Anyone notice what the unbeaten teams have in common?

[Saint J]

Minnesota will give us a great game...but I don't think they have the firepower to keep up in the end.

[Kevin Greene]

I've noticed the last 2 Super Bowl Champions have had spectacular running games and defenses.

[Saint J]

I've noticed the last 2 Super Bowl Champions have had spectacular running games and defenses.

The Steelers were 23rd in rushing last season.

[panthers55]

If you look at the top offensive teams in the league- 5 out of the top 6 are leading their divisions. The notable exceptions are San Diego at (13), Arizona (14) and Cincinnatti (20). Several of these teams have a top rushing attack- New Orleans (5th), Cincinnatti (6th), Dallas (8th), Minnesota (11th) So to assume it is all passing is naive. It is offense no matter how it is generated.

On the defensive side several of them show up as well. I used points surrendered because in the end, that is the only stat that matters. Cincinnatti is number 2 (16.7), Indy is 4th (17.7), Dallas is 5th(17.9), New England is 7th (18), Minnesota is is 9th (18.7). New Orleans is the most notable outlier at 18 (21.1) but I suspect it is because they score so often and so fast it gives the other team plenty of possessions to score.

If you look at the unbeaten teams and the divsion leaders you notice they have good offenses regardless of whether they run or pass and they have pretty good defenses as well.

To say you will have instant success by generating a passing attack alone is simplistic logic at best. It surely helps but so does defense and other elements as well.

Passing alone is what New Orleans had last year when they went 8-8. What has changed this year for them is the defense not the offense.

[X-Clown]

Passing alone is what New Orleans had last year when they went 8-8. What has changed this year for them is the defense not the offense.

Their running game is a lot better too.

[panthers55]

Their running game is a lot better too.

Yeah I noted that they were 5th in the league in my post.

[Speed]

neither Indy or the Saints will have to play in the cold in the playoffs so it won't matter.

Ha! Ha! Is it snowing in Charlotte?

[Saint J]

I didn't know Charlotte was hosting a playoff game.

[Speed]

I didn't know Charlotte was hosting a playoff game.

Just a saint loss!

[Saint J]

Lofty dream.

[ClawOn]

It's very simple. MOST IN-GAME RULE CHANGES IN RECENT SEASONS HAVE PROTECTED QBS AND RECEIVERS. Marty and Johnny adjusted to this deftly. I present you Jake Delhomme. And helping Steve Smith at receiver is "to be named later."

[Fox007]

The rule changes have certainly helped the offense, specifically QB's.

I don't think the NFL would have been so quick to make a lot of those rules if defensive players weren't so stupid about it all.

Instead of form tackling and playing with good technique they try to knock the guys head off or go for the "big blow".

This arm tackling, dive powerfully at the guy and hope he goes down poo is lame anyway.

The QB rules are really lame even if the QB is the most important player on the field, he should still play with the same rules as everyone else.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Minnesota will give us a great game...but I don't think they have the firepower to keep up in the end.

But they have the proper defense to slow your offense down just enough. It will not be a shootout.

[Saint J]

Like Philly? New England? Washington? Your defense? No defense has held the Saints to under 24 and the Minnesota defense won't be the 1st.