If you look at the two teams getting ready to battle it out on February 6th in the Super Bowl, the Eagles and Patriots both have experienced coaches, two great quarterbacks, and two very qualified owners. However, the key to the success of these two franchises, especially the Patriots, is their balance.The Indianapolis Colts, led by superstar quarterback Peyton Manning, had the best offense in the NFL, and maybe in history. They put up record making marks as they soared through the season, tearing opponent’s defenses apart. But what about their defense? The Colts defense were a bunch of no-names with little leadership and overall talent. Because of this imbalance, the Colts continue to come up just short of a Super Bowl appearance, and until they put some balance into their team, this will be a reoccurring story.
On the opposite side of the spectrum you have the Baltimore Ravens, a team that clearly has a powerhouse defense, with names like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Chris McAlister and Terrell Suggs. On the other side of the ball, you have Kyle Boller, a young quarterback who, throughout the season, was very inconsistent and often folded under pressure. The Ravens thought they were going to pick up Terrell Owens in the offseason, which would have revamped their offense into a substantial threat. Instead T.O. wanted to play for a higher caliber team in the Eagles, which of course are now in the Super Bowl.
On both sides of the ball, the Eagles coaches and owners have done their homework. Donovan McNabb seems to light up the show on offense, whether it is passing, running, or doing both at the same time. On the defensive side of the ball for Philly, there is Jeremiah Trotter, a baby Ray Lewis who seems to be in on every single play. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention knock your lights out safety Brian Dawkins and shutdown corner Lito Sheppard.
The New England Patriots seem to have a formula much like the Eagles. Tom Brady clearly is the leader of the Patriots team, and makes two-minute drills seem like a day in the park. Hard-hitting running back Corey Dillon can probably stiff-arm the entire Colts defense, and then there’s that guy named Adam Vinatieri. Defensively, you have got to credit high-flying linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who is usually either wrapping the running back up, or ripping the ball out of his hands. Keith Traylor, a.k.a Tractor Traylor, is a massive man whose veteran experience has led him to one of his best seasons yet. I don’t know the names of those guys in the secondary, but I know that they hit hard and somehow shutout the Colts’ trio of receivers.
When it comes down to it, true teams like the Eagles and Patriots are the only teams that will have success in the NFL. Before the salary cap, a team could have an offense like the Colts, and a defense like the Ravens. Since the cap began, teams have been forced to make a decision, to spend their money on offense, defense, or both. The teams that have chosen both might not go down in the statistical record books, but the balance of offense and defense has won them championships.
2 replies on “In The NFL- Balance Wins Championships”
Like it… …I think this line was terrific because if you look at the stats in overall rankings of offense and defense the two times the PATS won the SUPER BOWL and of the EAGLES and PATS this year – you’ll see they don’t dominate one specific area:
The teams that have chosen both might not go down in the statistical record books, but the balance of offense and defense has won them championships.
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