Defense wins championships. Offense puts fannies in the seats. This is the classic “go-to” when front office personnel attempt to differentiate between offensive and defensive football in the NFL.
But has the narrative changed? Has this high-flying pursuit of aerial dominance in the league where they play for pay led to a massive importance on offensive football, making it more critical than its more boring brother?
The jury's still out.
The Philadelphia Eagles took home Super Bowl 52 while showcasing the seventh best offense and fourth most dominating defense. The runner-up, the New England Patriots, finish first in total offense and fourth to last in defense. Though New England's defense was statistically much better during its Super Bowl-winning season of 2016, the organization as a whole has ridden the other side with Tom Brady leading the way.
Other examples in everything being tossed on its head have come to fruition. For example, running the ball isn't a necessity anymore.
The aforementioned Pats could literally go the entire game and not rush the ball. Brady's short, designed passing attack takes its place. Back in 2011, the New York Giants captured the Vince Lombardi Trophy after finishing dead last in rushing with a horrible mark of 89.2 yards per contest.
Defense is less important. Rushing the ball means very little.
Explosiveness means everything.
The ability to break one for a score on any given play is what usually represents that final deciding factor pertaining to legit championship contenders. This can account for rushing the ball (with a special individual), but, of course, the passing attack is what favors the category.
Here are ClutchPoints' seven most explosive offenses in the NFL heading into training camp.
7. Minnesota Vikings
The No. 7 spot came down to two teams. The Los Angeles Chargers didn't make the cut.
Instead, it's the Minnesota Vikings thanks to one addition.
Even the most cautious Kirk Cousins onlooker would agree that his presence brings a specific calm and order to the offense. Personally, I'm extremely suspicious of Cousins. I think he's a solid NFL quarterback, maybe the 10th or 12th best in the league.
Still, his arm behind a great offensive line, two excellent wide receivers who complement each perfectly (Stefon Diggs as the deep threat and Adam Thielen as the possession stud), and one of the most talented backs in the game (in Dalvin Cook) easily place the Vikings offense on this list.
6. New York Giants
Yes, folks … the New York Giants are the sixth most explosive offense in the NFL as of right now.
Don't forget about last year. It happened. The Giants 3-13 record to go along with an Eli Manning benching happened. But much is to be learned.
In fact, the team still finished 21st in the NFL in total offense (314.2 yards per game). It wasn't an epically horrid performance on that side of the ball.
More importantly, the team's failures have very little to do with Eli Manning and the weaponry. It was literally all on the league's worst offensive line.
What did Dave Gettleman do as soon as he took office in Jersey? He signed Nate Solder and drafted Will Hernandez in the second round (of course after snagging a certain somebody No. 2 overall). He didn't mess around. His old-school nature and football sense allows him to understand nothing works offensively if the O-line isn't stout. It represents nearly half of the offense (5-of-11) and literally changes everything.
Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard and, of course, Saquon Barkley—folks, with the O-line now back in business, this offense is going to be scary.
5. Green Bay Packers
An offense with Aaron Rodgers is an explosive one. This would apply if Charlie Brown was the No. 1 wideout.
Finishing a disastrous 26th in the league in offense a season ago, the Green Bay Packers have absolutely fallen on hard times as it relates to the weaponry. Jordy Nelson is gone. Randall Cobb is a bit older. The running back situation was so dire that a wideout was forced to bring his No. 88 behind A-Rodg.
Still, No. 12 is in the house and when the best player in the league is playing the most valuable position in sports, they'll rank high. Plus, the O-line isn't a disaster and Devante Adams is a legit No. 1 wide receiver.
Oh yeah, they've also acquired a guy by the name of Jimmy Graham this past offseason.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Austin Hooper and now Calvin Ridley? Forget about it. The Atlanta Falcons offense can pound the rock better than anybody while striking for six at any time.
Finishing eighth in the NFL in total offense a year ago, the Falcons, especially at home, could be the most explosive offense in the game.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
There's just one little problem for the Falcons. This league is all about explosiveness.
How does it get any better than a hall of fame quarterback to go along with the best running back and wide receiver in the land?
Ben Roethlisberger is one man who could never complain about his supporting cast. Le'Veon Bell, the best back in the league, and Antonio Brown, arguably the greatest overall target in the NFL, showcase a lethal duo.
It's a strange twist of fate that it's the Steelers defense lagging behind.
2. New England Patriots
Julian Edelman has been suspended. While the league is at it, they could suspend five more offensive players. As long as the O-line is intact and Tom Brady is still present, the New England Patriots will remain in the top five explosive offenses in the league.
Averaging 394.2 yards per contest a year ago, the Pats finished first in the league in offense.
The running back is always via by committee. The wideouts are usually always by way of the possession/slot guy. Rob Gronkowski is always dominant anywhere on the field.
What makes this year a little more interesting is that newcomer Jordan Matthews is a big, tall target who can play sideline ball with Brady and go up and get the ball at its highest point.
Yes, they lost Nate Solder to the Giants in free agency, but Dante Scarnecchia, the Pats O-line coach, remains the league's greatest secret weapon. Brady's O-line is a unit that's treated a quarterback better than any other unit in the history of this great game.
1. New Orleans Saints
Talk about one sick draft class. What the New Orleans Saints received from the 2017 NFL Draft is beyond comprehension.
When the entire league continued to talk about what a terrible O-line class it was, the Saints snagged stud Ryan Ramzcyk. With a stout O-line and a hall of fame coach and quarterback, the weapons surrounding the nucleus in New Orleans is downright scary.
Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram and Michael Thomas account for a personnel grouping perfect for Sean Payton's system.
The team who finished the year second in offense a year ago comes into 2018 training camp as the most explosive offense in the NFL.
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