This past decade has seen the Ravens dominate with Trent Dilfer under center, the Steelers win with a quarterback having a 22.6 passer rating on the biggest stage and the Giants hold the most prolific offense in NFL history to 14 points.
So are the New York Jets — and their top-rated defense — the team to beat this postseason?
“To me, we should be the favorites,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said.
Well, that makes one believer.
The No. 1 seed in each conference has a defense that is ranked in the bottom half of the league. Since 2002, only the Colts won a Super Bowl with a defense in the bottom. And Indianapolis’ defense came up big in that postseason — holding their first two playoff opponents under 10 points.
This season seems different though. Of the top 11 scoring offenses in the NFL — nine are in the playoffs.
Maybe a team will ride their offense to the Super Bowl like the “Greatest Show on Turf” did twice.
Maybe a player — like wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did last postseason — will dominate defenses en route to the Super Bowl.
Maybe one of the young quarterbacks having an MVP-caliber season — Drew Brees, Philip Rivers or Aaron Rodgers — will solidify their greatness with a championship ring.
Or maybe the Jets will hold every team under 10 points and prove that Ryan was right all along.
