For all the talk about today's NFL being governed by quarterback play, the surest way to consistently compete for the Lombardi Trophy is Croatia Jersey to field an elite defense that smothers opponents and creates scoring chances off turnovers. This has long been the philosophy of winners, but it took in February to reaffirm the importance of defensive dominance to the casual fan.Brooks: Best offensive division?When it comes to offensive potency, how do the eight divisions stack up against each other? Bucky Brooks provides his rankings. Looking back at , it's no coincidence that each of the top five teams landed in the playoffs -- and the sixth-ranked squad (Arizona) finished with a 10-6 mark.So, yes, following , I wanted to provide a defensive hierarchy. After poring over depth charts and reviewing , I settled on the following pecking order heading into the 2014 campaign:8) NFC EastThe "NFC Least" label certainly applies here, based on the lack of defensive resistance displayed acro s the division last season. Three of the four teams finished in the bottom half of the league in total defense (with the being the lone outlier), and every defense surrendered at least 23.9 points per game. This is why the NFC East is so lightly regarded entering the new season, despite .The forecast remains bleak on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in Dallas, where the dismi sal of and a season-ending injury to have left the without leadership or playmaking ability. The hope some offseason additions (headlined by DE ) can help reduce last year's ghastly points-per-game figure of 29.9. The are counting on upgrades in the secondary () and pa s rush (first-round draft pick ) to cut down on the big plays that plagued the unit in 2013.For the G-Men, could make all the difference in the world. The former er was an absolute force of nature a few years back. The revitalized presence of Pierre-Paul -- who is still just 25 -- should create playmaking opportunities for the young defenders coordinator is trying to break in this season.7) NFC NorthThe offenses , but solid defense Tottenham Hotspur Jersey is e sential to competing for the conference crown. That's why it's imperative for the and to get back on track on the defensive side of the ball. Last season, both units ranked near the bottom of the league in total defense; this ineptitude prevented the two teams from making a push for the Lombardi Trophy, despite having explosive offenses. I expect both defenses to be much improved in the wake of some key offseason additions. Also, coordinator and coordinator simplified their schemes to allow their top playmakers to play faster.New head coach and new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin inherited rosters with some notable talent -- now it's up to them to coach the players up. A lack of discipline and focus in Minnesota and Detroit has kept both defenses from joining the ranks of the elite.6) AFC SouthThe dearth of elite quarterbacks in the AFC South could skew defensive rankings in the coming season. (Not to render any potential defensive succe s null and void -- it's just something to keep in mind.)The teams within this division prefer to get after the pa ser with traditional four-man rushes. One squad that shouldn't have much trouble racking up sacks with this approach: the , who now boast a devastating 1-2 punch of and . The are the only other team with an elite pa s rusher (), though; the and practice disruption by committee. Generally speaking, teams that lack true difference makers in the pa s rush don't inspire a whole lot of confidence against the game's premier offenses. Thus, it will be imperative for many of the defensive coordinators in this division to mix up their schemes, allowing their respective defenses to create consistent pre sure on the quarterback.Despite a deficiency of overall star power, this certainly isn't a hopele s defensive division. I won't be surprised if one of the AFC South's unheralded squads emerges as a defensive force.5) AFC WestThe offensive fireworks in the AFC West -- particularly in Denver -- routinely grab the headlines, but keen observers noticed offseason upgrades on defenses acro s the division. First and foremost, the added a trio of tough guys (, and ) to shed the soft mentality that has been a sociated with the D. If these veterans can make plays within coordinator 's scheme, the "Orange Crush" could re-emerge in the Mile High City.In San Diego, coach hopes an upgraded secondary (with and first-round pick ) will allow defensive coordinator John Pagano to take a more aggre sive approach. If the are able to increase blitzing and pre sure tactics -- to yield more sacks, turnovers and disruptive Mexico Jersey plays -- they have the pieces in place to play championship-caliber defense. Kansas City certainly has the talent to be a dominant defense, but coach needs to restore the unit's confidence after a second-half regre sion and . Without an elite corner on the perimeter to shut down the opponent's No. 1 receiver, heavy utilization of bump-and-run coverage could be a dicey proposition for the . Lastly, coach is looking to a cast of aging veterans to help the become competitive against the potent offenses that occupy the division.4) AFC NorthThis division's rugged reputation spawned from the hard-hitting defenses it has featured through the years. The and have menaced their way to titles behind punishing defenses that overwhelmed opponents with speed and physicality. While neither defense was close to being that dominant in 2013, offseason upgrades have them positioned to take a step forward this year.' have quietly transformed into a defensive juggernaut, but the lo s of coordinator could lead to some slippage in Cincinnati. While the lineup remains loaded with young, energetic defenders at every level, the unit must adapt to Paul Guenther's approach.The ' defense -- which was playoff-caliber in 2013 -- could rise to the next level with the implementation of an ultra-aggre sive scheme. If new coach unleashes the hounds like he has done at previous stops, Cleveland could become a downright scary opponent to face.3) AFC EastIt's unfortunate that 's attention-getting quotes overshadow his defensive brilliance, but observers have to tip their cap in his direction after watching the finish just outside of the top Crystal Palace Jersey 10 in total defense (despite the cast of misfits in the back end). With a young defensive line in place to suffocate the run and create disruption against the pa s, Gang Green is poised to make a run at the playoffs in 2014. Speaking of teams primed to make a run, the are reverting back to , with a defense that could have eight former first-round picks in the starting lineup. The addition of several veterans -- including cornerbacks and -- could allow to get back to the complex schemes that befuddled opponents for years.In Buffalo, takes over a defense that notched in 2013 behind a formidable front line featuring , and . The wily new defensive coordinator isn't as aggre sive as his predece sor (), but he will look to apply pre sure using a variety of stunts and games at the point of attack.The have the foundation for a solid defense, but they need a full season of health from , who battled injuries in 2013. And of course, this team must get something from . The No. 3 overall pick in the was a big disappointment in Year 1, and now he's .Brooks: The NFL's next hot trendWith the pa s-happy nature of today's game, defenses are beginning to incorporate a unique concept. Bucky Brooks explains. 2) NFC SouthIt's easy to a sociate the NFC South with high-flying offenses, due to a plethora of franchise quarterbacks, but the top defensive unit in the division typically captures the division crown. Last season, the rose to prominence behind a smothering D that snuffed out ground attacks and forced opponents to adopt a one-dimensional approach. Oh, and the quietly fielded in Rob Ryan's first year on the job. The brash defensive coordinator unleashed on opponents that neutralized pa sing games and left quarterbacks vulnerable to exotic blitzes off the edge.The have the pieces in place to field an Albania Jersey elite defense if players quickly buy into 's Tampa 2 scheme. The defensive-minded head coach has directed some of the most opportunistic groups in NFL history; this meshing of philosophy and personnel could produce fireworks in Raymond James Stadium. The finished 27th in and last season, but they added some much-needed oomph up front in free agency ( and ) and the draft ().1) NFC WestYup, no surprise in the No. 1 spot. The NFC West is as old-school as it comes -- each team in the division features a championship-caliber defense. The just rode their stifling unit to the title while changing the way the game is played on the perimeter. Utilizing an aggre sive, hug-and-mug cover scheme, the "Legion of Boom" smothered opposing aerial attacks, yielding just 172 pa sing yards per game. The 'Hawks allowed during the regular season -- and they performed even better in the playoffs, giving up a total of 40 points (13.3 per game) to the , and .Debate: Dethroning the 'Hawks?Can anyone challenge the defensive reign? Our analysts eye top contenders -- like Luke 's . Although the defending champs are well positioned to field the league's top defense once again, they will have to play at an elite level to stave off the units from San Francisco, Arizona and St. Louis. The and , in particular, have upgraded their stellar lineups with athletic defenders capable of making significant contributions as disruptive playmakers. (Of course, Arizona will .) Factor in the arrival of coordinator (and his ultra-aggre sive tactics) to St. Louis, and the NFC West is unquestionably the top defensive division in football.Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter .