important and becomes extremely important to the success of your team.

In general, it takes more effort to play defense than to play offense. If you disagree with that, then we won't see eye-to-eye at all. Stop reading.

Second, I have seen plenty of "fast-break" offenses that put their defense on the field way too long and too often. Even when that team had a meaningful lead going into the 4th quarter, their defense would just be too worn out and the team lost.

It happens at all meaningful levels of football. TOP is important. Having an efficient offense that can sustain drives, control field position, and keep it's own defense off the field is absolutely a key to winning games.

Yes, ultimately it really boils down to "just score more points than your opponent" -- but believe me, TOP usually -- not always, but usually -- greatly increases your chances to win when you have two opponents that are relatively evenly matched. (Overmatched opponents don't count.)