career renaissance similar to Allen, now that he’s playing with a healthy Von Miller in Denver. Ware, like Allen is 32, and has 117 career sacks. Probability of Record Falling: While defensive ends are getting more opportunities to tee off on the quarterback, QBs are now trending more mobile, able to squirt out of harm’s way that resulted in sacks to previous pocket passers. West Coast offenses, with their short timing routes, also tend to protect QBs more, giving pass rush rushers less time to get to the QB, making this a tough mark to reach. 9. 2000 Baltimore Ravens - 165 Points Allowed in a Season This record has an asterisk by it but not because of any question marks on the part of the 2000 Ravens’ defense. This devastating defensive unit—led by future/current Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson, anchored by Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa and coached by future NFL head coaches Rex Ryan, Mike Smith, and Jack Del Rio—allowed 165 points with five shutouts on their way to a Super Bowl. One asterisk comes in that their record is for a 16-game schedule. The 14-game mark is 138 points set by the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers, also Super Bowl Champions. Baltimore’s unit was actually more effective than their record states, as the defense wasn’t on the field for 13 points that season, which came against the offense. So, technically they only allowed 152 points. Whether choosing 152 or 165, the Ravens are well ahead of the next nearest team in a 16-game slate, the 1986 Chicago Bears, who allowed 187 points. The 2013 Seattle Seahawks smothered the NFL, allowing 231 points, and were even more impressive in the postseason, allowing 40 points in three games and only eight to Denver in the Super Bowl. With eight starters returning, the Seahawks could be even stronger in 2014. The Kansas City Chiefs, the AFC’s stingiest team last season (305 points, tied with Cincinnati), improved on the defensive line during the offseason and also could challenge the record. Probability of Record Falling: Not anytime soon as offenses are scoring at at record-setting paces. With all the pressures that offenses are exerting on defenses, even a top-flight D would have trouble staying below 200 points. 10. 2013 Denver Broncos - 606 Points Scored in a Season Peyton Manning showed that he was back in 2013, leading a high-octane offense that was the first to crack the 600-points barrier. The Broncos finished more than 150 points better than second-place Chicago (445), were held under 30 only three times JUSTIN EDMONDS/GETTY IMAGES SPORT and never scored fewer than 20 (until the Super Bowl). The offensive onslaught is impressive even by modern standards. While the top four scoring seasons have come since 2007 and nine of the top 12 have come since 2004, Denver was 17 points better than the next team, the 2007 New England Patriots. If anyone can match or even surpass the ’13 Broncos it might be the ’14 Broncos, as Manning will surely have a chip on his shoulder based on the taste left from ’13. Watch the Philadelphia Eagles, as Chip Kelly’s high-powered offense moves into Year 2, having finished Year One fourth in the league at 442 points, a field goal short of second overall. The Chicago Bears, who were second, also could take their offense up a notch, especially if they better protect Jay Cutler and have him in the lineup for all 16 games. Scoring the most points has been a good omen of getting to the Super Bowl, as three of the last four top-scoring teams (2011 Green Bay, 2012 New England and 2013 Denver) have gotten there, although it doesn’t guarantee winning it, as two of those teams lost in the Super Bowl. Probability of Record Falling: If it happens, it could very well be the Denver Broncos that surpass themselves. It just takes a team with an elite quarterback and deep receiving corps. Prolific offenses like Denver, New England, New Orleans and Indianapolis will still have to catch fire over the season to put up the necessary 38 points per game to surpass 606. No easy task. DOUG PENSINGER/GETTY IMAGES SPORT CLASSIC
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