1976
1976
All Defense!
No question mark needed in the title. It's not a question, it's statement of fact. THAT defense has never been matched. The 85 Bears were probably closest, but they are still only a solid 2nd.
The NFL changed the rules to dismantle the dominance of that defense... The NFL brass still admits that til this day...
Correct me if I'm mistaken but Kruzcek had the record for most concecutive wins by a rookie, from that season, until Ben broke it his rookie season.
I remember watchin that Championship game without Harris and Blier....I was so upset that we lost that game without either one of them.
As for Lambert talkin about the defense in the video...I wish he made more appearences in the public eye. He was the best MLB ever and he should be seen and heard, today. IMO
that was cool seeing Jack Lambert speak and the awesome defense we had that year!
thanks for posting!
Oh yes by far the best defense ever in the NFL. Getting all those shutout's is just miraculous, something that is very rare in modern day NFL. A bummer the top two 1,000 rushers both went down with an injury. It would have capped off that defense with a title!
Missing you every day, thinking about the memories every moment, loving you every second Mom ♥ R.I.P. 1951-2011
"When you go out on the field and you're intense for 60 minutes, some guys don't want to do it. When I line up across from him, he has to do one of two things, he has to raise his level of play, or he's going to get his *** kicked all day"
- Greg Lloyd
1976 Steelers was the Best
If I had to pick a 2nd and 3rd it would be the 1985 Bears and the 2000 Ravens
If I had to pick the best defense over a sustained period of time, it would be the 1970's Steelers...easily.
I dunno, I still think the 42 Bears have this team edging us out by the slimest of margins.
Either way, I really wish I could have seen the dynasty of the 70's.
I think you have to throw the 2008 Steeler D in the discusion of top 3 also. To be honost, at some points that season I actually prefered that the other teams offense had the ball instead of our own with a lead. When we had it there was always the chance of a pick six or scoop and score. When the other team had the ball they had play near their best to put points on the board.
Everyone talks about the other 4 years when they won SBs but the 76 defense IMHO was the best ever.
Fantastic post!!!!
Absolutely loved it!!
Those were the days that cheap shots and on the field taunting were policed by the PLAYERS!!!! Great video!!!
"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"
-- Jack Lambert --
No doubt, heck on the 85 Bears, and 2000 Ratshits.
"If I could start my life all over again, I'd be a Professional Football Player, and you Damn well better believe, I'd be a Pittsburgh Steeler!"
I think the Steelers 74 defense gets shortchanged in the conversation, 40 sacks by the front four alone virtually evenly distrubuted among the quartet of Greene (9) Holmes (11.5) Greenwood (11) and White (8.5). In fact I'd say that team as a whole gets shorchanged. The fact of the matter is the 74 team probably had a more impressive playoff run than any Steeler team of that era or any since. They destroyed a good Bills team 32-14, then went to Oakland and beat a great Raiders team 24-13, then they just demolished the Vikings in the Super bowl.
"A man's got to know his limitations."
A little more on the 74 defense. 52 sacks, 25 interceptions, a total of 3074 net yards allowed, which is the lowest in team history. That team was virtually impossible to pass on, try this on for size. Opponents for that season completed 147 of 339 passes (43.4%) for 1872 yards, 52 sacks for 406 yards in losses for an overall opposing qb rating of 44.1.
"A man's got to know his limitations."
NFL Network ran a show a few months back "Top Ten Defenses of All Time" and the '76 Steelers were number 1
(watching that video makes me want to change my avatar back to Lambert----but I guess Troy is no slouch, either!)
Just sit and think about the "What if?" that follows that defense around. What if we had Rocky and Franco and kicked Oakland's ass? What if we won it all?
7 superbowls?