Who has the best NFL defense in 2024? Our weekly NFL defense rankings examine every unit across the league every week to determine the best defenses in the NFL.
Let’s dive into our latest NFL defense rankings, reviewing the best and worst defenses in football ahead of the 2024 season. As always, we’ll provide updates following major moves or injuries.
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32. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have the worst NFL defense in 2024. Trading away edge rusher Brian Burns wiped away the one highly effective outside pass rusher Carolina had and we don’t have much confidence in Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum can get the job done. If you can get after the passer, every other part of the unit will struggle. For as much as we love Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive tackle Derrick Brown, there just isn’t much else to believe in here.
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31. Atlanta Falcons
When the Atlanta Falcons had the worst pass rush in football, they sat near the bottom of our NFL defense rankings. We see no reason to move away from that process for 2024. Ryan Nielsen is gone and while Atlanta added some intriguing rookies – Ruke Orhorhoro, Bralen Trice and Brandon Dorlus – to pair with Grady Jarrett, that also means a lot of unknowns. Jarrett and A.J. Terrell our nice, but there are some glaring weaknesses on the Falcons defense that we don’t have a ton of confidence in defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake making work.
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30. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos didn’t have many draft picks to work with in 2024 and they used a majority of them on offensive skill players. Maybe Jonah Elliss provides a minor boost for Denver’s pass rush, but that unit looks like it will rank bottom five in pressure rate and sacks next season. Plus, outside of Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos secondary is one of the worst in football. Already an uphill climb to move up in our NFL defense rankings, a below-average offense that can’t sustain drives will only make things worse.
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29. Washington Commanders
Rome wasn’t built in a day. We like some of the additions Dan Quinn made to the Washington Commanders’ defense, with Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn providing the Commanders defense with quality starters. Washington also found some exciting talent – defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and slot corner Mike Sainristill – in the 2024 NFL Draft. While we do expect defensive improvements in comparison to the 2023 season, Washington is still likely going to have one of the worst NFL defenses in 2024.
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28. Los Angeles Chargers
Hiring defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was a brilliant first move by head coach Jim Harbaugh. We also liked the selection of linebacker Junior Colson in the 2024 NFL draft, as it gives the Los Angeles Chargers an off-ball linebacker who knows Minter’s system. However, the Chargers front seven is still not a top 15 unit and its secondary is probably worse than that. Paired with the transition of learning Minter’s system, it will likely be a rough year for the Chargers defense. Fortunately, the future is bright.
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27. Arizona Cardinals
We didn’t love the free-agency signings, but the 2024 NFL Draft gave us a lot more confidence in the Arizona Cardinals defense for 2024. Jonathan Gannon made things work with little to no talent in 2023, but now he has defensive lineman Darius Robinson and cornerbacks Max Melton and Elijah Jones. Plus, fellow rookie Xavier Thomas and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson make this a much deeper defensive depth chart than it used to be. We also give some consideration to the offense when compiling our NFL defense rankings and the Cardinals’ vastly improved supporting cast around Kyler Murray means a lot fewer three-and-outs.
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26. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo simply didn’t have the talent or experience in the secondary to make his system work last year. Fortunately, safety Vonn Bell has returned and Cincinnati add playmaker Geno Stone at free safety. The Bengals’ defense would still greatly benefit from adding another edge rusher and we don’t trust their No. 2 cornerback situation, but this unit shouldn’t be quite as bad as we witnessed throughout the 2023 season. Although, that changes if Trey Hendrickson is traded.
25. New York Giants
The 2024 NFL Draft addressed the New York Giants biggest defensive needs, adding Tyler Nuvin and Andru Phillips to the secondary. Nubin isn’t a great athlete, but he has a nose for the football and Phillips is one of the rookies who can challenge for significant snaps quickly. If the Giants’ secondary is even just below average, a pass rush featuring Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence can make it look much better. There are always some reservations about a new defensive play-caller, but we do see plenty of upside for the Giants defense in 2024.
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24. Seattle Seahawks
It’s going to take a full season for the young Seattle Seahawks defenders to learn Mike Macdonald’s system. That’s what happened in Baltimore and while it will greatly benefit Seattle in the long run, the growing pains will be painful. It also doesn’t help that safety, off-ball linebacker and edge rusher are all weaknesses on the Seahawks’ depth chart right now.
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Byron Murphy II is simply perfect for the Seattle Seahawks. You saw how important Justin Madubuike was to Macdonald’s scheme last season and it was evident in Seattle last year that they couldn’t create interior pressure. Murphy changes all that. He is outstanding and collapsing, winning with explosiveness off the snap and the power to fight through blockers. If he lives up to the NFL comparisons (Ed Oliver/Grady Jarrett), which we believe he can, the Seahawks are adding a Pro Bowl talent to the defensive interior.
23. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts basically ignored what everyone believed was a need at cornerback until Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Combine that with striking out on the L’Jarius Sneed trade and it’s clear general manager Chris Ballard has a ton of confidence in improvements from a young secondary. We’re not nearly as confident, but Indianapolis did bolster its pass rush with Laiatu Latu. A front four that can consistently get into the backfield makes a secondary look better, so we’ll give the Colts some benefit of the doubt in that regard. However, we still have big questions about the back end heading into the summer.
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22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense certainly benefitted from facing three NFC South offenses six total times in 2023. However, a seven-game stretch in the second half of the season saw the Buccaneers surrender a 93.4 QB rating and a 10-5 TD-INT ratio. The important thing this offseason was retaining Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. but cornerback and edge rusher are glaring issues that prevent this as of now from being a top-20 defense. We’re not convinced Chris Braswell changes much and that gives us no reason to expect Tampa Bay to consistently maintain a quality defense this fall.
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21. Philadelphia Eagles
We’ll hold off on giving the Philadelphia Eagles too big of a jump in our NFL defense rankings following their strong draft haul, but they did move from 27th to 21st. Quinyon Mitchell has the potential to become a No. 1 corner, especially under the tutelage of Darius Slay and the Eagles’ coaching staff. Cooper DeJean, wherever you see him playing, is a perfect fit for Vic Fangio. Plus, Philadelphia even bolstered its defensive front with edge rusher Jakyx Hunt and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. There’s a chance the Eagles can field one of the 10 best NFL defenses in 2024, but that spot needs to be earned on the field this fall.
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20. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins will have to work their way back up the defensive order during the 2024 season. Bradley Chubb is returning from an ACL tear in December while Jaelan Phillips faces a long recovery from a torn Achilles. To make matters worse, Christian Wilkins is gone. We will credit Miami for the sneaky-good additions they made at bargain prices (Kendall Fuller, Jordan Poyer, Shaq Barrett and Anthony Walker Jr.) but the big absences loom large heading into the 2024 season.
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Chop Robinson has upside, we don’t deny that. In terms of athleticism, one of the closest comparables is Micah Parsons. However, Robinson was largely unproductive at Penn State and he is far less polished as a pass rusher. We also have to consider that a majority of the archetypes similar to Robinson – lightning-quick edge rushers who are extremely raw – don’t often pan out. Maybe Robinson is the exception, but this is a gamble and his 2024 impact will likely be limited.
19. Tennessee Titans
It’s certainly surprising to see the Tennessee Titans be this aggressive in improving their defense in a single offseason, considering they were previously viewed as more of a retooling team. However, new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson now has a top No. 1 cornerback in L’Jarius Sneed to pair with a very solid starter opposite him in Chidobe Awuzie, with Roger McCreary holding down the slot. Suddenly, a Titans’ secondary that has been a weakness in the last three years becomes a strength. If the Titans’ pass rush led by Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key and Harold Landry III can up their game in 2024, Tennessee could finish with a top-15 defense in football.
18. Los Angeles Rams
The retirement of Aaron Donald dropped the Los Angeles Rams considerably in our NFL defense rankings. If one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history stuck around, Los Angeles would have a top-12 defense in 2024. Instead, we see a secondary that we love and some exciting, young talent (Kobie Turner and Byron Young). There just isn’t a game-wrecker and Donald’s departure is going to be felt for a long time. .
Los Angeles needed a bully in the front seven following Donald’s retirement, Jared Verse is that guy. He’s the best power rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft and some NFL teams viewed him as a potential top-12 pick. Verse will be a nice complement opposite of Byron Young, with Kobie Turner on the inside. It certainly doesn’t make up for the loss of Donald, but it’s a step forward for the pass rush.
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17. Minnesota Vikings
While the Minnesota Vikings lost Danielle Hunter this offseason, they did more than enough to make up for his departure. Jonathan Greenard was arguably better than Hunter on a per-snap basis in 2023 and Minnesota added first-round pick Dallas Turner to round out its edge-rushing group. Plus, the Vikings defense improved at off-ball linebacker with the addition of Blake Cashman. We still have major concerns with the Vikings’ secondary, specifically at cornerback, but this front seven is excellent and defensive coordinator Brian Flores is an architect who could make this a top-12 defense at its peak.
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16. New Orleans Saints
We have more reservations about the New Orleans Saints defense than others. For one thing, New Orleans is banking on Chase Young staying healthy and DeMario Davis (35 years old), Tyrann Mathie (32 years old) and Cameron Jordan (35 years old) to keep fighting off age regression. There’s some intriguing depth and youth on the Saints’ defensive line, but we’re also cognizant of a unit that allowed 112.3 rushing ypg and 4.3 ypc in its final six contests last season. Plus, New Orleans has taken advantage of a weak division for years. Both the Falcons and Panthers’ offenses should be much better, which could drop the Saints’ defensive stats.
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15. Buffalo Bills
Early in the offseason, we dropped the Buffalo Bills in our NFL defense rankings because of the losses they suffered. Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White, Shaq Lawson and Micah Hye are all off the roster. However, Buffalo is also getting back standout linebacker Matt Milano along with defensive lineman DaQuan Jones.
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Even putting that aside, there are numbers we can’t ignore. In the final 8 regular-season games last season, Buffalo held opponents to a 73.7 QB rating with an 8-10 TD-INT line and recorded 25 sacks while allowing just 170.8 passing yards per game. Sean McDermott helped unlock both Taron Johnson and Christian Benford, which when paired with Rasul Douglas, gives Buffalo three corners it can trust. This spot might be the floor for the Bills’ defense in 2024.
14. Las Vegas Raiders
How good the Las Vegas Raiders defense will be in 2024 might come down to cornerback Jack Jones. After being scooped up off waivers from the New England Patriots, Jones held opponents to a 63.0 QB rating with a 56.3 percent completion rate when he wore a Raiders uniform. If he replicates that, Las Vegas has a No. 1 cornerback and that will go a long way.
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Just one difference-maker in coverage who can line up against top receivers will make life even easier for the quarter of Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, Malcolm Koonce and Tyree Wilson. We’ll also put out the reminder that this same Raiders defense held opponents to an 84.0 QB rating with 39 sacks and a 13-12 TD-INT line in its final 13 games last year.
13. Green Bay Packers
This isn’t just a bet on the talent on the Green Bay Packers roster. There’s certainly risk with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, we have no way of knowing how his stuff from college will translate to the NFL in his first year on the job. Fortunately, he has an All-Pro talent at cornerback (Jaire Alexander), impact players at edge rusher (Rashan Garry, Kenny Clark and Preston Smith) along with a high-upside off-ball linebacker in Quay Walker. Most importantly, Green Bay now has the do-it-all safety in Xavier McKinney that this Packers defense has lacked since Nick Collins. McKinney is the skeleton key to Hafley’s defense and he rounds out a talented roster that could culminate in one of the 10 best NFL defenses in 2024.
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12. Jacksonville Jaguars
Our confidence in the Jacksonville Jaguars defense stems from what the team did this offseason. In Atlanta, defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen transformed one of the worst NFL defenses in his first year on the job. He’ll have a lot more talent in the cupboard with the Jaguars. Jacksonville strengthened its defensive line with Arik Armstead, who is going to make life easier for Josh Allen. Plus, Nielsen’s work with defensive linemen bodes well for Travon Walker at least being a steady contributor. This might be a bit more of a bend but don’t break defense, but the Jaguars shouldn’t be handicapped by their defense whatsoever in 2024.
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11. Detroit Lions
Our issues with the Detroit Lions defense last season came at cornerback and on the defensive line. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil are forces to be reckoned with, but that two-man tandem can only do so much. DJ Reader will be a consistent presence alongside McNeil on the interior and Marcus Davenport at least provides some juice. Far more importantly, Detroit reworked its cornerback room with the additions of Terrion Arnold, Carlton Davis and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. The Lions’ secondary was its weakness in 2023, we’re betting it will be a strength this fall.
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Top 10 NFL defenses in 2024
10. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears kept All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson from leaving, even on a deal that might prove a bit team-friendly a few years from now. Matt Eberflus is also going to keep calling defensive plays, which matters because Chicago held its opponents to a 24-20 TD-INT line, 78.8 rush ypg and allowed just 5.8 net yards per attempt after September. A defense that has a No. 1 corner (Johnson), a high-end pass rusher (Montez Sweat), a strong linebacker corps and just added veteran safety Kevin Byard can consistently be one of the NFL’s top-12 defenses throughout the 2024 season.
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9. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots’ defense flew under the radar this past season. Masked by a lifeless offense, an injury-depleted Patriots defense held its last eight opponents to 181.1 passing yards per game, 84.6 rushing yards per game and allowed just a 32.4 percent third-down success rate. While Bill Belichick is gone, New England is getting corner Christian Gonzalez and edge rusher Matthew Judon back for the 2024 season. Plus, there’s improved depth in the secondary. Led by head coach Jerod Mayo, the Patriots should maintain one of the best defenses in the NFL next fall.
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8. Pittsburgh Steelers
When Alex Highsmith, T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward are on the field together, the Pittsburgh Steelers pass rush is a daunting challenge for any opponent. To make matters worse for offensive linemen, rookie Keeanue Benton blossomed as an interior pass rusher in 2023. Now, Pittsburgh has upgraded at linebacker with Patrick Queen and even if he doesn’t play at an All-Pro level, he’s a monumental upgrade over what came before him. Pair all of that with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and breakout corner Joey Porter Jr., you have a Steelers defense that should keep playing at a near-elite level. While it’s unlikely to happen, Pittsburgh adding a top cornerback like Terrion Arnold would take this Steelers defense to another stratosphere.
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7. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have been near the top of our NFL defense rankings, but the regression is undeniable. No matter who this team adds at off-ball linebacker, there’s no replacing Dre Greenlaw (Achilles). We’re confident that Leonard Floyd can be more consistent for San Francisco than Chase Young, but cornerback remains a glaring need. One thing that will certainly help, getting safety Tualanoa Hufanga back. While we’re not as confident in the 49ers maintaining a top 5 unit, they’ll have one of the 10 best NFL defenses in 2024.
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6. Houston Texans
We’re buying all the stock in the 2024 version of the Houston Texans defense. In their first year in DeMeco Ryans’ system, Houston held opponents to just 90.1 rushing yards per game with a 3.3 yards per carry average and a 30.8 percent third-down success rate after Week 5. Now, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. enters his second season, he’ll now be supported on the opposite side by Danielle Hunter with Denico Autry inside. Houston also addressed its glaring hole at linebacker with Azeez Al-Shaair, who knows Ryans’ system and thrives as a run defender. Plus, the secondary added more depth with Jeff Okudah. The Texans can have one of the best defenses in the NFL next season.
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Top 5 NFL defenses
5. Kansas City Chiefs
After trading away L’Jarius Sneed, the Kansas City Chiefs drop from the No. 2 spot in our NFL defense rankings. While we have confidence that general manager Brett Veach can find replacements at cornerback, losing the dynamic duo of Sneed and Trent McDuffie is a blow for this secondary. Kansas City also lost linebacker Willie Gay Jr. this offseason. The Chiefs should still have a top five NFL defense in 2024, but losing depth and multiple starters will likely result in more inconsistency from a once-dominant unit.
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4. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens had the best defense in the NFL in 2023. Unfortunately, greatness comes at a cost. Baltimore lost play-calling savant Mike Macdonald, while defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver also left the team. On top of that, linebacker Patrick Queen, safety Geno Stone and cornerback Ronald Darby left in NFL free agency. All of those losses take a toll, especially in the first year. With that said, a unit boasting Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Marlon Humphrey, Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce and Odafe Oweh should still result in one of the NFL’s best defenses next season.
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3. Dallas Cowboys
Stephon Gilmore and Dan Quinn are gone, but the Dallas Cowboys will welcome back top cornerback Trevon Diggs at the start of the 2024 season. Hiring defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer also helped Dallas upgrade at off-ball linebacker, poaching Eric Kendricks in NFL free agency. We do not doubt the Cowboys’ ability to get after the passer and the Diggs-DaRon Bland combo will make plays. However, this run defense has fallen short countless times and while a new system might change that, it could also mean growing pains as players get acclimated early in the 2024 season. Plus, defensive tackle is still a weakness.
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We were admittedly lower on Nate Wiggins because the 6-foot-1 cornerback weighed in at only 173 pounds and defensive backs that thin can be a liability at the next level. Wiggins will be a weakness against the run, with opponents designing running plays to come his way. In coverage, Baltimore has something. Wiggins has the long speed to turn and run with the best athletes downfield, plus he has a nose for the football with excellent instincts. He needed to land in the right environment and he can thrive as a cover corner with the Ravens’ defense.
2. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns brought the band back together. Cleveland had the best NFL defense in 2023 for a few months, holding opponents to a 55.6 percent completion rate and 73.2 QB rating with 34 sacks and a 10-9 TD-INT rate in the first 12 weeks. Then, Myles Garrett suffered a shoulder injury and a banged-up Browns’ defense allowed a 13-9 TD-INT rate with just 15 sacks in its final 16 games. A healthy version of this unit can deliver one of the best NFL defenses in 2024, especially with more familiarity with Jim Schwartz’s scheme.
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1. New York Jets
The New York Jets should have the best NFL defense in 2024. Losing Bryce Huff is a blow for this pass rush, but Jermaine Johnson showed great improvement last season and the cornerback tandem of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed means generating pressures is easier for the defensive front. A defense that allowed the second-fewest yards per play (4.6) last season should be even better next fall with a healthy Aaron Rodgers keeping the Jets’ offense on the field far more frequently. As if all of that talent wasn’t enough, New York replaced Josh Sweat with Hasson Reddick and he is going to eat on this Jets defense with all the talent around him.
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NFL defense stats 2023
NFL defense rankings FAQ
What is the best defense in the NFL?
The New York Jets have the best defense in the NFL right now.
What NFL defense is best for fantasy?
NFL defenses that generate a lot of takeaways and sacks, including the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are great defenses for fantasy.
What is the NFL defense rankings?
Sportsnaut’s NFL defense rankings evaluate and rank all 32 NFL defenses each week, reviewing their performances and projecting how they’ll perform in their upcoming game based on matchups and NFL defense stats.
What NFL defense is best for fantasy?
NFL defenses that generate a lot of takeaways and sacks, including the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns are great defenses for fantasy.
What team has the most sacks 2023?
The Baltimore Ravens lead the NFL with 57 sacks. The Dolphins, Ravens, Chiefs and Bills are the only NFL teams with 50-plus sacks this season.
NFL team sack leaders
NFL teams with fewest sacks
- Baltimore Ravens –57 sacks
- Kansas City Chiefs – 54 sacks
- Miami Dolphins – 53 sacks
- Buffalo Bills – 53 sacks
- Indianapolis Colts – 49 sacks
- Arizona Cardinals – 33 sacks
- New Orleans Saints – 33
- Chicago Bears – 29
- New York Giants – 29
- Carolina Panthers – 24
Who is the number 1 defense in NFL?
The Cleveland Browns have the No. 1 defense in the NFL through the first 17 weeks of the 2023 season.
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Who has the best defense in NFL history?
The 1985 Chicago Bears had the best NFL defense ever. Led by three Hall of Famers – Mike Singletary, Richard Dent and Dan Hampton – Chicago allowed just 101 total points on its way to winning Super Bowl XX, including an NFL record two shutouts in the playoffs. In addition, the 1985 Bears’ defense held opponents to a 50.2 passer rating with a 46.5 percent completion rate and 17-37 TD-INT ratio in 19 total games and opponents averaged just 76 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry across 19 contests in the regular season and playoffs.
Who has the weakest pass defense in the NFL?
The Washington Commanders have the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing a league-high 104.1 QB rating, 259.3 passing yards per game and 35 passing touchdowns in 16 games.
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What is the best NFL pass defense?
The Cleveland Browns have the best pass defense in the NFL, holding opponents to a 72.7 QB rating with a league-low 56.4 percent completion rate and a 20-17 TD-INT ratio in 16 games.
What’s the top 5 defenses in the NFL?
The top 5 NFL defenses are the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.
Who gives up the most passing yards in the NFL?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allow the most passing yards in the NFL, allowing 260.3 passing yards per game.
What teams have the best defense in the NFL?
The Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys have the best defenses in the NFL based on our 2023 NFL defense rankings.
Who has the best run defense in the NFL?
The Chicago bears have the best run defense in the NFL, allowing a league-low 84 rushing yards per game.
Who has the worst defense in the NFL 2023?
The Washington Commanders have the worst NFL defense right now.
What defense allows most rushing yards?
The Arizona Cardinals allow the most rushing yards per game, allowing 147 rushing yards per contest to opponents this season.
What team has the most sacks in a season?
The Chicago Bears set the NFL record for most sacks in a season with 72 sacks in 16 games in 1984. Most recently, the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles became just the fourth team in NFL history to record 70 sacks in a single season.
NFL sack leaders 2022
- Joey Bosa, San Francisco 49ers – 18.5 sacks
- Haason Reddick, Philadelphia Eagles – 16 sacks
- Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns – 16 sacks
- Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs – 15.5 sacks
- Matthew Judon, New England Patriots – 15.5 sacks
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NFL sack leaders by year
- 2022: Joey Bosa, San Francisco 49ers – 18.5 sacks
- 2021: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers – 22.5 sacks
- 2020: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers – 15 sacks
- 2019: Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 19.5 sacks
- 2018: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams – 20.5 sacks
