(10-14-2018, 09:35 PM)Eye of the Storm Wrote: The Rams and Vikings are both returning very good defenses this year, but both teams also have quarterbacks than can lead their teams to wins even if they fall behind early. We don’t have that luxury. The only game I can remember Bortles coming back from a double digit deficit is his game against the Giants a few years ago. It doesn’t matter how good your defense is if you don’t have a QB that can every once in a while put the team on his back and lead them to a win. Bortles will never be that guy.

^ completely agree. I'm not saying at all that you don't need a QB that can put a team on his back and win games at times. You absolutely do. But, the only teams I can think of that had a great QB and went to a Superbowl without a stellar defense are:
- Patriots of recent years (early 2000's Pats had a great defense)
- Colts with Peyton Manning (although the Colts defense played extremely well in their Superbowl run)

Brees hasn't been successful with a trash Saints defense. (The year they won the Superbowl, their defense was outstanding / "Bounty Gate").

Russell Wilson hasn't led the Seahawks to anything important after the LOB fell apart (they haven't even made the playoffs).  

Brees, Wilson, Rivers, Big Ben, Rodgers (been hurt alot), Stafford 
^ none of these guys succeed at championship levels without a very strong  defense

---