Aikman: Matchup Showcases Defensive Playmakers
The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers' defenses rank among the best in the league in most major defensive categories. But could you argue that the Bears have the better defense?
"I think you could make that argument, absolutely," NFL Hall of Famer and current FOX NFL analyst, Troy Aikman said on the Mully and Hanley Show. "I believe that they way that the Bears have played defensively and the playmakers that they have, you could make that argument, whether it be against the Packers or any other defense."
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But just like the Bears, the Packers' defense is capable of taking over a game, and could be considered by some to be better than the Bears.
"I think you could make the same argument for the Packers against other defenses," Aikman said. "And I think that's what is really so appealing about this game. It's not that usual that you get ready to [broadcast] a game and you have the type of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball that you typically just regard to the offensive side of the ball."
Both of these storied franchises have built their reputations with defensive stars. Players like Dick Butkus, Reggie White, Dan Hampton and Ray Nitschke have all made the NFL Hall of Fame after careers of playing defense for their respective sides of this rivalry. And the 2010-11 versions of these teams are no different than their predecessors.
"Chicago certainly has that with [Lance] Briggs, [Julius] Peppers, [Brian] Urlacher," Aikman said of the Bears' defensive playmakers. "I know [Charles] Tillman had an excellent game last week as well as Chris Harris. I mean, there are guys on that side of the ball, that you say 'wow, these guys are able to make plays just like offensive players do.
"And then we see that certainly for Green Bay as well, with what Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams have done as of late, and as well as Clay Matthews."
So while both offenses put up big numbers in their Divisional Round games, the NFC Championship might come down to a battle of two of the NFL's best defenses.
