Best Defense in NFL history?

Andy,

The Bucs were the best defense this year. And they ARE one of the best defenses in modern NFL history. If you will agree with me that the Bucs should be compared with teams in the modern era (since NFL season was increased to 16 games), I will prove that the Bucs defense stands up in the top 5 of it's era.

While you can compare the 1958 Giants defense -10 game season with the 2000 Ravens I would argue that season length, player size, roster size, etc make it problematic. Actually when you realize that some of the 1940's and 50's NFL stars played both offense AND defense you gain a new respect for them ...you also have to give the mid 1960's Packer teams, the AFL Chiefs and Raider teams and the old Rams, Miami and Colt teams their due. But on to the modern era (NFL 16 game season).

How the The Bucs 2002-03 Defense Stacks Up against it's modern day (NFL 16 game season) competition

Well-presented post, Sam.

To be fair, we played the miserable Panthers twice, as well as a Mornhinweig-coached Lions team and then the Bengals, too. But we also played a few top-flite teams

Oh come on! Lets be serious.

Best Defense of all time is without doubt the Hal of Fame Steelers Steel Curtain defense that DOMINATED the NFL and racked up 4 SB rings.

I dunno... Oakland police seemed to put up a pretty good, if somewhat exteme, defence. Tear-gas against football fans? Seems a little too far. Then again, they do it in Europe...

It could also be noted that the Browns were not a '1st year' team in 2000, that the Titans (who had a great defense as well) took over the top spot when they faced a completely outmatched and unprepared Anthony Wright in week 17, the Ravens shut down two very good offenses

faced in the playoffs had put up HUGE offensive numbers/point the game prior to facing the Ravens.

These are points given up by the team. The 2000 Ravens and Titans were only about 6 points apart on points given up by the defenses. The Titans gave up a few touchdowns on scores by the opposing defense and special teams. It's tue, look it up. When evaluating a defense you should see just how many points a defense gave up not the whole team. Its a basic thing people forget all the time.

Personally I miss the 60s/70s era when great defenses had great nicknames.

Don't forget Denver's the Orange Crush

You're right.....everyone is looking at total points given up in a season as the barometer. How about this statistic....1976 Steelers....in a 9 game stretch they gave up 27 points...5 shutouts!