Watching the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense battle the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15 brings back some faint memories of 1976.
The Steelers' Steel Curtain defense was in its prime in 1976. A 1-4 start coupled with the injury loss of Terry Bradshaw triggered perhaps the greatest stretch of defense ever witnessed in the NFL. Not only did that defense prevent opponents from scoring but it defied quarterbacks to even think about accruing first downs. With eight Pro Bowl defensive starters performing at max level, the Steel Curtain allowed only 28 points in the final nine games.
The 2008 version of the Steelers' defense comes with no nickname, just an incredible résumé. It ranks first across the board for total defense (239.1 yards a game), scoring defense (13.7 points) and stopping the pass (163.3). It ranks second in stopping the run (75.8). The most recent team to lead the league in run, pass and total defense was Buddy Ryan's Philadelphia Eagles in 1991. If the Steelers' defense could capture all four honors, it would be the first to do that since the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs, who did it while in the American Football League.
The Steelers have tied the 1973 Rams for not allowing an offense to gain 300 yards in 14 consecutive games. Although it sneaked up on everyone, the 2008 Pittsburgh defense has a chance to be one for the ages.
So where can it rank historically? I'm not about to concede a spot in the top three of all time: the 1976 Steel Curtain, the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Ravens. Nevertheless, it could crack the top five.
Although it's hard to compare stats from different eras, you have to say that, at the very least, this D could hang with the 1991 Eagles, the 1990 New York Giants with Lawrence Taylor and Bill Parcells, the 1971 Doomsday defense of the Dallas Cowboys, the 1973 No-Name Defense of the Miami Dolphins and the 1971 Purple People Eaters of the Minnesota Vikings. Just mentioning those teams makes it clear that somebody in Pittsburgh had better start coming up with a nickname for this season.
As with all the great defenses, success doesn't happen overnight. The Steelers led the league in total defense last season by allowing 266.4 yards a game. Although age was a concern in the front seven, Pittsburgh put aside injuries and mixed in the youthful enthusiasm of linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons. Because Larry Foote is playing so well, Timmons gets to play only part time. Woodley was a first alternate on the Pro Bowl team at outside linebacker.
Led by James Harrison's 15, the Steelers lead the league with 47 sacks.
Surprisingly, only three Pittsburgh defenders made the Pro Bowl: Harrison, linebacker James Farrior and safety Troy Polamalu, who leads the league with seven interceptions.
The idea in trying to appreciate a great defense is to recognize it during a season and see whether it can maintain those standards in the final week. That's why the Week 16 game at the Tennessee Titans is so huge. At stake is the AFC's top seed and the opportunity to be historically great.
I like the comparison of this defense to the 1991 Eagles. Buddy Ryan's "46" defense destroyed quarterbacks in a 10-6 season, but it accomplished everything against opponents with a combined winning percentage of .528. The Steelers entered the season with the league's toughest schedule, but their foes so far have a .516 winning percentage.
A lot of great defensive eyes of the past will be watching Sunday's Steelers-Titans game to make some judgments.
Let's dive into the mailbag.
From the inbox
Q: Why didn't Chad Pennington make the Pro Bowl?
A: In calling around Tuesday, there seemed to be a sentiment that Pennington was slighted in the Pro Bowl voting to a major degree, but my guess is that he was a second or third alternate. The team won't confirm. Ben Roethlisberger didn't finish among the top three alternates, which I think was a disservice. I know his numbers haven't been great, but Roethlisberger is on a team that already has secured a bye in the playoffs, and he has made a lot of big plays in big games. I know Jay Cutler's numbers are better, but I might put Pennington's season up against Cutler's and go for Pennington. I'm not ready to put Cutler in the top three in the league. Pennington's Pro Bowl comes in about a week. If he can take a 10-5 Dolphins team to the Meadowlands and beat a 10-5 New York Jets team led by Brett Favre, Pennington would cherish that moment more than a trip to Hawaii.
Q: Hey John, the vacancy Plaxico Burress has left at WR doesn't worry me as far as this season. But you would think the Giants will address the move in the offseason via draft and free agency. Now, with their depth, do you think it's realistic that they could maybe overwhelm a team with picks/players and maybe land a big-time receiver the way the Cowboys did this year with Roy Williams?
Michael in N.Y.
A: The loss of Burress for the season should worry you for this year. Forget about next year at the moment. The Giants have a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Clearly, the offense doesn't look as confident without him in the lineup. No. 1 receivers are hard to find or develop. From the drafts of 2002 to 2007, only six Pro Bowl receivers -- including Williams -- developed. Each has the ability to be the No. 1 receiver on a team. That list includes
Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals. Roddy White of the Falcons and Brandon Marshall emerged this season as Pro Bowlers, increasing the number to eight in seven years. Wes Welker made it for the Patriots, but he's not a No. 1 receiver. Randy Moss is the No. 1. Clearly, the Giants will have to look to the draft. They could sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh if the price is right. To be honest, I would seriously consider that if I were the Giants.
Q: So about the Washington Redskins: Do you think they should get rid of
Jason Campbell and pick up a QB in free agency? And do you see [Washington owner Daniel] Snyder firing Jim Zorn after one year? If I was Snyder I would have at least hired Jim Fassel last year.
Art in Lancaster, Pa.
A: No, no, no and no. The key to any franchise is developing a quarterback, and Campbell was good enough to get the Redskins off to a 6-2 start. I put a lot of the problem this year on the age of the offensive line. Now, if you are telling me that the Eagles would give Donovan McNabb to Snyder for a second-round draft pick, I might consider a change, but you know that isn't going to happen within the NFC East. Zorn was brought in to develop Campbell. There was progress this year. Zorn needs to reflect on why scoring went down as the season progressed. The Skins need to rebuild the offensive line. Although it's possible, I don't see a coaching change coming in Washington unless the Redskins lose their last two.
Q: About [Clayton's Dec. 10 mailbag column on] the Giants' sacks being down, another reason is because they blitz a great deal less than they did last year. The development of their secondary has enabled them to play straight up with only four pass rushers. Corey Webster should be in the Pro Bowl. Aaron Ross had two bad weeks and otherwise has been good. (The pass interference calls against Ross in the Arizona Cardinals game were beyond belief.) Terrell Thomas and Kenny Phillips are real finds.
Barry in Denville, N.J.
A: I thought Webster and Ross were slighted in the Pro Bowl voting. In what was a relatively weak year for NFC cornerbacks, how did they not even crack the top three alternates? I also thought Fred Robbins could have been a little higher than the second alternate. He has had a great season, and his absence in the Cowboys game might have been one of the reasons the Giants didn't win. You're right. The Giants have a great blitzing package even though they don't have a linebacker who is considered a great blitzer. It's a well-coached team with some quality athletes.
Q: You mentioned this week that Archie Manning was one of the best QBs of his time, and maybe he was, but he didn't win as a Houston Oiler, either. How would he be treated if he came into the league now? David Carr came in as a great college QB to an expansion team [Houston Texans] with no talent, and lost a lot of games, and is considered a bust. Joey Harrington is considered a bust, but he has never played with a team with much talent around him. On the flip side, both Steve Young and Vinny Testaverde started out as flops for the hapless Bucs, but then went on to other teams and won, shedding the "bust" label. Do you think Archie Manning would be considered a bust if he had the same win-loss ratio in today's NFL?
From an e-mailer in Abingdon, Va.
A: I look at Archie Manning the way I did Jim Plunkett. Both played for teams that were so bad and blocked so poorly that their bodies got slammed. By the time Archie got to Houston, he had nothing left. He was 33 and had been sacked 340 times. If you go back and look at him on film, you'll see how talented he was. He had a great arm and the ability to move around the pocket long enough to keep plays alive. If you talk to his opponents through the years, they'll tell you how good he was. Many quarterbacks are busts. He's a great one who got busted up because he didn't have enough around him.
Q: Just put it out there. What do the Cleveland Browns have to do this offseason as a franchise to improve and become competitive? It always seems to be something with this team, whether it be leadership, coaching or just poor play.
Corey in Cleveland
A: First, I'd take a run at Bill Cowher and keep throwing money and power at him until he says no. Figuring he'll say no, I'd next go after Scott Pioli in New England. If that doesn't work, I'd start making adjustments and concessions. Phil Savage is a good evaluator, so I'd try to find a way to salvage something out of that relationship. Savage has made the team more talented. You get the feeling, though, that he probably won't have direct say in the coaching search. I'd consider Brian Billick because he has worked with Savage. I'd trade Braylon Edwards for first- and third-round draft picks. I'd keep Kellen Winslow until his contract runs out unless there is the right trade offer. I'd consider switching to a 4-3 defense. That's just to start things off.
Q: I was wondering what you think would happen in the offseason regarding McNabb if the Eagles finished 10-5-1 and didn't make the playoffs. Do you think the Eagles would still trade McNabb? Also, if the Eagles finished 10-5-1 and made the playoffs, how good of a chance would they have of winning the Super Bowl?
From Donald in Fredericksburg, Va.
A: If the Eagles trade him after a 10-5-1 season, we all should stand up and boo the organization. I know Kevin Kolb is talented. I don't doubt that he could be a decent starter. But Kolb doesn't have McNabb's talent, even if McNabb has lost a little something now that he's in his 30s. If Kolb were as talented as McNabb, he'd have been taken in the top five of the draft. To me, it's a different situation than Aaron Rodgers. Even though Rodgers slipped to the 24th spot in the 2005 draft, he was the top quarterback prospect. Teams should learn from others. Rodgers had a good season, but the Packers went from 13-3 to 5-9 without Favre. Do the Eagles want to make the same mistake by getting rid of McNabb? They shouldn't do it.
Q: John, with the possible absence of Fred Taylor for a while, do you think Maurice Jones-Drew will finally start as the Jaguars' primary running back? If so, will he be successful or will he have to wait until the Jags solve their O-line problems?
Travis in Fort Worth, Texas
A: Jones-Drew's time is now. Taylor is done for the season, and the Jags probably will cut him after the season. That's a shame because it would be nice if they could offer him a pay cut to about $2 million a year and see whether he would accept it. The Taylor/Jones-Drew combo works, and I still think Taylor has another season or two left in him. Jones-Drew is like the Marion Barber of a year ago. He never had the chance to be the full-time starter. Jones-Drew is entering the final year of his contract. If Taylor is gone, the Jaguars have to decide whether he can be the full-time back, and I'm sure that decision is made. You figure they sign Jones-Drew and draft a back in the third or fourth round. One thing Jacksonville had better do is draft some offensive linemen.
John Clayton, a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's McCann Award for distinguished reporting, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.