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 Monday, January 19. We lead off by rankings the best and worst defenses in the NFL playoffs entering Conference Championship Weekend. After that, the defenses from eliminated teams are ranked with offseason analysis for each of them.
In the final eight regular-season games, this Seattle Seahawks defense allowed just 15 points and 261.8 total yards per game. Eight offenses averaged just 14.4 first downs per game with an abysmal 26 percent third-down conversion rate, with quarterbacks only completing 61.1% of their passes while taking more than twice as many sacks (15) as touchdowns thrown (seven) and having nearly twice as many interceptions (nine). Running the football–3.8 yards per-carry allowed–wasn’t successful either.
Now, heading into the NFC Championship Game, we have seen the Rams offense perform better versus Seattle. In two games this season, Matthew Stafford posted a 103.1 QB rating, averaged 7.6 yards per attempt, but Los Angeles did only post a 32.3% third-down conversion rate. We suspect the NFC title game will be a lot more like the Nov. 16 matchup (40 total points scored), especially with Stafford playing through a finger injury.
The Denver Broncos defense is gettable, at least in comparison to its near shutdown form in the first half of the regular season. From Weeks 11-16, opponents averaged 33.4 total yards and 21.2 first downs per game, 5.11 yards per play and recorded a 45% third-down conversion rate. Josh Allen just put up 266 yards and three passing touchdowns with a 30-burger by this Bills offense in the Divisional Round. With that said, Denver also sacked Allen three times and generated five takeaways.
That will be crucial against New England in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots offense has turned it over five times in two playoff games, with Drake Maye taking eight total sacks and completing just 58.9 percent of his pass attempts with six fumbles (three lost). Denver can line up Pat Surtain II on Stefon Diggs and its pass rush can take advantage of the Patriots offensive line. What this game will come down to is whether the Broncos are able to take away New England’s explosive plays downfield.
What a difference it makes to have Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, Harold Landry and Robert Spillane back on the field. In two playoff games, the New England Patriots defense has surrendered just one touchdown drive (27 yards on six plays) with a 29.6 percent third-down conversion rate, 224 total yards per game allowed, nine sacks, a 50 percent completion rate, a 46.5 passer rating and six takeaways. Simply...
