Super Bowl XLVII- Harbaugh vs Harbaugh

[Landshark]

I said this at this time last year and will say it again.  Despite it being a passing league, defense STILL wins championships.  Both Harbaugh brothers built stifling defenses that took on high powered offenses today.  Both brothers' units shut down those high powered offenses in the second half.

Again, defense wins championships.  The Harbaugh brothers know that all too well, which is why their teams are still playing at this point in the season.

[MikeO]

I said this at this time last year and will say it again.  Despite it being a passing league, defense STILL wins championships.  Both Harbaugh brothers built stifling defenses that took on high powered offenses today.  Both brothers' units shut down those high powered offenses in the second half.

Again, defense wins championships.  The Harbaugh brothers know that all too well, which is why their teams are still playing at this point in the season.

The Ravens defense is ranked 17th. 20th against the run. 17th against the pass. 12th in points against! They are very mediocre on that side of the ball. Nothing special at all really.

[Landshark]

The Ravens defense is ranked 17th. 20th against the run. 17th against the pass. They are very mediocre on that side of the ball. Nothing special at all really.

That defense that was "nothing special" allowed Tom Brady to get in the end zone ONLY ONCE today.  Tom Brady, of all people.  Last week, they held Peyton Manning to only three scores in the thin air.  Their regular season numbers are one thing.  This is the playoffs.

[MikeO]

That defense that was "nothing special" allowed Tom Brady to get in the end zone ONLY ONCE today.  Tom Brady, of all people.  Last week, they held Peyton Manning to only three scores in the thin air.  Their regular season numbers are one thing.  This is the playoffs.

A defense having "one good game" or a couple good games, doesn't make them a good defense!!!  They are an average defense!  You don't get into the playoffs without the regular season numbers! Those games count!

P.S....SF hasn't been all that hot on defense in these playoffs They gave up 31 to GB and 24 to Atlanta. SF is winning because of their offense let's not kid ourselves. They have a dynamic QB and running game. They are winning  in the playoffs because they are outscoring people. Not because they are stopping people.

[Landshark]

A defense having "one good game" or a couple good games, doesn't make them a good defense!!!  They are an average defense!  You don't get into the playoffs without the regular season numbers! Those games count!

P.S....SF hasn't been all that hot on defense in these playoffs They gave up 31 to GB and 24 to Atlanta. SF is winning because of their offense let's not kid ourselves. They have a dynamic QB and running game. They are winning  in the playoffs because they are outscoring people. Not because they are stopping people.

Actually, stepping up your game in the playoffs matters a lot.  Take for example the Chicago Bulls in the mid 90's.  They would have a good but not great regular season.  Then when the playoffs rolled around, they would take their game to a whole new level.

[Spider-Dan]

Actually, stepping up your game in the playoffs matters a lot.  Take for example the Chicago Bulls in the mid 90's.  They would have a good but not great regular season.  Then when the playoffs rolled around, they would take their game to a whole new level.

In the "mid '90s," the Chicago Bulls set the record for best regular-season NBA record of all time.  During their 6 title runs, they were a #1 seed every year but once (#2 seed in '93 playoffs) , and had the best record in the league 4 of those 6 years.

I can't think of a single WORSE example to cite.

[MikeO]

You can talk about the Bulls all you want, bottom line is the Ravens defense this year is very average!

[Landshark]

In the "mid '90s," the Chicago Bulls set the record for best regular-season NBA record of all time.  During their 6 title runs, they were a #1 seed every year but once (#2 seed in '93 playoffs) , and had the best record in the league 4 of those 6 years.

I can't think of a single WORSE example to cite.

That was for one year.  95-96 if I'm not mistaken.  The two years after that where they won titles, they might've earned the top seed but looked vulnerable while doing it.  Same goes for the 99 and 00 Yankees.  But when the playoffs rolled around, they proved why they were champs.

And I'm still sticking by my argument that defense wins championships.  As average as the stats for the Ravens defense tell us they are, they shut down both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

[el diablo]

You can talk about the Bulls all you want, bottom line is the Ravens defense this year is very average!

Average doesn't win on the road in back to back weeks. And they definitely don't hold The Golden Boy to one TD at home. Average during the regular season while dealing with injuries. Dominant during the post season with everyone playing hurt.

[MikeO]

And I'm still sticking by my argument that defense wins championships.  As average as the stats for the Ravens defense tell us they are, they shut down both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

Then why didn't the 49ers and Ravens go to the Super Bowl LAST year? The teams with the 2 lesser defenses NE and the Giants went instead and won on championship weekend.

Offense wins! SF's defense has been medicore to bad in the playoffs (after being good in the regular season). They have been outscoring people the past 2 weeks. That's why they are winning.

[Spider-Dan]

That was for one year.  95-96 if I'm not mistaken.    The two years after that where they won titles, they might've earned the top seed but looked vulnerable while doing it.

Yes, they "only" set the record for most wins in a season ONCE.

As far as the following two years, I suppose they looked as "vulnerable" as is possible while having the best record in the league.

And I'm still sticking by my argument that defense wins championships.

Like MikeO said, why didn't both of these teams win last year?  Both of those teams had better defenses last year than this year.  And why did SEA lose to ATL this year, if defense wins championships?  SEA had the best D in the league.

"Defense wins championships"... except when it doesn't.

[MikeO]

Denver's team defense ranking was #2 and #4 in points allowed in the entire league....yet they LOST AT HOME to the Ravens (ranked 20th in team defense and 12th in points allowed). Shouldn't Denver have beaten the Ravens IN DENVER if "DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS"? One defense was tops in the league the other was average at best.

And Houston had a better defense than New England....but the Pats beat them!

Defense wins championships....when? Where? How?

IN the playoffs and "stepping up".....SF gives up 31pts at home....needs to score 45 to win! Yeah, it's the defense that won that playoff game! SF gets down 17-0 yesterday...needs to outscore Atlanta to win the last 3 quarters! SF is in the Super Bowl because of their offense. Their defense has let them down in this playoffs

[Landshark]

Denver's team defense ranking was #2 and #4 in points allowed in the entire league....yet they LOST AT HOME to the Ravens (ranked 20th in team defense and 12th in points allowed). Shouldn't Denver have beaten the Ravens IN DENVER if "DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS"? One defense was tops in the league the other was average at best.

And Houston had a better defense than New England....but the Pats beat them!

Defense wins championships....when? Where? How?

IN the playoffs and "stepping up".....SF gives up 31pts at home....needs to score 45 to win! Yeah, it's the defense that won that playoff game! SF gets down 17-0 yesterday...needs to outscore Atlanta to win the last 3 quarters! SF is in the Super Bowl because of their offense. Their defense has let them down in this playoffs

Baltimore's sure hasn't.  They've held three of the best quarterbacks in the AFC to 9, 21, and 13 points respectively. 

[Sunstroke]

Interesting tidbit in the SFGate today...

"Special delivery: Kaepernick knows how to score points for the 49ers.

And with the media.

San Francisco's quarterback (and his agency, XAM Sports) had 15 pizzas delivered Thursday afternoon to an overcrowded media trailer. Just nine starts into his career, Kaepernick can read both defenses and many reporters: The quickest way to their hearts is through their stomachs.

The veterans in the media trailer were straining to think of the last time an athlete - or coach - made a similar gesture."

... I'd bet that this was straight out of his agency, rather than an idea that Kaep had himself, but it is still a pretty cool gesture.

[Landshark]

So far, the Harbaugh team in purple has owned this game