Originally Posted by
Cugel
I'd say you have it backwards. We were great against the pass because we were great against the pass with Aqub Talib & Chris Harris. But, the two things are interrelated.
Even if your secondary is great, you will NOT be #1 against the pass if teams can't run on your defense at all - like teams cannot run at all on the 2017 Broncos, because the DL with Gotsis, Wolfe, and Pecko is playing like so many werewolves. So, what are they going to do?
Test the no-fly zone. With what result? Mixed. If they throw more they will get more completions and more yards, but they're also taking more chances and will probably suffer more turnovers. But, the statistical ranking of the defense is based on passing yards allowed.
That's the official measure of being the NFL's #1 defense: you gave up fewer passing yards than anybody else. Well, they're unlikely to be that for the third year in a row. They're not close to #1 now.