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2015 Broncos’ 'D' the best ever? Here's the competition

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Members of Denver’s defense have every right to be puffing their chests about their place in NFL history, but following their Super Bowl shutdown of Cam Newton and the Panthers, are the 2015 Broncos really the top defensive unit of all time?

Well, they certainly believe so.

Linebacker Brandon Marshall: “In my opinion, we’re the greatest defense to ever play the game. Ever. It’s a bold statement, but top to bottom we have the greatest talent — from rushers to safeties to linebackers. Better than anybody’s ever done it.”

SUPER BOWL 50 ASSISTANT REPLAY OFFICIAL’S WIFE A BRONCOS FAN

Defensive end Derek Wolfe: “We proved we’re the No. 1 defense. If you ask me, or anybody on this defense, we’re the best to ever do it.”

Linebacker Danny Trevathan: “No. 1. No. 1 in my opinion, over the ’85 Bears.”

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips: “Any team that holds Pittsburgh to 16 (points), New England to 18 and Carolina to 10 — all big-time offenses — I think we’ve got to be up there somewhere.”

General manager John Elway: “I know one thing, I wouldn’t want to play ’em. I’m glad I didn’t have to play them. We’re biased to the fact that we rode their coattails all the way to the championship…You look at that performance in the Super Bowl, they’re in the argument to be among the best ever. It’s hard to say that they’re going to be that, but they’re in the argument. That’s a hell of a compliment to them.”

Cam Newton fumbles as he’s no match for Denver’s defense in Super Bowl 50.Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Cam Newton fumbles as he’s no match for Denver’s defense in Super Bowl 50.

Yes, “up there somewhere” and “in the argument” are probably fair assessments, but there have been several tremendous defensive units over the past 50 years. Here are a few of them:

1969 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Hank Stram’s Chiefs became the second straight AFL squad (after the Jets) to win it all, 23-7 over Minnesota in Super Bowl IV, leading to the AFL-NFL merger the following season. They led the AFL in fewest rushing yards, passing yards and total yards, with linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, defensive linemen Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp, and cornerback Emmitt Thomas all eventually landing in the Hall of Fame.

BRONCOS ‘D’ STEALS SHOW VS. PANTHERS AT SUPER BOWL 50

1976 PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Steel Curtain won four Super Bowl titles in a six-year span through the 1979 season. While this wasn’t one of them due to massive injuries on the offensive side, the ’76 version gave up fewer than 10 points per game (138 in 14 games) and pitched five shutouts during the regular season, leading the NFL in yardage and points allowed before Pittsburgh lost to Oakland in the AFC title game. Of the nine Hall of Famers on the roster, four were on defense: tackle “Mean” Joe Greene, linebackers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert and cornerback Mel Blount.

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15382Charlie Bennett/AP

Falcons’ Gerald Riggs gets a dose of heavy coverage by Bears defenders Mike Singletary, Dave Duerson and Steve McMichaels.

1985 CHICAGO BEARS

As mentioned by Trevathan, who recovered two fumbles in Super Bowl 50, the 1985 Bears’ famed “46” defense under defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan often is referred to as the gold standard of defenses, leading the league in both fewest points and yardage allowed before crushing New England, 46-10, for the championship. Linebacker Mike Singletary and defensive linemen Dan Hampton and Richard Dent all made the Hall of Fame, with William “the Refrigerator” Perry and current Carolina head coach Ron Rivera as other notables on that roster.

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2000 BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Giants found out firsthand just how dominant game MVP Ray Lewis and the Ravens’ defense was in Super Bowl XXXV, managing just 152 net yards and zero points — with their only touchdown coming on a kickoff return — in a 34-7 whitewash. The Ravens set a 16-game NFL record with 960 rushing yards allowed during the regular season, allowing 165 points, and then just 23 more points in their four postseason victories. In addition to Lewis, notable defensive stalwarts included safety Rod Woodson, linebacker Peter Boulware and defensive linemen Tony Siragusa and Rob Burnett.

Tags:
denver broncos ,
kansas city chiefs ,
pittsburgh steelers ,
chicago bears ,
baltimore ravens ,
nfl ,
nfl playoffs ,
super bowl

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