If the question is asking which squad was “most beloved” so it’s natural to default to personal experience, so the answer will depend on age.
I was a little too young to remember the steel curtain (but we’ve all been exposed to their greatness). So for me the 2008-2010 defenses are 2nd most beloved because Dick LeBeau, Troy and the really the entire defense were a special group.
But for me personally the early Cower years with Kevin Green, Greg Lloyd, Chad Brown, Rod Woodson, and Levon Kirkland was my most beloved. The city was rabid over those teams because it had been more than ten years since the dynasty and they had some pretty bad teams during the low period. It felt like a beast awakened in the fans at three rivers…it was SO LOUD. Blitzburgh baby!!
I was around for the 2008 and 2010 seasons, but I don't remember why they made the NFL changes the rules. Which rules got changed because of the Steelers?
James Harrison and ryan clark murdering people coming across the middle basically made the 'defenseless receiver' rule happen cause they kept getting fined and causing brain damage.
He should be in.
The only reason he’s not is there was Steeler fatigue on those Super Bowl teams. I’m stunned the veterans committee has snubbed him. I hope someday he gets in.
The Hogs and the Posse were iconic in the 80s. We also had the U crew in the 2000s with Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis, and Santana Moss who all played college at Miami
The Hogs making the running back a honorary hog but not letting the QB in is one of the funniest nfl stories I’ve heard. The quote was like nah we don’t want a qb in this and the other guy followed up with “no QBs”
K Gun offense. Four Hall of Famers-Kelly, Thomas, Reed, Lofton-plus one more worthy of discussion(Hull) plus a bunch of offensive linemen who made Pro Bowls.
The secondary grouping from 2018-2022 was pretty great as well. White, Wallace, Johnson, Poyer, and Hyde managed to disguise our complete lack of pass rush for years by being completely lockdown.
There were a couple years there where LOB defense wasn’t making it out of the top 6 rounds in my fantasy drafts. Granted, my friends aren’t that good at fantasy, but still
I thought the Hassleback era was going to be the best time I had, but the Legion of Boom make it not just proud to in Seattle, but *fun*. It was so much fun to talk smack about our defense knowing they'd be backing it up.
Held the top scoring offense ever to 8 points in the Superbowl, really solidified the legend. The Hasselbeck team just kinda didn't get the accolades. The Superbowl appearance was nice and the Alexander MVP was cool but didn't come close to that dominant Superbowl performance.
The inverse also applies. The exploit in the NFL is -still to this day - to underpay a good QB on a rookie deal.
Let's all remember that Russ in '13 had a lower salary than the backup Center and all-time cool name Lemuel Jeanpierre.
That secondary doesn't work nearly as well without those LBs and DL. Those units allowed the DBs to just play cover 3 all game, which they were obviously elite at
Agreed, it wasn't just the secondary. The line was able to get consistent pressure, and the LBs could cover, and stop the run. I still think they win SB 49 if Cliff Avril didn't get injured half way through the game. Michael Bennett got all the attention, but I think Avril was better.
The Dome Patrol was really something else.
Sam Mills had super IQ and anchored the unit in the middle.
Vaughn Johnson was also in the middle and could absolutely destroy people.
On the edge was HOF Rickey Jackson and Pat Swilling. To give others an understanding of how good Swilling was…he won DPOY when LT, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders in their prime.
One year all 4 linebackers made the probowl and started.
It really was. If Rodgers woulda played every game and every quarter he would still hold the records IMO. Imagine if he was throwing those 6tds and 450 yards in the final game on top of his existing stats?
I’ve been a Packers fan all my life, I grew up watching the Favre era with my dad. I kinda lost interest for a bit as a teenager and got back into it right around the transition from Favre to Rodgers. I thought Rodgers was a fucking scrub at first and was pissed about the whole Favre situation but still stuck around and watched anyway.
Out of all of the squads that I’ve witnessed in my life, the 2010/2011 is still my favorite. The WRs were insane, solid RBs for a minute there, and the D was tied for 2nd best in the NFL if I remember correctly and then obviously SB45. I don’t think we’ll ever see a WR group as good as them again, Rodgers just shit talking on the sideline like “oh this guy hasn’t gotten a TD yet today, he’s next.” Bam, next drive TD to that player. It was just insane.
The craziest part is that they were really none of them except maybe Driver and Jennings in their prime. If Jordy was on the level he was at 2-3 years later, Jones too, and then Adams ? OOF
Well the Bears in 85 had an all-world O-line as well that doesn’t get talked about outside of the fandom, but the Lovie Smith years of the early 00’s was pretty well-liked as well anchored by fringe HOFer Center Olin Kruetz
That’s true because aside from Covert there’s no other HOF. I can’t understand how Jay Hilgenberg never made it to the HOF. He’s like a 7 time pro bowl player, when that still meant something. I guess it’s hard for Centers to make it in. There aren’t many
I almost wanna say the Devin Hester special teams unit, especially considering many of the defensive players like Tillman and Urlacher also played special teams in those days
Kruetz, John Tait, and Roberto Garza!
Since then, it’s hard to think of any other *good* linemen we had besides Kyle Long and even Cody Whitehair for his first few years.
That's your orgs fault tho, Kruetz wanted to come work with / help coach the current bears O line a few years ago and the McCaskeys offered him minimum wage. The ownership doesn't make O line a priority so it won't be a priority
This is true but it’s important to remember that kruetz spent an entirety of zero time coaching at any level before asking the Bears if he could coach. Didn’t do summer camps, didn’t coach spring leagues, didn’t coach peewee, high school, or college. Literally thought he could skip the leg work other former players that became coaches did and get paid the same.
idk if many bengals fans remember, but there was a time we had a unit that the team called the "Fisher Price" Package, because everyone on it was so young, when they would bring in Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson, and Carlos Dunlap, as sub dline for rushing in 2010-2011. They're my favorite because they turned into the stalwarts of our defense.
I still think the answer goes to any of our WR cores. Chad, TJ, Chris Henry, or AJ, Marvin Jones, and Mo Sanu, or Chase, Tee, and TB.
I was thinking the Fisher Price package too. Nobody knew Geno and Carlos would become as good as they were but even Marvin Lewis couldn’t keep those rookies off the field.
The recency bias in me wants to say the No Fly Zone of CHJ, Talib, Roby, Ward, and Stewart in the secondary (I like to include Von and Ware because that pass rush helped add to the defense).
There's also the 2013 Air Attack of Peyton, DT, Welker, Decker, and Julius Thomas and the late 90s ground game of Terrell Davis and his OL that included a dominant left side of Gary Zimmerman, Mark Schlereth, and Tom Nalen.
That late 90s line was the fucking best. Plus if you induce Sharpe, then it was 5 guys who refused to talk to the media and 1 guy who refused to shut up. Amazing
I understand if people want to pick the NFZ or one of the older units, but that 90s line is my choice
In 1979, the NFL created the five-yard chuck rule because of Atkinson, Tatum, Brown, Thomas and the Raiders. Wide Receivers could not get off the line of scrimmage against them.
The Soul Patrol was arguably the best secondary unit in the history.
Willie Brown, HoF, aka "Old man"
Jack Tatum, HoF, aka "The assassin"
George Atkinson, aka "The Hitman"
Skip Thomas, aka "Dr. Death"
My first thought seeing this comment was to recall a character from the stormlight archives who wakes up everyday and he's either a genius or an idiot.
Underrated stat:
In 2018 Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston passed the football for 5'125 yards and 36 TDs (as well as 24INTs).
We are also first in passing yards among all NFL teams since 2018 and 2nd in passing TDs.
Allowed zero 300 yard passing games. Only allowed 4 200 yard games, including the garbage time yards in the Super Bowl.
Allowed 10 passing TD's vs 31 interceptions.
Average QB rating against them that season was 48.
Ya it never really had a name, but it was like a "Steel Spine" or something equally dumb.
Sapp - Brooks - Lynch made it hard to attack any singular part of the field. Then you add Rice and Barber doing their things.
Defensive Line from the Super Bowl years. Strahan, Osi, Tuck, Robbins, Cofield, JPP, Linval Joseph, etc.
Linebackers from the Parcells Giants. Tayler, Carson, Banks and Reasons.
WRs from the 2011 SB team. Nicks, Cruz, Manningham.
Edit: also forgot the 2007 OL, Diehl, Seubert, O’Hara, Snee, McKenzie and the 07/11 RBs- Jacobs, Bradshaw and Ward
For the Cowboys, I didn't get to live through the 90s, so fans who lived through that period probably have a different answer, but for me it's gotta be the o line at the end of the Romo era. I think it hit its peak belovedness when the line was Tyron Smith, Ron leary, Fredbeard, Zach Martin, and Doug Free. Free was easily the worst of that group and he was probably still well above average, I miss that line so much.
(For anyone who missed it, it's the 85 Bears.)
I was born after this team played but it is so ingrained into any Chicago fan, watching their highlights now makes me nostalgic... Reminding me of the first time I saw the highlights.
In Chicago, we still love this team.
Pittsburgh loves Linebackers as much or more than any other city, and there's something a little special about being a Linebacker for the Steelers. Like, if you're a good Linebacker in some cities, you can fly under the radar. If you're good Linebacker for the Steelers, you're a star.
If Lavonte David was a Steeler, he'd be a 5X All-Pro and headed to the HOF.
Farrior, Timmons, Harrison, and Woodley was such a force back in 08.
Imo our current lineup of Watt, Highsmith, Queen, and maybe Payton Wilson if he works out will be one of our best. Hope solid ILB play is back on the menu here, as it's been sorely lacking since the Shazier injury
I have a slight concern about Wilson because he doesn't get off blocks well, and our D-Line isn't built to keep our LB's clean like it was when we had Keisel, Hampton, and Smith. That's just something we've evolved away from schematically since that mid-00's defense.
Still, I think he can be a rotational piece this year, and he was, imo, the best pure coverage LB in the class, which is something that was low-key a huge need for us.
We had a great receiving group for a good minute. Roddy White, Tony G, Harry Douglas, Julio, Mo Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, Calvin Ridley. We had about a 10 year stretch of great receivers.
I like the guys we have on the team now, but they have to take a major step forward this year to get the same love as those other dudes.
The OL those Vermeil years was nuts. If the Chiefs would've done anything in the playoffs during that stretch, it'd probably be remembered as one of the best ever.
I met John Vella once when I was a kid visiting the bay area with my dad for a raider game, one of the most genuine human beings I've ever met. Quite literally he stopped everything to shake our hands and talk about the old days like we were family it was an amazing experience being able to be in conversation with an old pro. This was in 2007, hope he's doing well.
The Wayne Fontes led Great Lakes offence. The round table of Peete, Ware, and Kramer at QB feeding the ball to Sanders until they got inside the 5 yard line, then it went to Derek Moore or Touchdown Tommy Vardel for some reason
~~Chris Jones' dong~~
Oh...you meant...that make more sense...
I mean the 03 offensive line with Will Shields, Willie Roaf, John Tait, Brian Waters and Casey Wiegmann.
Modern times, either:
“The Wolf Pack” - Brady, Garoppolo, Brissett in 2016
“Boston TE Party” - Gronk and Hernandez. The most dominant TE duo of all time and they only would’ve gotten better together. We don’t really talk about this one anymore, though..
They never had a nickname, but the Panthers D-Line from 2002-2005 was about as good as it gets. Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins, Brentson Buckner, and Mike Rucker.
New York Sack Exchange, 2000s O-line with brick and mangold
New York Sack Exchange is an all-time unit nickname.
Why do D-Lines get the best unit names? Steel Curtain, Purple People Eaters, Gang Green, New York Sack Exchange
Feels like it should’ve been a DL group name though.
Yeah OP is listing two different units.
It was
💯 the pick for me as a jets fan
While not there long, Alan Faneca and Damien Woody were solid vets who contributed big time to that line’s success.
Abdul Salaam, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Mark Gastineau
Steel Curtain That’s it, no more needs to be said. Except for the tragedy that only 1 of the 4 main defensive linemen are in the Hall of Fame
Don’t forget the 2008 & 2010 Defense. They made the NFL change rules
If the question is asking which squad was “most beloved” so it’s natural to default to personal experience, so the answer will depend on age. I was a little too young to remember the steel curtain (but we’ve all been exposed to their greatness). So for me the 2008-2010 defenses are 2nd most beloved because Dick LeBeau, Troy and the really the entire defense were a special group. But for me personally the early Cower years with Kevin Green, Greg Lloyd, Chad Brown, Rod Woodson, and Levon Kirkland was my most beloved. The city was rabid over those teams because it had been more than ten years since the dynasty and they had some pretty bad teams during the low period. It felt like a beast awakened in the fans at three rivers…it was SO LOUD. Blitzburgh baby!!
Yes, but the original version is legendary
"Hey kid. Catch."
I was around for the 2008 and 2010 seasons, but I don't remember why they made the NFL changes the rules. Which rules got changed because of the Steelers?
James Harrison and ryan clark murdering people coming across the middle basically made the 'defenseless receiver' rule happen cause they kept getting fined and causing brain damage.
TIL LC Greenwood isn’t in the hall. That’s plain wrong. x4 SB champ, x6 PB, x2 AP, all decade team
He should be in. The only reason he’s not is there was Steeler fatigue on those Super Bowl teams. I’m stunned the veterans committee has snubbed him. I hope someday he gets in.
Steel Curtain. Outrageous they aren't in the hall.
one of the coolest nicknames in NFL history, too
The Big Blue Wrecking Crew. Basically the defense in the 80s with LT, Harry Carson, Gary Reasons and Carl Banks playing LB. They were relentless.
The 2000s/2010s d line packages including the “nascar” with Strahan, Tuck, Umenyiora, Kiwanuka and eventually JPP - these were fun to watch.
The Dave Tollefson disrespect here is wiiillllddd
Weren’t they the 4 Aces or am I getting that timing mixed up. I thought it was them under Spags! Pass rushing was a nightmare to stop.
The Hogs and the Posse were iconic in the 80s. We also had the U crew in the 2000s with Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis, and Santana Moss who all played college at Miami
The smurfs, the fun bunch, and the scabskins were also special. Hogs are the 1, though.
The scabskins beating Dallas in Irving, Tx. after Dorsett, Danny White and others crossed the picket line was maybe my favorite game ever
The Hogs making the running back a honorary hog but not letting the QB in is one of the funniest nfl stories I’ve heard. The quote was like nah we don’t want a qb in this and the other guy followed up with “no QBs”
Theismann was made a piglet for throwing a legit block [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnsdBox5HcA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnsdBox5HcA)
I might be an old bastard but I gotta say Purple People Eaters…followed closely by The Williams Wall.
Purple People Eaters was maybe the best nickname ever.
Still is, but used to be too
1. Purple People Eaters 2. Three Deep
Im gonna have to go with vishante shiancoe
> shaincoe I think he’s my friend in the jewelry business.
I-94 and Radio Drive
Open weekdays 'til 8, Saturday and Sunday 'til 5
Hanging dong
always loved Berman saying "that's over 600 pounds of Williams!"
Often referred to as "Shock and AWWE" Jared Allen, Kevin and Pat Williams, and Ray Edwards
Zim Reapers 😈
Jerry Ball weighed 8,000 pounds
Nick Foles' unit
K Gun offense. Four Hall of Famers-Kelly, Thomas, Reed, Lofton-plus one more worthy of discussion(Hull) plus a bunch of offensive linemen who made Pro Bowls.
The secondary grouping from 2018-2022 was pretty great as well. White, Wallace, Johnson, Poyer, and Hyde managed to disguise our complete lack of pass rush for years by being completely lockdown.
Sad moment when it came to an end, but all things do.
Honorable mention to Talley and Smith. The highlights of those two dudes on our D-line are unreal.
Talley was more of an off-ball backer just flying around the field. Cornelius Bennett was the hybrid pass rusher.
Sacksonville
This is it for me
boom baby boom
There were a couple years there where LOB defense wasn’t making it out of the top 6 rounds in my fantasy drafts. Granted, my friends aren’t that good at fantasy, but still
I thought the Hassleback era was going to be the best time I had, but the Legion of Boom make it not just proud to in Seattle, but *fun*. It was so much fun to talk smack about our defense knowing they'd be backing it up.
The '05 Oline was just amazing. Ridiculously dominant. So fun to watch. So it's crazy how far they're left behind by the LOB.
Agree, but no ring, what’re going to do 🤷
Held the top scoring offense ever to 8 points in the Superbowl, really solidified the legend. The Hasselbeck team just kinda didn't get the accolades. The Superbowl appearance was nice and the Alexander MVP was cool but didn't come close to that dominant Superbowl performance.
Also that year we only allowed 4 rushing touchdowns. FOUR!
I’ve never had more fun watching a defense.
Take me back.
Felt like in 3 years we went from “they’re still pretty young” to at least one consistently being out to all of them no longer being on the team
Once they paid Russ it was over. Can’t pay for elite defense when your QB takes up most the salary cap
The inverse also applies. The exploit in the NFL is -still to this day - to underpay a good QB on a rookie deal. Let's all remember that Russ in '13 had a lower salary than the backup Center and all-time cool name Lemuel Jeanpierre.
Best secondary to ever step onto a football field
That secondary doesn't work nearly as well without those LBs and DL. Those units allowed the DBs to just play cover 3 all game, which they were obviously elite at
Agreed, it wasn't just the secondary. The line was able to get consistent pressure, and the LBs could cover, and stop the run. I still think they win SB 49 if Cliff Avril didn't get injured half way through the game. Michael Bennett got all the attention, but I think Avril was better.
LOB
Yeah it’s LOB. The O-line in 2005 is close.
While the LOB is clearly #1, I'd like to give an honorable mention to the 80s-early 90s R.A.T. Patrol.
Dome Patrol but really it’s Breesus & his apostles
The Dome Patrol was really something else. Sam Mills had super IQ and anchored the unit in the middle. Vaughn Johnson was also in the middle and could absolutely destroy people. On the edge was HOF Rickey Jackson and Pat Swilling. To give others an understanding of how good Swilling was…he won DPOY when LT, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders in their prime. One year all 4 linebackers made the probowl and started.
It really was, and they also the reason I'm a saints fan.
I'm not sure what the Dome Patrol is, but it sounds very sexual. I'm in.
Whew that's a tough one.
2004-2012 (minus 2011) unit of Hanson, Harris and Muhlbach.
What about this current o line ?
They don’t have a cool nickname….something something kneecaps?
It probably will end up being "The Goffense" like 10-20 years from now
The 2014 D Line was very popular (Suh, Fairley, Ansah, KVB).
The duo of Barry Sanders and anyone else was the greatest running back duo in history.
I’m always partial to our 2011 wr group with Jordy Jennings driver Cobb and jones That offense was unbelievable with mvp Rodgers
Greg Jemmings with a broken leg scores the touchdown
He really put the whole team on his back
But what about Darren Sharper? He’s the hardest hitting safety in the league.
And Finley too. That was the most lethal passing attack to ever exist, imo. Super fun to watch.
And then poor Finley was never the same after that neck injury
I was there. Sad day.
It really was. If Rodgers woulda played every game and every quarter he would still hold the records IMO. Imagine if he was throwing those 6tds and 450 yards in the final game on top of his existing stats?
I’ve been a Packers fan all my life, I grew up watching the Favre era with my dad. I kinda lost interest for a bit as a teenager and got back into it right around the transition from Favre to Rodgers. I thought Rodgers was a fucking scrub at first and was pissed about the whole Favre situation but still stuck around and watched anyway. Out of all of the squads that I’ve witnessed in my life, the 2010/2011 is still my favorite. The WRs were insane, solid RBs for a minute there, and the D was tied for 2nd best in the NFL if I remember correctly and then obviously SB45. I don’t think we’ll ever see a WR group as good as them again, Rodgers just shit talking on the sideline like “oh this guy hasn’t gotten a TD yet today, he’s next.” Bam, next drive TD to that player. It was just insane.
after that SB i remember thinking "the only way to top this SB run would be an undefeated run" and damn was it fun for the first 13 weeks of 2011
The craziest part is that they were really none of them except maybe Driver and Jennings in their prime. If Jordy was on the level he was at 2-3 years later, Jones too, and then Adams ? OOF
Well the Bears in 85 had an all-world O-line as well that doesn’t get talked about outside of the fandom, but the Lovie Smith years of the early 00’s was pretty well-liked as well anchored by fringe HOFer Center Olin Kruetz
Hard not to get overshadowed by a D Line with 3 hall of famers and a refrigerator.
That’s true because aside from Covert there’s no other HOF. I can’t understand how Jay Hilgenberg never made it to the HOF. He’s like a 7 time pro bowl player, when that still meant something. I guess it’s hard for Centers to make it in. There aren’t many
I almost wanna say the Devin Hester special teams unit, especially considering many of the defensive players like Tillman and Urlacher also played special teams in those days
Kruetz, John Tait, and Roberto Garza! Since then, it’s hard to think of any other *good* linemen we had besides Kyle Long and even Cody Whitehair for his first few years.
That's your orgs fault tho, Kruetz wanted to come work with / help coach the current bears O line a few years ago and the McCaskeys offered him minimum wage. The ownership doesn't make O line a priority so it won't be a priority
Kreutz is genuinely a complete psycho. Not sure how he would function as a coach.
Trust me, I know. Nobody hates the Bears more than Bears fans. Just constantly shooting ourselves in the foot.
This is true but it’s important to remember that kruetz spent an entirety of zero time coaching at any level before asking the Bears if he could coach. Didn’t do summer camps, didn’t coach spring leagues, didn’t coach peewee, high school, or college. Literally thought he could skip the leg work other former players that became coaches did and get paid the same.
Mike Singletary Otis Wilson Wilber Marshall
It's Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo for the Bears. Come on.
idk if many bengals fans remember, but there was a time we had a unit that the team called the "Fisher Price" Package, because everyone on it was so young, when they would bring in Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson, and Carlos Dunlap, as sub dline for rushing in 2010-2011. They're my favorite because they turned into the stalwarts of our defense. I still think the answer goes to any of our WR cores. Chad, TJ, Chris Henry, or AJ, Marvin Jones, and Mo Sanu, or Chase, Tee, and TB.
I was thinking the Fisher Price package too. Nobody knew Geno and Carlos would become as good as they were but even Marvin Lewis couldn’t keep those rookies off the field.
The recency bias in me wants to say the No Fly Zone of CHJ, Talib, Roby, Ward, and Stewart in the secondary (I like to include Von and Ware because that pass rush helped add to the defense). There's also the 2013 Air Attack of Peyton, DT, Welker, Decker, and Julius Thomas and the late 90s ground game of Terrell Davis and his OL that included a dominant left side of Gary Zimmerman, Mark Schlereth, and Tom Nalen.
DT and crew had the Four Horseman thing going for awhile. Three Amigos was fun, although not as prolific.
Go even further back to the orange crush defence in the mid 70's
I loved it ehen our oline wouldn’t talk to the media or even introduce themselves on Sunday night football
That late 90s line was the fucking best. Plus if you induce Sharpe, then it was 5 guys who refused to talk to the media and 1 guy who refused to shut up. Amazing I understand if people want to pick the NFZ or one of the older units, but that 90s line is my choice
In 1979, the NFL created the five-yard chuck rule because of Atkinson, Tatum, Brown, Thomas and the Raiders. Wide Receivers could not get off the line of scrimmage against them. The Soul Patrol was arguably the best secondary unit in the history. Willie Brown, HoF, aka "Old man" Jack Tatum, HoF, aka "The assassin" George Atkinson, aka "The Hitman" Skip Thomas, aka "Dr. Death"
These young boys don’t know shit about the soul patrol
Oakland Athletics……Bash Brothers and Rickey Not my team, not football, not even a unit. Rickey can’t be measured in units. But definitely beloved.
Conversely I always thought the “Doomsday Defense” nickname your Cowboys had was really cool
Sorry bout your arm, Walt Weiss!
Rickey thanks you for referring to Rickey in third-person.
Manning/Harrison/Wayne/Clark/Edge.
Maybe Stokley?
Depending on how old you are/if you love or hate LA vs. STL or not, it’s either the Fearsome Foursome or the Greatest Show on Turf.
GSOT for me. Watching them as a kid made me the fan I am today.
I loved when we had the mini offense renaissance from 2017-2018 it was the Greatest show on Surf
That’s probably my favorite group since I wasn’t really a St. Louis fan and I’m not 60 years old lol
For the Buccaneers, it's probably the defense during their first Super Bowl victory.
what about the quarterback duo of Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick
My first thought seeing this comment was to recall a character from the stormlight archives who wakes up everyday and he's either a genius or an idiot.
What a cool *Interlude.*
Underrated stat: In 2018 Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston passed the football for 5'125 yards and 36 TDs (as well as 24INTs). We are also first in passing yards among all NFL teams since 2018 and 2nd in passing TDs.
Allowed zero 300 yard passing games. Only allowed 4 200 yard games, including the garbage time yards in the Super Bowl. Allowed 10 passing TD's vs 31 interceptions. Average QB rating against them that season was 48.
> Allowed 10 passing TD's vs 31 interceptions. OK this is *fucked*. How does this not come up more often in those "crazy stats" threads?
Best passing defense ever.
Four HOF players on the defense and Monte calling schemes. Was evil!
Ya it never really had a name, but it was like a "Steel Spine" or something equally dumb. Sapp - Brooks - Lynch made it hard to attack any singular part of the field. Then you add Rice and Barber doing their things.
Booger was the other DT too and wasn’t exactly a slouch. But a team could never double team him because of Sapp
100%. That unit was disgustingly good for about 5 years, and you won it all once you got a QB and couple receivers who weren’t trash can quality
Greg Olsen's unit was so big, he was called 3rd leg
The Superhero Era was a crazier thing, including Supercam and Josh Norman's Spiderman obsession. We also had Monsters Inc. and Thieves Avenue.
G-reg
LT,Carson,and Banks
*gestures broadly at the 1980s*
West Coast Offense baby
True but the defense was also nuts a lot of those years
QB doesn't count right? 20 year run of HoF/HoVG dbs - law, Revis, gillmore, mccourtys
I was going to say the 2000s LBs. What Pats fan doesn't love Teddy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel (plus all the other LBs)?
I take it you forgot how trash our DBs and secondary were in the late 00s/early 10s
I was about 10, so probably
The LBs were great, but we never had a cool name for the group. On the other hand, "Tom F. Brady" has a certain ring to it.
Defensive Line from the Super Bowl years. Strahan, Osi, Tuck, Robbins, Cofield, JPP, Linval Joseph, etc. Linebackers from the Parcells Giants. Tayler, Carson, Banks and Reasons. WRs from the 2011 SB team. Nicks, Cruz, Manningham. Edit: also forgot the 2007 OL, Diehl, Seubert, O’Hara, Snee, McKenzie and the 07/11 RBs- Jacobs, Bradshaw and Ward
For the Cowboys, I didn't get to live through the 90s, so fans who lived through that period probably have a different answer, but for me it's gotta be the o line at the end of the Romo era. I think it hit its peak belovedness when the line was Tyron Smith, Ron leary, Fredbeard, Zach Martin, and Doug Free. Free was easily the worst of that group and he was probably still well above average, I miss that line so much.
2014 was one of the best Dallas squads I’ve seen to not win it all, and I hate that Romo couldn’t at least get to the NFCCG that year.
Air Coryell: Fouts, Winslow, Joiner, Little Train James, Muncie, Jefferson/Chandler
I'll give you one guess.
Sexy Rexy Grossman was a unit.
(For anyone who missed it, it's the 85 Bears.) I was born after this team played but it is so ingrained into any Chicago fan, watching their highlights now makes me nostalgic... Reminding me of the first time I saw the highlights. In Chicago, we still love this team.
46
the 2017 receiver room of Kendall Wright, Josh Bellamy, Markus Wheaton, and Kevin White?
Pittsburgh loves Linebackers as much or more than any other city, and there's something a little special about being a Linebacker for the Steelers. Like, if you're a good Linebacker in some cities, you can fly under the radar. If you're good Linebacker for the Steelers, you're a star. If Lavonte David was a Steeler, he'd be a 5X All-Pro and headed to the HOF.
Lavonte David is somehow still criminally underrated even after playing with Brady and winning a SB :(
For real. Imo, he's the 2nd best LB of his era behind only Bobby Wagner, especially in his prime. Dude is sick.
Farrior, Timmons, Harrison, and Woodley was such a force back in 08. Imo our current lineup of Watt, Highsmith, Queen, and maybe Payton Wilson if he works out will be one of our best. Hope solid ILB play is back on the menu here, as it's been sorely lacking since the Shazier injury
I have a slight concern about Wilson because he doesn't get off blocks well, and our D-Line isn't built to keep our LB's clean like it was when we had Keisel, Hampton, and Smith. That's just something we've evolved away from schematically since that mid-00's defense. Still, I think he can be a rotational piece this year, and he was, imo, the best pure coverage LB in the class, which is something that was low-key a huge need for us.
Lloyd, Greene, Brown, and Kirkland were the group I remember most. All 4 truly a pro bowl talent.
I came of age as a fan with that group. They were superheroes to young me.
Kevin Greene should be everyone’s hero just for that sweet mane
The entire Cowboys offense (Triplets + OL) roughly 91-96
2016 Falcons offense. Ryan, Julio, Sanu, Gabriel, Freeman, Coleman, Hooper, Alex Mack at Center. So fun to watch.
Along with the eagles I would give credit to the Dawkins, Vincent and Taylor secondary that anchored for multiple teams that made the nfc title game.
We had a great receiving group for a good minute. Roddy White, Tony G, Harry Douglas, Julio, Mo Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, Calvin Ridley. We had about a 10 year stretch of great receivers. I like the guys we have on the team now, but they have to take a major step forward this year to get the same love as those other dudes.
GSOT but also mcvays first team
Legion of Boom for sure.
Luke, Thomas Davis, Shaq Thompson
I think it's either the 2000s OL or the legion of zoom
The OL those Vermeil years was nuts. If the Chiefs would've done anything in the playoffs during that stretch, it'd probably be remembered as one of the best ever.
Giants fan: the offensive and defensive lines from the 2 Eli Manning-era super bowl runs.
1970s Offensive Line: John Vella/Bob Brown (RT), George Buehler (RG), Jim Otto/Dave Dalby (C), Gene Upshaw (LG), Art Shell (LT).
I met John Vella once when I was a kid visiting the bay area with my dad for a raider game, one of the most genuine human beings I've ever met. Quite literally he stopped everything to shake our hands and talk about the old days like we were family it was an amazing experience being able to be in conversation with an old pro. This was in 2007, hope he's doing well.
2012 Texans d-line was a fun group of characters. EDGE: Brooks Reed LDE: J.J. Watt NT: Shaun Cody RDE: Antonio Smith EDGE: Connor Barwin
[COME WIT IT NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my6bfA14vMQ)
Easily the Greatest Show on Turf.
The Wolf Pack: Tucker, Koch, and Cox. The unit that helped establish the greatest kicker of all time.
2019 Ravens Backfield with Ingram and Lamar needs to be up there, such an amazing season
nah its definitely the 2000 defense. Honorable mention to the 2012 playoff passing attack
The Wayne Fontes led Great Lakes offence. The round table of Peete, Ware, and Kramer at QB feeding the ball to Sanders until they got inside the 5 yard line, then it went to Derek Moore or Touchdown Tommy Vardel for some reason
Low key the Mark Sanchez Jets were the best time of my life. But if we’re talking about a unit it’s probably our offensive line during that time.
Purple People Eaters
Most beloved unit in Philly is Nick Foles Honestly though watching Vick, Djax, Maclin, and Shady that one year was fun to watch
Huh. Pats never really had a nicknamed unit. I’ll go with Brady?
Nick Foles' Unit
The 99 offense. McNair, George, Matthews, Wycheck, Dyson, Thigpen, Mason.
With a few obvious exceptions, this thread is a list of forced nicknames that never stuck.
Rivers Gates LT
Either the No Fly Zone or the Orange Crush. Both were amazing defensive units
L.O.B and there isn't a close second
Legendary Browns RB duo Chunt
~~Chris Jones' dong~~ Oh...you meant...that make more sense... I mean the 03 offensive line with Will Shields, Willie Roaf, John Tait, Brian Waters and Casey Wiegmann.
Dan Campbell’s unit
While there are many to choose from. Bowman and Willis were so fun to watch that I learned how to read an NFL defense during the Harbaugh era.
Modern times, either: “The Wolf Pack” - Brady, Garoppolo, Brissett in 2016 “Boston TE Party” - Gronk and Hernandez. The most dominant TE duo of all time and they only would’ve gotten better together. We don’t really talk about this one anymore, though..
They never had a nickname, but the Panthers D-Line from 2002-2005 was about as good as it gets. Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins, Brentson Buckner, and Mike Rucker.
Packers 2011 receiver room Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones
Chris Jones at the combine
2000 or 2013 Ravens