Best NFL defenses of all time?

[Bored5000]

I am shocked that people on here don't consider the 1991 Eagles defense among the best of all-time. I am not saying they were better than the 1985 Bears or the Steel Curtain, but the 1991 Eagles almost always comes up in discussions of all-time great defenses. Sometimes it is listed at number one. The '91 Eagles defense is at least in the discussion with any all-time great defense.

As mentioned, the 1991 Eagles led the league in fewest yards allowed against the rush, the pass, and overall. The squad led the league in sacks, forced fumbles, and takeaways. What exactly constitutes an all-time great defense if that's not it?

It was the defense's fault the team did not make the playoffs? James Joseph led the team in rushing that year with just 440 yards and four different players took turns at quarterback after Randall Cunningham was lost in the first quarter of the first game. At one point, the team went 11 straight quarters without scoring a touchdown. Reggie White should have been playing quarterback? Jerome Brown at running back? Andre Waters at flanker?

[howard38]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

I am shocked that people on here don't consider the 1991 Eagles defense among the best of all-time. I am not saying they were better than the 1985 Bears or the Steel Curtain, but the 1991 Eagles almost always comes up in discussions of all-time great defenses. Sometimes it is listed at number one. The '91 Eagles defense is at least in the discussion with any all-time great defense.

As mentioned, the 1991 Eagles led the league in fewest yards allowed against the rush, the pass, and overall. The squad led the league in sacks, forced fumbles, and takeaways. What exactly constitutes an all-time great defense if that's not it?

It was the defense's fault the team did not make the playoffs? James Joseph led the team in rushing that year with just 440 yards and four different players took turns at quarterback after Randall Cunningham was lost in the first quarter of the first game. At one point, the team went 11 straight quarters without scoring a touchdown. Reggie White should have been playing quarterback? Jerome Brown at running back? Andre Waters at flanker?

Agreed. With that offense it was a miracle just to win ten games.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

I am shocked that people on here don't consider the 1991 Eagles defense among the best of all-time. I am not saying they were better than the 1985 Bears or the Steel Curtain, but the 1991 Eagles almost always comes up in discussions of all-time great defenses. Sometimes it is listed at number one. The '91 Eagles defense is at least in the discussion with any all-time great defense.

As mentioned, the 1991 Eagles led the league in fewest yards allowed against the rush, the pass, and overall. The squad led the league in sacks, forced fumbles, and takeaways. What exactly constitutes an all-time great defense if that's not it?

It was the defense's fault the team did not make the playoffs? James Joseph led the team in rushing that year with just 440 yards and four different players took turns at quarterback after Randall Cunningham was lost in the first quarter of the first game. At one point, the team went 11 straight quarters without scoring a touchdown. Reggie White should have been playing quarterback? Jerome Brown at running back? Andre Waters at flanker?

wow someone agrees with me....right to say they arent in the discussion of best defense of all time is absurd...their defense destroyed the Oilers that year who were on pace to break most offensive records.......and they played more games 16 than defenses of decades earlier and offensives put up bigger offensive number in the 90s versus prior decades and their division that year had 2 great teams..redskins who won the SB and Dallas who were on their way to be an elite team

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

wow someone agrees with me....right to say they arent in the discussion of best defense of all time is absurd...their defense destroyed the Oilers that year who were on pace to break most offensive records.......and they played more games 16 than defenses of decades earlier and offensives put up bigger offensive number in the 90s versus prior decades and their division that year had 2 great teams..redskins who won the SB and Dallas who were on their way to be an elite team

Well, definitively stating what the best, greatest, most in these types of discussions is a bit like stating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. But to dismiss that 1991 Eagles defense for a reason like they didn't even make the playoffs is nonsensical when one considers what the offense was like. How many 10-win NFL teams have ever had the leading rusher gain less than 440 yards for the season? The five quarterbacks that season threw nine more interceptions than touchdowns.

The '91 Eagles defense comes up too often in these types of discussions among NFL experts to simply dismiss them with a wave of the hand because the team did not make the playoffs or Buddy Ryan was not the coach. I always thought it was universally accepted that team was at least among the all-time great defenses until I read this thread.