben, his play-extending abilities, his WR core, and little else. Unfortunately, they're among the weakest run-games for a World Champ.

The '08 Steelers had a tough schedule, but their arguably four toughest opponents were all defeats with two of them lopsided to both Eagles & Titans. Threeping the Ravens is definitely an accomplishment, and blasting the Pats in Foxborough even with Cassel instead (they did finish 11-5) nothing at all to sneeze at but with 8-8 Chargers and 9-7 Cardinals as their two other playoff opponents in-addition to Balt, quite among the easiest post-season paths ever for a team (and, YES, no Tom Brady in 2008; should be mentioned).

However, I always felt had the Steelers played any of those teams who beat them in the playoffs, a nice-enough chance they win anyway. But they didn't play any of them again, its last team standing, can only play who's in front of you, and that was that. Their Lombardi still deserved.

But any of they not being an all-time great team with me, or me placing '05 above them, I should not at all take it out on their defense which I really, especially me being a Steeler-fan, need to start giving more credit to. It seems enough of you non-Steeler fans here give them more credit than I do. '05 was a great Steeler D, but 2008 even greater. They carried that flawed offense. And when their secondary took much of the 2nd half off in that SB, the D overall still did enough in the beginning (especially that Harrison pick-6) to still be in-range to come back in those closing minutes. Big Ben threw many INTs in those close losses to Indy and NYG. They could have finished 14-2.

Maybe I shouldn't place their D beneath the '13 Hawks & '24 Eagles. But, for now, I still will regardless of stats. Walloping Peyton and Mahomes in their respective SB-triumphs definitely stands-out!

[Brian wolf]

Its rare for rookies to come in and add to a great defensive season but the 24' Eagles did that within an excellent team effort. Great year, but I would still take the 2008/2011 Steeler's defenses over them. Still a black and blue era before stricter enforcement of personal fouls, defence-less receivers, defensive holding, roughing the passer, the whole watering down of defenses over the last 14 seasons.

[NWebster]

Its rare for rookies to come in and add to a great defensive season but the 24' Eagles did that within an excellent team effort. Great year, but I would still take the 2008/2011 Steeler's defenses over them. Still a black and blue era before stricter enforcement of personal fouls, defence-less receivers, defensive holding, roughing the passer, the whole watering down of defenses over the last 14 seasons.

I would also favor the 08 Steelers, as much as we think of the explosion of offense the avg Yards per play in 08 was 5.3 and the Steelers led the league at 3.9 with the Eagles ironically in second at 4.4. Last season the league avg YPP was only slightly higher 5.4 with the Eagles leading at 4.7 and the second place Broncos at 4.9. The Steelers were 26% better than league avg versus Eagles 13% and 11% better than #2 versus 4%.