Our weekly NFL defense rankings examine every unit across the league to determine the best defenses in the NFL. With the preseason wrapped up, let’s dive into our evaluations for the worst and best NFL defenses this season. We’ll update our NFL defense rankings, with analysis on all 32 teams, every Sunday night each week.
Our NFL defense rankings are updated as of Monday, January 12. We lead off by rankings the best and worst defenses in the NFL playoffs entering the Divisional Round. After that, the defenses from eliminated teams are ranked with offseason analysis for each of them....
Sportsnaut
A defending champion got exposed when margins disappeared. For all the winning the Philadelphia Eagles have done over the last two seasons, their 2025 Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers felt jarringly familiar. It was neither a blowout nor a collapse. It was a slow, grinding reminder that even champions can be forced to reveal their weaknesses. The Eagles’ 23-19 loss ended not with drama, but with frustration, as a final fourth-down attempt fell incomplete. It was the kind of defeat that doesn’t spark panic. However, it absolutely demands action. Now, Eagles GM Howie Roseman has to recalibrate...
ClutchPoints
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers can snap their streak of six straight playoff losses, dating back to then 2016 season, agains the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football.
Gameday, No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) vs No. 5 Houston Texans (12-5)
Monday, Jan. 12, 2025, 8:15 p.m.
Acrisure Stadium (68, 400, Grass)
SN Coverage: Alan Saunders, Ed Thompson, Brendan Howe
Weather: clear, 33°
TV: ABC, ESPN (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge), ESPN2 (Payton Manning, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, J.J. Watt)
Radio: Steelers Radio Network, 102.5 WDVE-FM, SiriusXM 225,...
Steelers Now
Player: OLB T.J. Watt Stock Value: Up Reasoning: After returning from a scary lung injury, T.J. Watt has the opportunity to record his first career playoff win. It won’t be easy, even if the Steelers are playing at home against a 12-win Texans team. If they do win, however, they’ll likely need a superstar performance […]
Steelers Depot
The wildcard round will wrap up tonight when the Houston Texans take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that should be very low scoring.
Before I just give a quick recap of the games, think about this. We had five games between Saturday and Sunday. The losing teams lost by a COMBINED 27 points.
The Bills, Bears and Rams all won their opening playoff games by scoring a touchdown in the final two minutes, which set a new NFL record.
It marks the first time in NFL history that three different playoff games ended with a game-winning touchdown in...
Inside The Star
In a little less than a month, the NFL Honors ceremony will hand out awards for this past season of work, including the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookies of the Year and many more.
None of us here at NFL Trade Rumors has an official vote on the ballot. But supposing we did, this is what it would look like.
Voters:
**Rams QB **[Matthew...
NFL Trade Rumors
Just a day after the death of Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir, another Bay Area legend, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, paid homage to the late icon.
During pregame warmups before the 49ers’ Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kittle revealed his special addition to his cleats for the game. He wrapped his cleats and wrote “Dead Forever” on it, an obvious tribute to Weir’s band.
George Kittle with “DEAD FOREVER” wrapped around his shoe in honor of the late Bob Weir pic.twitter.com/QQR0aIUjaH
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 11, 2026
Weir died on Saturday, Jan....
ClutchPoints
The Steelers are hosting their first playoff game in five years, and they’re hoping to make it a considerable advantage. Winning the AFC North in Week 18 by virtue of a last-second missed field goal, Acrisure Stadium is their venue for the week yet again. OLB Alex Highsmith sees that as a significant edge, particularly […]
Steelers Depot
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase’s All-Pro honor has another layer of greatness under the surface we haven’t seen in 8 years
Chase is one of seven players to be named First Team All-Pro for the second consecutive year this season.
Duke Tobin Makes It Clear: Bengals Will Address Major Weakness This Offseason
In an effort to uncover any plans for what exact area could see the most attention of the defense this offseason, Tobin was asked what traits he is looking for on defense, and he made it clear right away that it is the ability to pressure the quarterback and...
Cincy Jungle
For much of the regular season, Drake Maye carried the New England Patriots to victory. In the wild card playoff round against the Los Angeles Chargers, however, others had to do the heavy lifting.
Celebrating a 16-3 victory at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night, the defense was the star of the show. Maye’s performance, meanwhile, was a mixed bag that included displays of his elite playmaking ability as well as some inaccurate passes and ball security concerns.
Unsurprisingly, the Pro Bowler stressed the need for improvement afterwards.
“Wasn’t pretty, that’s for sure, but this defense was so fun to watch,”...
Pats Pulpit
Good morning, New York Giants fans! Happy John Harbaugh hunting to GM Joe Schoen and the Giants organization.
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Big Blue View
Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links.
🏈 In honor of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff game, the Pittsburgh Penguins played “Renegade” during their game on Saturday night.
Renegade at the Pittsburgh Penguins game 1.10.26 pic.twitter.com/ulnDLGKKDN
— Chad Licht Ⅱ (@LichtChad24) January 10, 2026
🏈 Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes was holding a massive Terrible Towel in support of the Steelers before their playoff matchup with the Houston Texans.
Skenes with the Terrible Towel! #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/9Xi8cXEvLT
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) January 10, 2026
🏈 Skyscrapers in...
Steelers Now
