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Flying under the radar all season, the Seattle Seahawks finished the year atop the NFL, the ultimate success story for one the league’s greatest ever defenses.
Prior to the Super Bowl, Seattle was just outside the top five in all-time DVOA rankings. DVOA stands for “Defense-adjusted Value Over Average” and has gained popularity in its use of measuring a great defense.
DVOA measures a team’s efficiency by comparing the success of every single play to a league average, adjusted for situation and quality of opponent. In simpler terms, it evaluates how good a team truly is while accounting for context — down, distance, game situation, and who they’re playing.
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The Seahawks won Super Bowl 60 in a dominating fashion. Drake Maye and the New England Patriots had no answer for the Seattle defense until it was too late.
Because of the game result, the Seahawks have been propelled into the top five defenses of all-time, according to Aaron Schatz, creator of DVOA and ESPN analyst.
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Schatz analyzed stats since 1978, including playoffs, and found these defenses to be considered the greatest of all-time:
- 1991–92 Washington Commanders — Super Bowl champions
- 1985–86 Chicago Bears — Super Bowl champions and the iconic “Super Bowl Shuffle” team
- 2007–08 New England Patriots — lost the Super Bowl to Eli Manning and the Giants after an undefeated regular season
- 2025-26 Seattle Seahawks — won Super Bowl 60 in dominating fashion Sunday
- 1989–90 San Francisco 49ers — Super Bowl champions in dominating fashion
- 1996–97 Green Bay Packers — led by Reggie White and Super Bowl winners
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