Let's not pretend that one year wasn't the most dominant defense of all time. He also left after that.
Every defense has its weaknesses, and for that great Bears team it was their secondary.
They played teams that kept three WRs in the game and never adjusted out of it. It was a shock to many people and they didn’t know how to react in a week of prep. I remember the Cowboys trying to have little Mike Renfro help block vs the 46 front.
Joes Gibbs adjusted, max protected, and heaved the ball over their heads handing them back-to-back playoff losses in 86 and 87. I remember rooting so bad for the Bears to humiliate them, but those assholes not only had their number they exposed them. Parcells’s run-first style got his ass-raped by the Bears every time they played, so you had to have a balanced attack or you couldn’t get past their front, but once you blocked it, their corners couldn’t lock anyone down.
Bears had a great front seven and a gimmick attack. Proof that it was a gimmick is no one does that shit anymore. It was too easy to beat once people figured it out.
I’d say the 86 Giants were the better defense in that era. Not as dominant a DL, but still very good, equally dynamic LB’s (and even more when one was freaking LT) and then a solid strong secondary led by Collins and Kinard.
I’d also rate the 1991 Eagles defense better. Their weakest level was their LB’s, which still had a pro bowl caliber guy in Joyner.
That 2000 Ravens team was plain sick. Fewest points allowed, fewest rushing yards allowed, ever. Dominant DL, punishing, fast, LBs, and a fricking insane secondary with two blue chip CB’s and Rod Woodson at safety.
