Fashionable Picks

Every year, it seems like some team rises up in the NFL all full of dazzle and spectacle on offense, and all the pundits jump on their bandwagon, only to see those teams get their butts handed to them by someone who can play defense. In 2001, the Rams were just so powerful, who could stop them? The Patriots then took them down in the Super Bowl. In 2002, the Raiders were heavy favorites in the Super Bowl because their offense was just so powerful, until the Bucs tore them apart. In 2003, many were speculating on the possibility that the Chiefs could go 16-0 and win a blowout Super Bowl, then they didn't even win a playoff game. Now, this year, it was the Colts who were just unstoppable, until the Patriots put them in their place and reminded them who was boss (again).

Offense gets all the coverage and has most of the superstars. When a high powered offense is clicking on all cylinders, fans and observers are wowed senseless. It is fashionable to go with the glamor of offense, rather than the grit of defense. Yet time and time again, when a top offense faces a top defense, who comes out on top? The defense. Someday, the so-called experts ought to learn this truth.