This stat tells it all

[E CaT PanTHer]

Again what kind of crappy analysis is that. I also said you need a good offense and good defense in the playoffs to win. First of all you used regular season stats which mean much less than post season ones. Secondly you used quantitative stats instead of qualitative ones. Third you ignored my point that it is about total offense not simply rushing. For example New York won the Super bowl in 2007 with the 1st rated defense (points surrendered) in the post season, the 6th rated rushing attack(yards per carry) and the 8th rated passing attack (yards per game) out of 12 teams. Total offense was 7th based on points per game at 21. Any ideas what got them over the top.

You obviously took some regular season stats, which are not very telling and made erroneous conclusions proving nothing. Now do what I did for the other teams you mentioned using qualitative meaningful stats looking at where they ranked on rushing, defense, and passing and total offense in the post season and get back with me. At least you will have an analysis worth discussing at that point.

The regular season consists of 16 games, the postseason only between 1 and 4. I would rather take the bigger sample size to make a more accurate argument.

So basically what you're trying to say is a team needs to be clicking on all cylinders going into the playoffs and not necessarily in the regular season. I agree with that. Usually the hottest team going into the playoffs is the team that does the most damage. I mean just look at us in 2003. There wasn't anything special about our team, offensively or defensively. We were actually voted one of the worst superbowl teams ever, but hey, we were hot at the right time (with a little bit of luck) and we made a run that year.

Taking that into account, you still need great QB play to get you that ring. That's all I'm saying. The playoffs consist of the best of the best. You'll be facing many other teams with great defenses and at some point in the playoffs, you're going to need your QB to take you down the field and be the leader of your team. A good rushing attack and a good defense might take you far, but won't get you that lombardi trophy in the end.

[frash.exe]

Take a look at these stats... Like it or not, the game is changing.....

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/release.aspx?release_id=1330

From 1967 to 1980, there were only 3, 4000+ yds passers. There were 10 alone this year.

pete

well part of that would be because of the extension to 16 games from 14 in 1978, but it's true quality passers are more plentiful.

[panthers55]

Take a look at these stats... Like it or not, the game is changing.....

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/release.aspx?release_id=1330

From 1967 to 1980, there were only 3, 4000+ yds passers. There were 10 alone this year.

pete

No question the game is changing to more of a passing game which is deemed more exciting. Still how many times with a top 5 passing attack won the superbowl this decade?

[Guild]

well part of that would be because of the extension to 16 games from 14 in 1978, but it's true quality passers are more plentiful.

Also rule changes lead to more passers being more prolific in the modern NFL.

[panthers55]

The regular season consists of 16 games, the postseason only between 1 and 4. I would rather take the bigger sample size to make a more accurate argument.

So basically what you're trying to say is a team needs to be clicking on all cylinders going into the playoffs and not necessarily in the regular season. I agree with that. Usually the hottest team going into the playoffs is the team that does the most damage. I mean just look at us in 2003. There wasn't anything special about our team, offensively or defensively. We were actually voted one of the worst superbowl teams ever, but hey, we were hot at the right time (with a little bit of luck) and we made a run that year.

Taking that into account, you still need great QB play to get you that ring. That's all I'm saying. The playoffs consist of the best of the best. You'll be facing many other teams with great defenses and at some point in the playoffs, you're going to need your QB to take you down the field and be the leader of your team. A good rushing attack and a good defense might take you far, but won't get you that lombardi trophy in the end.

But you don't need a great quarterback just one that gets hot in the playoffs. And if you don't have one, you can make up for it with great defense and a good rushing attack. Look at the numbers.

How many teams with top 5 passing attacks in the regular season have won the lombardi that year so far this decade? That would be 1. Indy in 2006.

How many teams with a top 5 rushing attack in the regular season this decade have won the lombardi? Twice That would be Baltimore in 2001 and Pittsburgh in 2005.

How many teams with a top 5 defense in the regular season went on to win the Superbowl? That would be 4. Baltimore, Tampa, and Pittsburgh twice.

Case closed/

[Sword]

it's a passing league until it gets cold...this is why dome teams have to try and go undefeated during the year to get to the SB..

[E CaT PanTHer]

But you don't need a great quarterback just one that gets hot in the playoffs. And if you don't have one, you can make up for it with great defense and a good rushing attack. Look at the numbers.

How many teams with top 5 passing attacks in the regular season have won the lombardi that year so far this decade? That would be 1. Indy in 2006.

How many teams with a top 5 rushing attack in the regular season this decade have won the lombardi? Twice That would be Baltimore in 2001 and Pittsburgh in 2005.

How many teams with a top 5 defense in the regular season went on to win the Superbowl? That would be 4. Baltimore, Tampa, and Pittsburgh twice.

Case closed/

Again, what did I say about the Bucs and Ravens? Those are the exceptions to the rule. The defenses those teams had are defenses that are extremely scarce and probably come along once every 20 years. Even a prolific passing attack wouldn't be able to do much against them.

And I don't think there is a such thing as a hot QB in the playoffs. Yeah the team can catch fire, but the QB still has to execute in the playoffs. If there was a such thing as a hot QB, how come we didn't see Joe Flacco, Chad Pennington, Jake Delhomme, Tavaris Jackson, Matt Ryan, or Kerry Collins in the superbowl last year. Or what about the previous year, how come we didn't see Jeff Garcia, Jason Campbell, Kerry Collins, David Garrard, or Matt Hasselback in the superbowl. I mean come on, one of those QB's had to be hot in the playoffs. Exactly. All those teams made the playoffs the last two years but didn't reach the superbowl. And what do all those teams have in common ... AVG QB's.

case closed/

[ChucktownK]

The Chargers are soft. They just can't keep players on the field.

[panthers55]

Again, what did I say about the Bucs and Ravens? Those are the exceptions to the rule. The defenses those teams had are defenses that are extremely scarce and probably come along once every 20 years. Even a prolific passing attack wouldn't be able to do much against them.

And I don't think there is a such thing as a hot QB in the playoffs. Yeah the team can catch fire, but the QB still has to execute in the playoffs. If there was a such thing as a hot QB, how come we didn't see Joe Flacco, Chad Pennington, Jake Delhomme, Tavaris Jackson, Matt Ryan, or Kerry Collins in the superbowl last year. Or what about the previous year, how come we didn't see Jeff Garcia, Jason Campbell, Kerry Collins, David Garrard, or Matt Hasselback in the superbowl. I mean come on, one of those QB's had to be hot in the playoffs. Exactly. All those teams made the playoffs the last two years but didn't reach the superbowl. And what do all those teams have in common ... AVG QB's.

case closed/

Again you are out in left field apparently looking into the sun . I just showed you that in the last decade that 4 teams with top 5 defenses won the superbowl. And you come back with the Ravens and Tampa were exceptions to the rule???? What rule???? Let me repeat it. Only 1, that right 1 team with a top 5 passing attack has won the super bowl this decade.

And what was that other nonsense with quarterbacks. You missed the point again. As I have told you all thread long it isn't whether you have a good quarterback all season long it is how they play in the playoffs. Again look as recently as last year. Roethlisberger all season long had a quarterback rating in the low 80s. His defense carried him along. In the playoffs he get hotter and they win. Same thing happened with Eli Manning the year before. In fact you would expect that in 2006 that an elite quarterback like Peyton Manning would prove your theory that an elite quarterback would be the ticket. And in his case he was 30 points lower in passer rating in the post season than the regular season? What saved him? A hot running game and a defense that played well over their heads. Same thing in 2005 when Roethlisberger had a crappy superbowl after a very good regular season and first few games of the postseason.

You seem to be burying yourself here. With each example you just keep proving my point. You don't need an elite quarterback to win the superbowl. Just a guy who plays like one when he needs to in the playoffs. And if he struggles then a good running attack and defense will save the day.

[Scutty]

Will be interesting to see who ends up in the Super Bowl in light of this topic

[panthers55]

Will be interesting to see who ends up in the Super Bowl in light of this topic

Problem is that many of the top 10 offenses also have 10 ten defenses. And several also have top 10 rushing attacks. So you might actually have one with all three this year or at least 2 of the 3. My prediction is whoever's defense get hot in the playoffs.

[Scutty]

I have a problem with stats full stop. They can be made to say anything you want them to.

[Guild]

I have a problem with stats full stop. They can be made to say anything you want them to.

I see someone took statistics in college.

[Scutty]

I see someone took statistics in college.

My son took them at Uni. He said that 68.24% of stats are made up