SMU_Sox said:
I guess what I am saying Phragle is that you underestimate how good the SEA D was this year. You like to argue, so do I. I get that. But there comes a point where we should be able to agree on something pretty reasonable. Their SB performance? They dominated so many games this year on D that it wasn't that rare.
The SB was their 3rd best game by DVOA % on D. Indy's was their 2nd worst. But their best games are closer to their average than their worst games statistically, make sense?
so if -dvoa to positive dvoa was distributed they would have some kurtosis but almost exclusively to one side. Or - please stop fucking my grandmother and look at my maths.
I like to debate. I think everyone learns from it. I don't see any value in pissing matches.
I can tell you that I absolutely do not underestimate their defense. I'm in love with their defense. It's awe inspiring. I study it. I think it's the best defense I've ever seen constructed - better than the early 2000s Ravens or Bucs. But holding the greatest offense ever to 0 legitimate points or even a chance to compete, in a neutral stadium and in decent weather. I don't want to call it luck, because they were going to dominate anyway, but a lot of things went their way.
I've studied the SB about 10 times. Sometimes I even put it on in the background to help me fall asleep. Decker didn't even try, Thomas was injured early in the game, OJ and Welker were physically overwhelmed, Manning refused to stand in the pocket, they got behind and were forced to throw (average TTT 2.4 seconds), and it was over. Denver didn't even score until Seattle called off the dogs, and at that time Manning had a sweet 44.4 rating.
When you said this "if that line went up against a dominant front 4 with physical corners I think they'd be Bronco'd in the SB style." For one, you're not giving Seattle nearly enough credit. They are much more than just "a dominant front 4 with physical corners." For two, you can't assume even Seattle would do
that again. Petey even said after that he didn't expect that kind of dominance and described it as an "avalanche." It was by far the most impressive and one sided beating I've ever seen given the quality of the opponent. It was rare.