This Steelers Defense from an historical perspective

When I take a look back at the year that was for the Steelers, I am struck by the fact that this year's defense was very, very impressive in all facets of the game.

They narrowly missed being the first team in 17 years to lead the league in rushing defense, passing defense, and total defense.

They finished a full 24 yards per game ahead of the #2 defense in terms of total yardage (hated Ravens).

They finished 1.3 points per game ahead of the #2 hated Ravens in terms of points allowed per game. That translates to 21 points throughout the course of the season.

A lot of times, you can punch holes in an argument that suggests a defense is "great" or "among the best ever" by taking a closer look at the stats.

Sure, the 2008 Steelers didn't let up a lot of yards, but yards gained might have been down that season in general. Well, the #5 defense in terms of total yards allowed per game finished 55 yards per game behind the Steelers at 292. When the fifth-best defense in the NFL gives up 292 yards per game, yards aren't down for the year.

Maybe they faced some crappy competition. Well, you can either look at the fact that the Steelers faced a schedule where their opponents had a combined .525 winning percentage, or that this defense faced seven of the top 15 offenses in the league in 2008. Either one kind of invalidates that argument.

Maybe they didn't give up a lot of yards, but they gave up a lot of big plays. They gave up only 27 plays of 20 yards or more total throughout the season. That's less than two per game. The second place team in terms of only passing plays gave up 33 passing plays of 20 or more yards throughout the season (Bungles). That's right, the Bungles gave up six more passing plays of 20 or more yards throughout 2008 than the Steelers gave up total plays of 20 or more yards. Looking at plays that went 40+ yards, we gave up three all season. Three.

We got sacks, we forced turnovers, we made game changing plays on defense. We had the Defensive Player of the Year. Our only three Pro Bowl players were defensive players. Every week, a different guy steps up and makes a big play.

With apologies to the 90s Steeler defenses, this is the best Steeler defense that I have seen with my own eyes. I am not saying anything about the defenses from the 70s, since I didn't see them. This is just the best Steeler defense that I have seen.

The 94 defense had a ton of sacks (55, compared to 51 for the 2008 version), but finished second in total defense and allowed more points per game (14.6). Plus which, they didn't make a big play when it counted in the AFC Championship game, a feather in the 2008 team's cap.

The 95 defense was third overall (285 yards per game, which is 48 more per game than this year's squad), and only had 42 sacks. They also finished 9th in points allowed, so that kind of eliminates them.

In 01, we finished first overall (258 yards per game), let up only 13.2 points per game, and had 55 sacks. Surprisingly, this is the defense from the last 20 years that challenges the 2008 defense the most. But, the thing everyone forgets about 2001 is that it was the year before the Texans joined the league and the divisions were re-aligned. We got to play 10 division games against the Browns (still pretty much an expansion team), the Bengals (still the Bungles), the Titans and Jaguars (getting older and starting into salary cap hell), and hated Ravens (breaking in a dude named Elvis as their quarterback). We went 7-3 in our division that year, but I always remember us going 10-0. Anyone that remembers that team, though, remembers that we had very little star power and that our secondary was anchored by Chad Scott. Yikes. Can't nominate them for Best Steelers Defense Since the 70s.

The 2004 team played a weak schedule and finished first in overall defense (258 yards per game) and first in points (15.8). Well, that points number kinda tells you everything you need to know about the 2004 Steelers, as they let up 32 points more than the 2008 Steelers throughout the course of a 16 game season. They also allowed 41 points in the AFC Championship game. Let's move on.

Actually, the 2007 defense finished first overall as well. They let up 266 yards per game, though, and finished third against the rush, third against the pass, and second in points. The fact that they didn't finish #1 in any category and only registered 36 sacks disqualifies them.

That leaves your 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers! They have more playmakers at every level and, where the '94 team had a fading Greene and Lloyd, the '08 version has an emerging LaMarr Woodley and the Defensive Player of the Year in James Harrison. Polamalu is the modern day version of Rod Woodson, except he is at a position that takes advantage of his range and can't be avoided. The defensive line is stronger and the secondary is three deep at cornerback with Pro Bowl alternate Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, and the venerable Deshead Townsend.

Considering the fact that this is the best defense the Steelers have had in the last two decades -- and they've had some damn good defenses in that time -- it begs this question: Are they the best defense of the past two decades (and then some) overall?

Well, I think you need to consider three defenses in that conversation: The 1985 Bears, the 2000 Baltimore hated Ravens, and the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A lot of people forget how good the 2002 Bucs defense was, but the numbers show that they're right up there with the Bears and hated Ravens.

The 85 Bears actually allowed 258 yards per game, so this year's Steelers defense has a leg up on them in that regard. But, they also only allowed 12.4 points per game and 82.4 yards rushing per game. The big thing is the points and the fact that they finished 15-1, shut out both of their opponents in the playoffs, and completely shit-smeared the Patriots in Super Bowl XX.

The 2000 hated Ravens set a record for fewest points allowed during a 16 game season and only let up 10.3 points per game. They also scored a lot on defense and went for the whole bend-don't-break philosophy, considering that they actually finished second in yards allowed per game to the Titans (and the Titans, in Baltimore's historic season, allowed 11.9 points per game and only 238.3 yards per game... which is still more yards per game than this year's defense allowed).

The 2002 Bucs finished 28 yards per game ahead of the #2-ranked Panthers, letting up 252 yards per game versus 290 yards per game for Carolina. They actually finished 5th in rushing defense, but first in passing defense by a wide margin, allowing 155.6 yards per game through the air (as opposed to 156.9 yards per game by the 2008 Steelers) and holding opposing quarterbacks to a 48.4 passer rating, while this year's Steelers held their opponents to a 63.4 passer rating.

Interestingly enough, the 2002 Bucs made it to the Super Bowl and faced an expolsive offensive team with a veteran quarterback, a talented receiving corps, and a lackluster running game. The game also featured a match-up of the "new regime" versus the "deposed regime." There are a lot of similarities between this Super Bowl and Super Bowl XXXVII. The good news is that Tampa won 48-21. The bad news is that Tampa also had the "deposed regmine" on their sidelines.

The big thing that the media (and the players) keep talking about is that the three non-Steeler defenses discussed here all won a championship. In order for the 2008 Steelers to be involved in the "Best Defenses of the Last 30 Years" conversation, they need to win it all.

A strong showing (and a win) against an extremely potent Steelers West offense will put them in the conversation.