Washington Post: Is Defense The Key In The Super Bowl?

Earlier this week, I wrote an article for The League at WashingtonPost.com on whether defense wins championships. I looked back at the past Super Bowl MVPs and noticed the last several were either wide receivers or quarterbacks. That doesn't surprise me as the NFL is a passing league, and it's nearly impossible for any team to win if they can't throw the ball.

While someone like Greg Jennings might be named the MVP, the winning team's defense is going to have to make some big plays. The last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl, Santonio Holmes was the MVP in part because the defense of the Cardinals couldn't find a way to stop him. And he might have never gotten a chance to catch the game winning touchdown pass if James Harrison hadn't had a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown earlier in the game. Defense alone doesn't win championships, but they're certain to play a key role in two weeks.