Article Reissue: 26, June 2014
Much like the “dead ball” era in major league baseball when pitchers dominated the 1960’s, NFL defenses in the ’70’s were the equivalent in football. Up in Minnesota, the Vikings used a dominant front four to limit opponents to 225.2 yards per game. Far and away the best in the league that year. In fact the ’75 Steelers, #9 on this list, was ranked 4th allowing 261.5 yards for the season. They only gave up 180 points or 12.3 pts per game in the ’75 campaign.
Interestingly this team didn’t use it’s cold weather advantage to compile these statistics. They played 3 of their final 4 games on the road. One of those came in the temperature controlled Silverdome against the Lions. Within their statistics you can definitely see their dominance. They held 6 teams to 10 points or less while ranking #1 against the pass (115.8 yds / gm) and #1 against the run (109.4 yds/ gm). This team threatened to go undefeated bolting out to a 10-0 start.
Hall of Fame DE Carl Eller warming up pregame.
Led by All Pro and Pro Bowl DT Alan Page, this group put significant pressure on the quarterback. Free Safety Paul Krause, the NFL’s all time leading interceptor had 10 on the season. He made the Pro Bowl in ’75 along with MLB Jeff Siemon who picked off 3 more passes and CB Bobby Bryant who snatched 6. They were 3rd in interceptions with 28.
The only knock on this group is they played just 2 top 10 offenses the entire year. However they did face the #1 ranked offense in the Buffalo Bills in the season finale. OJ was threatening for 2,000 again and playing at home, was held to 57 yards rushing to finish with 1,817. They held the Bills to just 13 points and forced them to miss the playoffs.
Hall of Fame FS Paul Krause. The all time NFL interception leader with 81.
From this group, Alan Page, Paul Krause, and DE Carl Eller all made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are many who believe DE Jim Marshall should be in as well. This team went into the playoffs with a head of steam. They lost 17-10, when Roger Staubach hit Drew Pearson in the famous “Hail Mary” with :24 left in the NFC Divisonal Playoffs.
There stellar defensive season ranks 8th in The Chancellor of Football’s list.
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The Vikings played in a weak division and the Purple People Eaters enjoyed many easy games against their division foes which made their defensive statistics look better.
How did they do when they faced real teams from the AFL/AFC? That fearsome foursome got destroyed in four Super Bowls with rushing records set against them by Csonka and Harris and then Clarence Davis rushes for more than 100 yards as well. Their great defensive line was obliterated. Obliterated!
Jim Marshall was the poster child for missing on milk cartons with no tackles or assists vs. Oakland. He was no factor whatsoever in FOUR super bowls against good competition. 20 years and only two Pro Bowls. That’s it. That’s not HOF worthy by any means.
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Single season is 1975 and this team didn’t make the Super Bowl. This list had many criteria to get through.#1 offenses, how they fared against top ten offenses, pro bowl QBs etc. To finish #1, #1 against the run, #1 against the pass was a feat of its own. Super Bowl performance in other years is completely irrelevant. This wasn’t the Top 10 Super Bowl defenses.
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