Anyone notice what the unbeaten teams have in common?

[Captroop]

It does seem to come in waves; what teams put emphasis on to try to be champions. But this is a copy cat league. Some teams try to mimic what other teams did to win a championship, others seek to mitigate that advantage, so the dynamic is always changing.

My crazy economics-based theory:

In the early 2000s, it was an elite run-stuffing defense following in the wake of Baltimore and Tampa Bay, which begat Super Bowl runs by Carolina, Chicago and Pittsburgh.

Then, I suppose, to counter a strong run D, teams went to the air more. Philly went, Indy went, and of course, the Patriots went after Brady threw for all kinds of records.

Then they got wrecked in the Super Bowl by a great pass rushing D. So emphasis shifted to an elite pass rush after the Giants win.

Now to counter that, I guess there is renewed emphasis on pass blocking, allowing the best quarterbacks to go gang busters. So I think we will see great passing attacks for the next few years. And considering that one of those elite passing teams is in our division, I think we would be better-served trying to mitigate rather than match. So emphasis for us could either be a clock-consuming running game, or an elite secondary; both of which we have already laid the groundworks for.

Who knows, it might be the next big thing.

[unicar15]

Spread offenses and the ability to throw it short (instead of run) is becoming the new offense to play. BUT...I think that it is just a good regular season offense as opposed to a postseason offense.

My superbowl prediction is Vikings vs. Chargers.

The Chargers aren't exactly a running team either but I can't find a good team in the whole AFC that is a "run first" offense and Norv tends to be more of that style coach than any of his AFC opponents.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Commons

Both have great Quarterbacks- Drew Bree's is ranked 1st in passer rating and Peyton Manningis ranked 5th.

Both have decent Runningbacks Joseph Addai is ranked 15th in rushing yards, and Pierre Thomas is ranked 20th

Both have at least to good Receivers and a good Tight End Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Dallas Clark for Indy, and Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Jeremy Shockey for the Saints.

Both have amazing Offenses New Orleans Total Offense is ranked 1st and Indy's total Offense is ranked 2nd.

Both have sub-par Deffenses New Orleans Total Defense is ranked 19th and Indy's is ranked 25th.

Both play in Domes

[thefuzz]

You have to have good QB's to consistently win in this league.

Both Manning 1 and Brees are fantastic regular season QB"s....neither have been lights out in the playoffs. Very well could come down to,

Manning 1 vs. Rivers

and

Favre vs. Brees

Of the 4 Brees has the least amount of playoff experience, and it could come back to haunt him.

I see Chargers vs. Vikings in the Super Bowl.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

You have to have good QB's to consistently win in this league.

Both Manning 1 and Brees are fantastic regular season QB"s....neither have been lights out in the playoffs. Very well could come down to,

Manning 1 vs. Rivers

and

Favre vs. Brees

Of the 4 Brees has the least amount of playoff experience, and it could come back to haunt him.

I see Chargers vs. Vikings in the Super Bowl.

I Agree

[lethalshine]

here is an interesting article on this subject brought up just this week talking about how important is running the ball.

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/bobsmizik/archive/2009/12/16/how-important-is-running-the-ball.aspx

[Saint J]

how did Farve's playoff experience work for him in the NFc title game a few back? He sent the Giants to Arizona.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

how did Farve's playoff experience work for him in the NFc title game a few back? He sent the Giants to Arizona.

Well since were living in the past we might as well reflect on this.

[thefuzz]

how did Farve's playoff experience work for him in the NFc title game a few back? He sent the Giants to Arizona.

I said could come back to bite him...good lord step away from the edge Saint fan.

He is the least playoff tested of the "top 4" IMO. No big deal.

[Saint J]

Well since were living in the past we might as well reflect on this.

because two years in the past is the equivalent of 30.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

because two years in the past is the equivalent of 30.

Sorry I am not a math major.

[Davidson Deac II]

You have to have good QB's to consistently win in this league.

Both Manning 1 and Brees are fantastic regular season QB"s....neither have been lights out in the playoffs. Very well could come down to,

Manning 1 vs. Rivers

and

Favre vs. Brees

Of the 4 Brees has the least amount of playoff experience, and it could come back to haunt him.

I see Chargers vs. Vikings in the Super Bowl.

I don't see Norv Turner taking a team to a Superbowl ever.

[beastson]

I bet neither go to the SB

[Davidson Deac II]

The Saints probably will go. I don't see anyone in the NFC capable of challenging them.