1 in our NFL defense rankings, the Los Angeles Rams have rolled into a freefall. 1 of 11. 2022 NFL Team Defense Statistics The following are the 2022 NFL team overall defense statistics, including team rushing yardage, team passing yardage and total team yardage. However, a tight salary cap means losing at least two impact defenders and that will have significant ramifications on the Bills defense. It largely paid off, resulting in an NFC title with a single-season record for sacks and plenty of outstanding performances. Ranking the top 20 NFL defenses ahead of Week 17 of the 2021 season. We should be poised for a giant bounce back. -- Ben Baby, Defensive efficiency: 60.8 The defense has been much improved from a season ago, but this is the next step toward being the type of unit that defensive coordinator Dean Pees wants to have in Atlanta. New Orleans Saints (vs. Vikings) 15. Team Att Cmp Cmp % Yds/Att Yds TD INT 1st 1st% Sck; Buccaneers . The biggest issue on defense is injuries. League rank: 6th, Everything you need this week: Under the tag, Payne is projected to make roughly $18.9 million fully guaranteed for the 2023 season. Not only are the Packers allowing nearly 5 yards per rush, but they're having troubling bringing runners down. Where the Vikings have been successful is with their pass rush. Please check your email for a confirmation. Watt is the cog in the defense that makes everything go, and without a formidable pass rush, the rest of the defense isn't succeeding in picking up the slack. New York Giants defensive coordinator Don Wink Martindale didnt need to rely upon his habit of blitzing this season because of Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams and Kayvon Thibodeaux. SUBSCRIBE: $1 for 3 months. Patrick Surtain II is the best cornerback in the NFL and the ability to blanket No. Related: 5 NFL QB trades wed love to see this offseason. They also allow the most pass attempts and completions. New England Patriots @ MIA 5. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. San Francisco ranks near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category, but the offense has been near the bottom of the league in a number of areas, most notably points scored. | 13th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for in-season accuracy, including 2nd at quarterback and 3rd at tight end (2021). This was an issue last year, and it continues to be one this season. The Vikings ranked fifth in the NFL in overall offensive grade with a grade of 81.6. After allowing the seventh-most points per game (24.6), Las Vegas must upgrade a secondary that allowed the highest passer rating (98.8) and the third-highest completion rate (67.6%). In the NFC Championship Game, DeMeco Ryans unit handled the Eagles offense until late in the second quarter, when undisciplined play by players extended the drive. The biggest issue on defense is the pass rush. I can make the case for another team or two, but the Lions dont have a lot to build off of aside from Aidan Hutchinson. Even if Aaron Donald returns to his elite form and linebacker Bobby Wagner plays at an All-Pro level again, there are too many voids at cornerback, edge rusher and safety for Los Angeles to maintain a top-15 defense next season. He is also a lifelong NFL savant and self-proclaimed league historian. League rank: 25th. Across 17 games, Chicago allowed opponents to average a 94.4 QB rating, 4.9 yards per carry and they allowed the most points per game (27.2) in the NFL. From 2015 to 2019, the Vikings were consistently towards the . They have found a way to score 23+ points in each of their wins this season. -- Mike Reiss, Defensive efficiency: 51.9 Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, . Transactions | Injuries However, this defense still has its issues. They have the personnel to do so. That 1988 D was fucking awesome and def on the level of 2017. Consistently a top-12 pass and run defense, the Ravens have room for improvement if they find younger plays to fill the voids left by Peters and Co. They had a pile of big gains against the nickel, including a 43-yard run by Josh Jacobs in the third quarter. Tagovailoa already has been ruled out for Week 5. However, they also lost some talent in free agency, and it has shown throughout the year. There are only three teams allowing more rushing yards after contact than the Packers. But what has also stood out is how many injuries the Bills have accumulated, especially in the secondary. It might work against the quarterbacks they faced, but life is about to get much more difficult with Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence and Geno Smith on deck. The only three teams ahead of the Vikings are the 49ers, Dolphins and Chiefs. Each one hit the 10-sack benchmark (a top 20 . Vikings opponents are catching 75% of their targeted passes, the second-highest rate in the NFL. Through four games this season, Detroit has allowed 141 points (35.3 points per game), which is the second most in franchise history -- trailing only the 0-16 squad from 2008. The Game Day may earn revenue from site visitor referrals to betting services. Heading into the offseason, especially with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero likely gone, wed love to see Denver upgrade its pass rush. A top-11 unit in points per game, the Titans defense is one of the stingiest defenses against the run, allowing the fewest rushing scores in the NFL, as well as the third-fewest rushing yards. League rank: 14th. DVOA is a percentage, so a team with a DVOA of 10.0% is 10 percent better than the average team, and a quarterback with a DVOA of -20.0% is 20 percent worse than the average quarterback. The biggest issue on defense is defending the run. See trending Only the New York Jets, 49ers and Eagles finished ahead of them. Ranking 15th in points per game allowed, the Indy defense is still a middle-of-the-pack unit, but they have been slashed and gashed by superior offenses. Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. When the Minnesota Vikings pass rush couldnt create pressure, it was finished. Season-Long Dynasty Dynasty Rookies They were just ahead of the Buffalo Bills who had a grade of 65.0. A team loaded with defensive talent, it has not lived up to form. After ranking every team's offense by tiers, it's now time to turn attention toward the defensive side of the ball.. Rather than list teams from top to bottom and split hairs between similarly elite or poor groups, we have arranged the NFL's 32 teams . The Miami Dolphins defense started putting it together midway through the 2022 season, allowing just 222.4 pass ypg with 23 sacks (2.9 per game). Outside of rookie Roger McCreary, all of the Titans' primary cornerbacks have been beat for explosive plays. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. DT Folorunso Fatukasi had been a key part of the success, but he went down with a quad injury against the Eagles and his status going forward is unclear. However, when it comes to stopping the run, the Packers fail to show up. League rank: 13th. But they do need much more than what they've gotten thus far. The Minnesota Vikings ended their disappointing 2021 campaign with an 8-9 record, missing the postseason altogether and firing their general manager and head coach. Defense has carried the Saints since the retirement of Drew Brees. Once Brock Purdy went out and San Francisco trailed by two scores with a fourth-string quarterback, that was a wrap for this defense. NFL Week 4 takeaways: 49ers roll, Raiders get a win, and everything we learned from wins by the Cowboys, Bills, Chiefs and Eagles. -- Kevin Seifert, Defensive efficiency: 76.1 Yea they are looking at the stats like its a good bad light switch, when it's really a slow decline as more and more players were injured. So, let's get to it. The Minnesota Vikings finished with a grade of 92.5 and that ranks them fourth in the National Football League behind only the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Las Vegas Raiders defense fell well short of expectations under play-caller Patrick Graham. Using DVOA once more, the Vikings rank 11th in "mid-zone" defense (plays between the opponents' 40-yard line and their 40-yard line) and 15th in "front zone" defense, (plays between . 1 receivers helps everyone else on this unit. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a staple of our NFL defense rankings for years. 5. Jones has occupied double-teams and affected the passer, but for Crosby to remain effective, the Raiders would love for Jones, who signed a three-year, $51 million free agent deal with Las Vegas this spring, to start getting home, too. Related: 2023 NFL franchise tag projections. They were only behind the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles are allowing the 16th-most rushing yards along with the 13th-most scores on the ground. They also had the lowest "gash-rate" in the NFL giving up a 10-yard run on just 7.5% of carries against them. Fantasy Football Defense Rankings (2022) Last updated: March 2, 2023 These fantasy football rankings are refreshed live every day based on average draft position data generated by the fantasy football mock drafts. Related: Realistic veteran QB options for the Las Vegas Raiders. Vikings Patrick Peterson celebrates as Bills quarterback Josh Allen walks off the field. But not anywhere near the level of '17. 1st Bet on Caesars up to $1,250 + 2,000 in Rewards & Tier Credits. The Vikings easily had a top 10 offense in 2022 and they should be at the top of the league in 2022. Baltimore Ravens Rushing Leader: Derrick Henry, 2027 Yds. Not only can the 49ers stop the run, but they are just as frugal against the pass. Hes a brilliant strategist and coach, whose impact should be felt immediately. Losing sturdy DT Lawrence Guy to a shoulder injury is a contributing factor, but that alone doesn't fully explain the alarming past six quarters the defense has played against the run. They must also find a way to create more turnovers. Reed and Carl Lawson. If Chase Young takes an expected step forward, the defense will be winning Washington a lot of games. Related: Indianapolis Colts mock draft 2023\. The Bears are the NFL's worst team against the run, having allowed 733 rushing yards through four games (183.3 yards per game), and are on pace to reach historically low marks. If the Buccaneers are going to turn it on and make any type of noise in the playoffs, this defense must continue playing at a high level. Assessing Browns' FA needs, Defensive efficiency: 69.3 -- Brady Henderson, Defensive efficiency: 37.6 Martindale immediately turned around a defense that had an erratic run in 2021. The Vikings defense is fourth in interceptions and turnovers forced,, showing those all-important opportunistic tendencies that will come in handy come playoff time. The Indianapolis Colts can no longer count on Shaquille Leonard to stay healthy for a full season. This could be troublesome, however, in the playoffs. Are the DVOA percentages flipped from a positive/negative standpoint? Still very sound against the run, the Steelers are 27th in passing yards and 30th in passing touchdowns conceded. Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT) Pittsburgh Steelers. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates: Explained: Predictions and Analysis for Vikings-Lions. The biggest issue on defense is injuries to the secondary. Dallas was not being drafted in the top 12 at the position, and New England was 9th. Depth charts for every team The Dolphins made him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL for a reason and the 2023 season will show why. In the meantime, the Chiefs have made the most of their four turnovers. Because DVOA measures scoring, defenses are better when they are negative. The Chiefs are doing a nice job of pressuring the quarterback, so it figures the turnovers will come. Here you go: Vikings top 6 DVOA rankings 2008 was a legit D. Great DL, Good LBs, Better secondary than 2009 because that creep Sharper was still on the team. When EK54 got hurt, the young front 7 began to crumble at the touch of a feather. Advanced research data including targets, touches and red zone opportunities are also available. However, Miamis struggled to generate turnovers (12-4 TD-INT) with Byron Jones sidelined all season and Xavien Howard regressing. Anthony has made appearances on SiriusXM, amongst other publications. The Rams were without cornerbacks Troy Hill (IR), David Long Jr. and Cobie Durant on Monday night against the 49ers, although they did get safety Jordan Fuller back. The Giants are 19th in the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 41.2%. With explosive offenses coming up, the D-line better healthy fast. T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Minkah Fitzpatrick are the reason why Pittsburgh has one of the best NFL defenses in 2023. Its defense has faced the third-most pass attempts in the NFL this season. Still, there is room for improvement in terms of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. Stingy against both the run and the pass, young players like Sauce Gardner are stepping up in a big way and making an immediate impact. There has been a critical error on this website. The 2022 version of the Bill Belichick defense is one with flaws. The biggest issue on defense is a banged-up defensive line. -- DJ Bien-Aime, Updated NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus the biggest issues for every team's defense, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Lets dive into our 2023 NFL defense rankings after Super Bowl LVII, evaluating every single defense and where they stand heading into the offseason. This shows that the organization is looking to rebuild for 2023 and beyond. The biggest issue on defense is forcing takeaways. -- Jordan Raanan, Defensive efficiency: 68.3 2 corner to help this unit maintain its status as one of the best NFL defenses in 2023. But that could also be a function of how much teams are throwing against Cincinnati. Presumably, they'll return to form once Byron Jones returns from the physically unable to perform list -- which he's eligible to do this week. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. Below, you will find our latest NFL Defense Power Rankings for 2022, ranking all 32 team defenses from around the league. Detroit currently leads the league in scoring but also allows the most points in the league. Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE 9. Teammate Glover Quin has performed like an elite safety for years and earned an . That has helped stabilize the Vikings pass defense. So 3 years were ahead of 2017 by total number but one of those was ranked #4 within it's year. The team is also feeling the aftermath of horrendous drafts from Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden. Steve Spagnuolo will have his guys ready for another run. With Bill OBrien running the offense next season, Belichick can work with Jerod Mayo to make this one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Browns defense is more than just elite pass-rusher Myles Garrett. OK, so maybe defenses DON'T win championships the NFL is an offensive league now but the ability to stop opposing teams from scoring is still vitally important. . The Minnesota Vikings sit at 9-2 going into week 13 and they are feeling really good about their chances down the stretch. The architect of the defensive schemes that have become increasingly popular around the NFL, Fangio should help Miamis pass defense take a step forward in 2023. The Baltimore Ravens are set at safety and linebacker, but it will be losing No. While they allow their opponents into the red zone quite frequently, this defense is stingy as they come from inside 20 yards. Arizona has some players on defense like Budda Baker, Zaven Collins, and Isaiah Simmons, but when you are light on the back end and the EDGE, youre going to give up lots of yards in the pass-heavy NFL. However, the all-around play of the Cowboys defense is hard to ignore. AP Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald. Tennessees defense is a big reason why. The biggest issue on defense is run defense. The Los Angeles Chargers ended the regular season averaging 2.7 sacks per game with a 77.1 QB rating and 55.7% completion rate allowed to opponents in their past seven contests. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). While the Lions are 12th in the NFL with 15 takeaways, they are a bottom-seven unit in most statistical categories, including points, totals yards, passing yards, rushing yards, and touchdowns conceded. Leonard has been ruled out for Thursday night's game at Denver. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New Orleans Saints) Regarding those last two: The Saints D is good, the . With TreDavious White finally back in the fold, the Bills defense will be just fine in January when they need it to step up most. May 23, 2012 at 2:53 pm ET 1 min read. Defensive efficiency: 39.6 League rank: 27th. I would put the Bears dead last, but they have been at least competent in defending the pass despite being awful in containing the run. But not anywhere near the level of '17 2022 Minnesota Vikings: How each unit ranked by PFF grades Schedule Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC. Check out the 2020 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics including AFC and NFC results and standings on Pro-football-reference.com. The Dolphins have been stout against the run, and the numbers they've given up are a bit skewed considering Josh Allen's 63 pass attempts in Week 3 and Lamar Jackson's prolific first half in Week 2.