Former Steelers quarterback and NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw believes the Buffalo Bills' defense is not strong enough to win a Super Bowl. Bradshaw expressed his concerns on Fox NFL Sunday, specifically pointing to the Bills' defensive performance.
"Buffalo's defense is horrible," Bradshaw stated. "And with [Lamar] Jackson back, I expect him to throw the football, play action, even though Lamar has a bad ankle. This game's gonna be fun to watch it."
Bradshaw's assertion comes ahead of a matchup between the Bills and the Baltimore Ravens. He highlighted the strengths of both teams' offenses, mentioning quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, and running backs James Cook for the Bills and Derrick Henry for the Ravens. However, he concluded that a weak defense is a critical flaw.
"If there's one thing I've learned from the NFL this season, if you don't have a great defense ... you're not going to win a Super Bowl," Bradshaw explained. "You may have a great offense, but you will not win a Super Bowl. Buffalo right now, fun to watch. Fun to watch. But they're not gonna win a Super Bowl."
Historical NFL data supports Bradshaw's claim. No team has won a Super Bowl while ranking in the bottom three of the league in points allowed during the regular season. The worst-ranked scoring defense to win a Super Bowl was the 2011 New York Giants, who allowed 25 points per game and ranked 25th in the league. The 2006 Indianapolis Colts (23rd) and the 2009 New Orleans Saints (20th) are also cited as examples of teams with defenses that were not top-tier but still managed to win the championship.
The Bills, under first-year head coach Joe Brady, have seen offensive improvements. However, the departure of defensive-minded coach Sean McDermott is seen by some as a factor in the team's struggles on the defensive side of the ball.