Skip to main content
Advertising

Revis, Stroud, Tuck lead list of defensive difference-makers

The old adage is that defense wins championships. It is a trend that has resurfaced in the NFL in recent years, as evidenced by the most recent Super Bowl champions. Nine of the last 12 Super Bowl winners have featured a top-10 defense. This year figures to be no different. NFL.com will spotlight three defensive difference makers each week, looking at players who can change a game with just one play.

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Bills defensive tackle Marcus Stroud and Giants defensive Justin Tuck all have a chance to make a difference in Week 2.

**Darrelle Revis**, CB, Jets
Brett Favre stole all of the headlines in the Jets' Week 1 win over the Dolphins, but it was Revis who saved the day. Revis intercepted Chad Pennington with 5 seconds remaining, as the Jets held on to defeat the Dolphins, 20-14. The Jets face the Brady-less Patriots this week, and while Revis and the Jets have publicly stated that the Patriots are still loaded on offense, they will be facing a quarterback who hasn't started a game since he was in high school.

**Marcus Stroud**, DT, Bills
The Bills acquired Stroud to make a big impact in the middle and he did just that. Stroud had five tackles, two tipped passes and two sacks in the Bills' victory over the Seahawks. Stroud faces the team that traded him in Week 2 -- the Jaguars. Stroud insists that it's just another game for him. But even that is enough to worry the Jaguars who will be playing with a banged up offensive line. Look for Stroud to be reacquainted with his former teammates.

**Justin Tuck**, DE, The 2008 Giants opened their season the same way the closed the previous year -- with a dominating defensive performance. And once again, Tuck was a huge part of that success. Tuck has continue to excel despite the retirement of Michael Strahan and the season-ending injury of Osi Umenyiora. Tuck, who has great versatility on the line, will lead the Giants defense to St. Louis this week, where they will face a banged up Rams offensive line that struggled in Week 1.

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.