Defenses still win championships.
There were several high-scoring games early during the 2018 NFL season, leading some pundits to declare a new trend in the league. By the end of the year, though, scores were back down to more normal totals.
The final score of last season’s Super Bowl was 13-3, confirming that high-scoring offenses haven’t taken over the league. That wasn’t a surprise to Broncos coach Vic Fangio, who coached the Bears’ defense in 2018.
“I remember when the Rams and Chiefs had that, what was it, 54-51 game [last] year?” Fangio said at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday. “A couple of other high scores were around the same time. My weekly press conference in Chicago I got hit with all of that. Is this the way football is going?
“I told them no. Then we played the Rams, I don’t know how long after that, and we beat them 15-6. Three of those points they got the ball on the 5-yard line to start. I went in and asked them all if that was the new trend.”
Fangio’s remark to the Chicago-based media was a bit tongue in cheek, but he has a valid point. High scores popping up here and there doesn’t necessarily signal a new normal in the NFL. Teams can still win Super Bowls with strong defenses — just ask the 2015 Broncos.
