Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

On February 2016, not even two weeks after SBL was in the books, Gil Brandt put out what he felt was his Top 5 defenses of all-time...

https://www.nfl.com/news/1985-bears-201 ... 0000636900

Deciding not to point out what I, or others, may feel are glaring omissions (or how high they should be, if placed in this very Top 5), I'll just point out that the very Wade Phillips defense that just got done putting a second, and final, Ring on a soon-to-retire Peyton's finger, was already installed a Rushmore-plus-one "All-Time" unit - #3 specifically! And also the fact that Gil placed this D above what I, and others, thus far see as the 21st Century's best - the Legion of Boom!

What I also thought when I first saw Brandt's inclusion, was if 2015's D was even better than Denver's '97 & '98 installments? Upon further inspection (although those very back-to-back Lombardi-winning units, to me, are better than the stats/rankings indicate), I got to give it to DeMarcus. Von & Co. They were ranked #1 unlike those two others. And although I've known for the past six years that the passing game was middling, I didn't quite realize that the run-game also was! Like the '00 Ravens, I thought they also, at least, had that run-game to go with it. That D sure did carry things! #1 SB-winning Broncos D they were, better than the Orange Crush as well thus best Mile High D ever (also considering these very defense-unfriendly modern times), but..."All-Time" Top 5? Better than '13 Hawks ('86 G-men too)? I'm not totally sure but can still be schooled. Just maybe I should see them in an even better light.

Thoughts?

If we call and place our cards on the table, in my opinion the 2013 Seahawks are the better TEAM than the 2015 Broncos. If all else is even from a defensive standpoint, the Seahawks stand apart with arguably the better offense: 'Beast Mode' playing at a prime level and Russell Wilson with a QB rating of 101.72 (and 26 / 9 TD to INT ratio). Compare that to a past his prime Peyton Manning with a QB rating of 67.9 (and 9 /17 TD to INT ratio). Running back by committee of Ronnie Hillman and C J Anderson were effective but neither offer comparison to Marshawn Lynch. It could be said the Broncos have the better receivers when factoring Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas.

Again, if all else is even I go with the Seahawks as having the more effective defense, at least from a numbers standpoint in giving up fewer points (231 as opposed to 296) and intercepting more passes (28 as opposed to 14). Broncos win the QB sack war but only barely, 52 to 44.

Seahawks in my view ...

For one season probably still the 85 Bears ...

85 Bears
13 Seahawks
00 Ravens
02 Bucs
75 Steelers

Its really close to call because the 66 Packers, 71 Cowboys, 69 Chiefs, 84 49ers and 86 Giants were great defenses as well ...

Other great defenses, 83 Raiders, 92-93 Cowboys, 03 Patriots and of course 15 Broncos ...