Monday, April 11, 2016

Decade of the 1970s Team Defensive Leader Boards

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

The 1970s was a good time to be a football fan, especially if you loved defense. The press was good at assigning nicknames, offenses hard to work to move the ball, especially if they wanted to pass. Receivers didn't run free on crossing routes, quarterbacks couldn't sit in the pocket for 4-5 seconds, tackles didn't seem to be missed very often. It was a fun time.

The Super '70s is a fine book we recommend if you are into the 1970s like we are. Tom Danyluk does a great job in the text and interviews and Paul Zimmerman wrote a fine forward to the volume.

Here are the leaders for the 1970s in the major defensive categories. You can see the Steel Curtain, Doomsday, Orange Crush, the No Name Defense, the Purple People Eaters, even the Sack Pack. 

Decade of the 1970s  Top Defensive Teams

Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed
Season Average
1 Rams 1599
2 Cowboys 1614
3 Steelers 1662
4 Broncos 1734
5 Dolphins 1829
6 Vikings 1904
7 Raiders 1912
8 Redskins 1922
9 49ers 1937
Colts 1937

Doomsday Defense. Danbury Mint

Fewest Total Points Allowed
Season Average
1 Vikings 212
2 Rams  213
3 Dolphins 214
4 Steelers 215
5 Cowboys 232
6 Redskins 238
7 49ers 253
8 Raiders 256
9 Broncos 260
10 Colts 262
Minnesota Front Four. Danbury Mint

Fewest Passing Yards,
 Season Average
1 Vikings 1906
2 Falcons 2038
3 Lions 2071
4 Rams 2085
5 Cowboys 2086
6 Steelers 2090
7 Bengals 2183
8 Bears 2218
9 Dolphins 2234
10 Patriots 2262
11 Raiders 2279
No Name Defense. Danbury Mint

Fewest Total Yards Allowed
Average Per Season
1 Rams 3685
2 Cowboys 3700
3 Steelers 3753
4 Vikings 3809
5 Bengals 4039
6 Lions 4055
7 Dolphins 4068
8 Broncos 4082
9 Redskins 4129
10 49ers 4143
11 Raiders 4187
Steelers Front Four. Danbury Mint

Most Sacks, 
Average Per Season
1 Rams 44.4
2 Cowboys  43.2
3 Steelers 39.3
4 Redskins 38.5
5 49ers 38.1
6 Colts 37.6
7 Raiders 37.3
Oilers 37.3
9 Patriots 36.8
10 Bears 34.8
11 Broncos 34.6
12 Vikings 34.2
13 Bengals 33.8
14 Packers 32.8
15 Lions 31.7
16 Browns 31.3
17 Dolphins 30.9

Orange Crush Defense. Danbury Mint

Most Interceptions, 
Average Per Season
1 Steelers 26.4
2 Raiders 24.0
3 Chiefs 23.9
4 Rams 23.6
5 Vikings 23.1
6 Redskins 22.5
7 Colts 21.5
8 Dolphins  20.5
9 Bengals 20.1
10 Lions 20.0
11 Broncos 19.7
Oilers 19.7
Chargers 19.7
14 Cowboys 19.5
15 Bears 19.3
16 Falcons 19.2

Doomsday I Defense. Danbury Mint

Lowest Opponent Passer Rating
1 Steelers 50.7
2 Vikings  53.8
3 Redskins 56.5
4 Rams 57.7
5 Raiders 58.1
6 Falcons 59.4
7 Cowboys 60.0
8 Bengals 62.2
9 Dolphins 63.7
Chiefs 63.7



Fewest Rushing TDs Allowed
Season Average
1 Rams 8.1
2 Steelers 8.4
3 Cowboys  10.0
4 Vikings 11.2
Dolphins 11.2
6 Redskins 12.0
7 Raiders 12.1
8 Broncos 13.0
9 49ers 13.3
10 Packers 13.8


Defensive TDs 
Decade Total
1 Bengals 27
2 Rams 25
3 Chiefs 24
Lions 24
5 Redskins 23
6 Broncos 21
Bills 21
Browns 21
9 Vikings 19
Oilers 19
11 Raiders 18
Colts 18
Falcons 18


Lowest Yards per rush, Decade
1 Steelers 3.52
2 Rams 3.632
3 Cowboys 3.634
4 Broncos 3.64
5 Buccaneers 3.70
6 Bears 3.82
7 49ers 3.84
8 Redskins 3.86
9 Packers 3.937
Oilers 3.937


Fewest First Downs Allowed
Average per Season
1 Rams 214.3
2 Vikings 219.6
3 Cowboys 220.5
4 Steelers 223.7
5 Dolphins 228.4
6 Colts 233.0
7 Lions 236.9
8 Broncos 237.0
9 49ers 242.3
10 Falcons 243.3
11 Raiders 244.8
12 Redskins 245.2



Fewest First Downs Rushing 
 Avg. per Season
1 Rams 84.3
2 Cowboys 86.2
3 Steelers 88.3
4 Broncos 95.7
5 Dolphins 96.8
6 Colts 99.5
7 Raiders 103.0
8 Vikings 103.1
9 Redskins 104.4
10 49ers 105.0


Fewest First Downs Passing Allowed
 Average per Season
1 Vikings  101.3
2 Falcons 106.6
3 Lions 108.4
4 Bills 108.8
5 Steelers 110.1
6 Rams 110.9
7 Cowboys 113.9
8 Packers  114.1
9 49ers 114.5
10 Bengals 114.7
11 Colts 116.3
12 Browns 116.8
13 Raiders 117.4
14 Dolphins 118.2
15 Patriots 118.3
16 Broncos 118.7


6 comments:

  1. The Super '70s is an excellent book. If you are reading this you should buy a copy unless, of course, you are allergic to the 1970s.

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  2. Amazing how close the Rams, Cowboys, Steelers and Vikings were in almost every category.

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  3. Interesting numbers, John. As great as the Vikings' pass defense was during most of the 70s, the stats would be even better during the decade 1968-77.

    The Super 70s has been on my want list for a long time now. So many books, so little time...

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    Replies
    1. Yes, as you know decades begining with zero are a bit artbitrary, which is why we did the mid All_decade teams

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    2. From 1968-77. Vikings would be #1 in def pass rating, #1 is most passing defensive stats, #1 in fewest yards and points, and I think 5th in run yards allowed.

      That was their "era of dominance".

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    3. 68 to 71 was Minnesota's peak yrs for sure.

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