What was the best NFL defense of all time?

[Bird222]

For kicks also what do you think the best offense was?

 

[pete6032]

Defense 2002 Bucs
Offense 1998 Vikings or 2013 Broncos

 

[smackababy]

1985 Bears is the general consensus. I think the 2000 Ravens could be up there. Seattle last year is also in contention.
2007 Pats are up there as well on offense. The 1999 Rams might make it close to the top.

 

[twinrider1]

I wonder if we will give great modern defenses extra credit for playing in the current rules environment. In any greatest QB/WR conversation, the no-touch rules are always brought up to ding the modern player.
Will we compare a Revis to Mel Blount and say, "Yea, but Blount was allowed to mug his wide receivers."

 

[MetalMat]

The 72/73 Dolphins but I could see arguments being made for the 1985 Bears, 2000 Ravens and 1976 Steelers

Best Offense would be the 2007 New England Patriots but again arguments could be made for the 2013 Broncos and 1994 49ers

 

[WT]

Best defense - 1983 Raiders or 1985 Bears. Raiders had an amazing secondary (Hayes, Haynes, Davis) and the Bears had top defenders at many different positions (Dent, Singletary, Marshall, Hampton). Honorable mention to the 2000 Ravens.

Best offense - 2007 Patriots. 49s from the 80s (Montana, Rice, Clark, Craig) and Cowboys from the 90s (Aikman, Irvin, Novacek, Smith) are also a solid choice.

 

[glenn1]

1991 Eagles was scary good.

 

[Mai72]

I I think you need to go by decade:

1970's- Steelers
1980's- San Francisco
1990's- Cowboys
2000- Ravens
2010- Seattle ?

 

[UncleWai]

The 2000's Ravens had a killer defense.

Hawks' D during last Superbowl was one of the greatest single game defense display. They weren't that good overall during the season and playoff. The team relied too much on those miracle/lucky interceptions to win games.

 

[tboo]

85 Bears

 

[Captante]

85 Bears (Easy call if you watched them play)

76 Steelers (Same as above ... IMO Bear's were better by a hair)

90 Giants (Very under-rated ... beat the 49'ers in playoffs w/o scoring a TD)


Edit: Honorable mentions: 2000 Ravens, 2013 Seahawks

 

[IndyColtsFan]

OP, the 1985 Bears defense is the best I've ever seen. There have been a few that have been better statistically (IIRC, even the Bears defense the next year was statistically better), but I have never seen another defense that dominant. The 2000 Ravens were close.

 

[GasX]

91 Eagles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNrBayAunPo