And if nothing else, the NFL excels at imitation. Start a trend, and many will follow. Unless you like wearing bandanas under your helmet. But, fashion aside, there is nothing like an philosophy that results in a Super Bowl championship to start a trend. With the Baltimore Ravens reigning as champs, the trend this year is clear.
Defense wins championships.
This is no startling revelation, but the spotlight shines anew on defense. The previous year, which saw the St. Louis Rams take the crown, got everyone thinking they had to run out and draft fast wide receivers and scour the Arena League for the next Kurt Warner. Even the Rams, who still had Warner, Faulk, Bruce, Holt and Az-Hakim disappointed. Their defense stunk. And then the Ravens come along with their murderous defense and bore everyone to tears on their way to the title.