From 1971-73, the No-Name Defense surrendered just 11.8 points per game.Ħ. The defense produced only one Hall of Famer (LB Nick Buoniconti) but had solid All-Pros in SS Dick Anderson, FS Jake Scott, DT Manny Fernandez, and DE Bill Stanfill. The Dolphins were an incredible 67-16-1 over those six seasons, with three Super Bowl Appearances, two Lombardi Trophies (1972-73), and the only unbeaten season (1972) in NFL history. The Giants won two Super Bowls (1986, 1990) and four division crowns during that time.įrom 1970-75, the Miami Dolphins ruled the AFC East-and for three years (1971-73), most of the NFL. Taylor, Carson, OLB Carl Banks, and ILB Gary Reasons formed the best linebacker corps of the 1980s.Īdding All-Pro DE Leonard Marshall to the mix only made them more ferocious. Taylor was the wild animal, let out of his cage every Sunday to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. The strength of the unit was at linebacker, where two Hall of Famers roamed: OLB Lawrence Taylor and MLB Harry Carson.Ĭarson was the brains of the defense-the run stuffer and the captain who kept everyone in line. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew- New York Giantsįrom 1985-90, the New York Giants, affectionately known as the 'Big Blue Wrecking Crew,' were one of the most feared defenses in the National Football League. The Broncos went 50-28 with three division titles during the Orange Crush heyday.Ĩ. In 1977, the defense gave up only 148 points (10.6 ppg) to lead Denver to its first Super Bowl appearance, a 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Led by OLB Tom Jackson, ILB Randy Gradishar, and DE Lyle Alzado, the Orange Crush defense was a force from 1977-81. The Chiefs surrendered only 20 points during the playoffs on their way to a Super Bowl victory.ĩ.

In 1969, Kansas City held five opponents to fewer than 10 points and gave up an average of less than two touchdowns a game. In addition, DT Curly Culp, CB Jim Marsalis, and S Johnny Robinson were All-Pros.

Hank Stram's 'Triple Stack' defense was a force in the AFL during the 1960s and early 1970s, capturing a Super Bowl crown in 1969.įour players on the Chiefs defense have busts in Canton: DT Buck Buchanon, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, and CB Emmitt Thomas. Without further adieu, here is my version of the Top 10 Greatest NFL Defensive Teams of All Time. To make my list, there were two criteria involved: The defense had to be consistently good for at least three years, and it had to be in the Super Bowl era. In making this list, I didn't base my selections on just one outstanding season, so those expecting to see the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles will be very disappointed. Now, it's my turn to create some of that conversation with my own top 10 list. That's what makes writing and discussing sports so fun.

Ask any fan, player, sportswriter, or coach, and you'll get radical differences in opinion.

Doomsday defense