Wade Phillips died with his boots on 48 years ago.

But he was alive and kicking, and dancing, with his sneakers on a fortnight ago.

Phillips coached the Broncos’ defense to one of the most imposing performances in 50 Super Bowls. And, “we got to see Lady Gaga,” he shouted afterward.

At the time of the second Super Bowl in 1968, Wade was a linebacker at the University of Houston and an actor in the classic Western “Bandolero”. He rode with the sheriff’s posse trying to catch outlaw brothers Jimmy Stewart and Dean Martin, who had kidnapped Raquel Welch. But when the posse was ambushed by bandits, the sheriff wonders about two of his men. “Clyde Anderson ain’t with us. Wade Phillips is missing, too.”

Wade had been, uh, picked off.

His movie career was over. His coaching career was about to begin.

And now, in his 14th stop in six decades, Wade finally got his man, and his championship. This time the old cowboy was responsible for the ambush, and Carolina quarterback Cam Newton never saw it coming.

Was Wade’s defense the greatest ever in the NFL?

“I think we’ve got to be up there somewhere . . . this is a special, all-time defense,” he said after the game.

Gil Brandt, the Dallas Cowboys’ shrewd vice president of player personnel for 29 years, and others nationally agreed with Wade’s assessment.

After the Broncos’ demolition of Carolina, Brandt selected the Broncos’ defense third in the past 30 years behind only the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, and ahead of the 1986 New York Giants and the 2013 Seattle Seahawks. (The Seahawks, the Giants and the Ravens defeated Denver in those postseasons.) “Accomplishing such dominance in today’s offensive-driven environment is even more impressive than what some of the big-name defenses of the past did,” Brandt wrote.

Pete Prisco, distinguished NFL authority for CBSsports.com, ranked the ’85 Bears “as the most fearsome defense this league has ever seen,” but believes this group of Broncos compares favorably to the Seahawks, the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers of 2008 in the past three decades. “What might tip the scales to this Denver defense are the teams it beat in the postseason to win it all. The Broncos beat the Steelers, the Patriots and the Panthers. They were the first-, third-and fourth-best scoring teams in the league. That’s Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Newton in successive games.”

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Writing for ESPN.com., Jeff Legwold, formerly of The Denver Post, stated that the Broncos “carved out a slice of NFL history . . .They led the league in total defense, yards allowed per play, pass defense and sacks, and were third against the run and fourth in scoring defense. Toss in the Super Bowl win, and the Broncos are in elite company.”

USAToday.com‘s Steve Ruiz statistical comparison placed the Broncos 10th overall, but he added: “So maybe the 2015 Broncos defense’s raw stats don’t scream ‘one of the best defenses ever,’ but a deeper dive into the numbers shows this is a unit that should be celebrated as one of the best to ever win a Super Bowl.”

My opinion on deadline shortly after Super Bowl 50? I put the Broncos’ playoff defense as No. 1 all-time. Upon further review, I maintain the same (and surely subjective) judgment, based on the opposition. The ’85 Bears are the consensus No. 1 and permitted a meager 10 points in three postseason games, all to New England in the Super Bowl. but they beat quarterbacks Phil Simms, Dieter Brock (who?) and Steve Grogan in the playoffs. The 2000 Ravens beat Gus Frerotte (Brian Griese’s backup), Steve McNair, Rich Gannon and Kerry Collins. The Seahawks defeated Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, but the third quarterback was Colin Kaepernick.

The Broncos in this year’s playoffs allowed two certain future Hall of Fame quarterbacks and the league’s MVP one passing touchdown, four overall combined touchdowns and six field goals — in a pass-delirious league.

Rule changes in 1978, 1994 and 2014 dramatically affected the defense’s ability to defend the pass, and the NFL’s concentration on player safety has aided offenses.

Yet, the Broncos forced four turnovers and made seven sacks against the Panthers, and hit Brady 24 times.

Having covered the NFL for 42 seasons, I would list the Broncos’ defense second best for the complete season, behind the Bears and just in front of the Seahawks and the Ravens.

And I’d give heralded Wade Phillips a ring, a starring role and a lifetime achievement award.

Woody Paige: woody@woodypaige.com or @woodypaige