Two years in a row, Seattle has allowed the fewest points in the league. That’s a good defense.
But as with offenses, it’s not easy staying on top. The really bad teams tend to get better, and the really good teams tend to get worse. That’s true for offenses and defenses.
In the last 20 years, only one other defense has ranked 1st in scoring defense, then came back and ranked 1st again (the Steelers in 2010-2011).
The more usual model is for that seemingly great defense to become merely good. Of the last 20 No. 1 defense, 60 percent (12) dropped out of the top 5. And 40 percent (8 of 20) didn’t even finish in the top 10.
No. 1 DEFENSES; THE NEXT YEAR (last 20 years) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Points | Rank |
1994 | N.Y. Giants | 308 | 8 |
1995 | Cleveland | 356 | 19 |
1996 | Kansas City | 300 | 11 |
1997 | Green Bay | 282 | 5 |
1998 | Kansas City | 363 | 22 |
1999 | Miami | 336 | 19 |
2000 | Jacksonville | 327 | 16 |
2001 | Baltimore | 265 | 4 |
2002 | Chicago | 379 | 24 |
2003 | Tampa Bay | 264 | 4 |
2004 | New England | 260 | 3 |
2005 | Pittsburgh | 258 | 4 |
2006 | Chicago | 255 | 3 |
2007 | Baltimore | 384 | 23 |
2008 | Indianapolis | 298 | 7 |
2009 | Pittsburgh | 324 | 14 |
2010 | N.Y. Jets | 304 | 6 |
2011 | Pittsburgh | 227 | 1 |
2012 | Pittsburgh | 314 | 6 |
2013 | Seattle | 231 | 1 |
2014 | Seattle | ?? | ?? |
—Ian Allan