Sportsnaut
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 Sunday, November 30. We’ve provided evaluations on NFL defenses for all 32 teams coming out of Week 13. On Tuesday, we’ll release our Week 14 fantasy defense rankings. For now, you can find some analysis on defensive matchups for Week 14 with each team.
Read More: NFL Week 14 Power Rankings, Evaluating all 32 Teams after Week 13
Coming into Sunday, the Colts offense had averaged 6.3 yards per play (1st), 31 points per game (1st) with a 41.6 percent third-down conversion rate (9th) and averaged 38.5 yards per drive. The Houston Texans defense limited Indianapolis to just 16 points with a 5.5 yards-per-play average, a 30 percent third-down conversion rate, and just 31.2 total yards per drive. This is the best defense in football. With the Chiefs offensive line banged up, a defensive clinic from Houston in a victory is on the table in Week 14 vs Patrick Mahomes.
In Weeks 9-11, the Denver Broncos defense allowed just 13.7 points and 277.7 total yards per game with its opposition averaging just a 56.3 percent completion rate and a 70.4 QB rating while taking more sacks (five) than touchdowns thrown (three). All of that came without reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. The All-Pro cornerback will be out there on Sunday Night Football to face a severely-short handed Commanders offense. Expect a defensive clinic on Sunday Night Football.
Just another week with a defensive touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks. No matter which quarterback Minnesota put out on the field Sunday, it was going to end in disaster. This Seattle Seahawks defense does everything well, and as long as they shut down Bijan Robinson in Week 14, which is doable for this front, Seattle can hold Atlanta under 20 points in Week 14.
Of the 26 points surrendered by the Cleveland Browns defense on Sunday to the 49ers, 17 came on drives that started within 35 yards of the end zone. Now, Cleveland did struggle on third down (11-of-17), but San Francisco mustered just a 3.9 yards-per-play average and 22.9 yards per drive. In short, this is easily still one of the best NFL defenses this season. Expect a defensive masterpiece in Week 14 versus Tennessee.
On the one hand, one of Carolina’s touchdowns on Sunday came off a pick-six. Now, with that acknowledged, the Los Angeles Rams defense allowed 358 total yards, 5.8 yards per play, and a 46.7 percent third-down conversion rate to the Panthers. It all...
