NFL offenses are more creative than ever (hello, spread!). But, looking at the numbers, it's the defenses that are winning the trophies for their teams. Here's how.
It's not all about that base (defense)
Offenses have adopted more spread schemes: Plays with three-plus WRs are up 27 percent since 2010, and standard 3-4 and 4-3 sets were used on just 28 percent of plays in 2015, an all-time low. In their place? An increase in sub packages -- nickel and dime sets -- which create opportunities to blitz from different spots on the field.
Percentage of plays in base defense ...
Under (a lot of) pressure
So what's the result of all these crazy schemes? Two words: QB pressure. Lots of it. While last year's champ, Denver, with the league's top D, led the NFL in QB pressures (35 percent of drop-backs), all NFL teams are getting to the backfield more than ever.
QB pressure percentage ...
Good defense > good offense
BREAKING: ESPN The Magazine can confirm that elite defense wins championships. Not only have six of the past nine Super Bowl champions boasted a higher defensive efficiency than offensive efficiency, the past nine champs have also ranked, on average, four spots higher on D than O.
Efficiency ranks since 2007 ...
