XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Jaycee Horn is an ascending No. When EK54 got hurt, the young front 7 began to crumble at the touch of a feather. If they can get these areas right, they will be a vastly improved defense in 2023. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). The defense struggles in yards per rush, red zone efficiency and third-down conversions -- ranking last in all categories. AP Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald. Notably, they are dead last in plays, passing yards, red zone attempts, and first downs. Teams have found some success running the ball against the Broncos, but throwing on them has been a completely different story. Although you can run all over them the Texans are ranked dead last in rushing attempts and yards and rank 25th in rushing TDs allowed they are stingy against the pass. An intriguing element of that was it came despite just one defensive or return touchdown. Check out the 2020 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics including AFC and NFC results and standings on Pro-football-reference.com. May 23, 2012 at 2:53 pm ET 1 min read. A lot has changed since those initial rankings were posted. However, this defense still has its issues. The Vikings pass rush was not viewed as highly, as they ranked 10th with a grade of 75.2, slightly ahead of the Patriots. 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. 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%). The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. Mel Kiper takes another shot predicting the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, with elite QBs and defensive players highlighting the latest mock. Performance is also adjusted for the quality of the opponent. Dallas was not being drafted in the top 12 at the position, and New England was 9th. The biggest issue on defense is third-down conversions. The Vikings were viewed in excellent fashion by PFF in run defense, finishing second in the NFL with a grade of 85.4. The Tennessee Titans had the best run defense in the NFL this season, surrendering just 76.9 rush ypg and 3.4 yards per carry. However, in the Week 4 loss to the Raiders, the Broncos were pushed off the ball far too often in run defense. The Bolts are also having to adjust without Pro Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa, who was placed on injured reserve after tearing his groin in Week 3. The defense lead the Vikings to a road playoff win vs the Saints. League rank: 31st. Plenty of work remains. Baltimore Ravens vs. However, because of injuries in the secondary, it has since become a handicap. 1 in the NFL defense rankings. We will probably have at least one new returner. In fact, its now a liability. The Jaguars have to figure out what went wrong because they face Dameon Pierce, Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley the next three weeks. This is puzzling since the Dolphins have a high-priced secondary, among other positions scattered on that side of the ball. Full schedule | Standings They have been better as of late as well, allowing only 45 yards on the ground this past Thursday against the New England Patriots. QB Power Rankings: Williams leads trio of Pac-12 stars . Here you go: 2008 was a legit D. Great DL, Good LBs, Better secondary than 2009 because that creep Sharper was still on the team. They haven't gotten a consistent pass-rush from anyone other than linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. Reed Jr. standing out in coverage vs No. The Washington Commanders became the first team in the NFL to deploy the franchise tag this offseason. The Bucs have given up 27 total points in the first quarter through four weeks -- fourth most in the league -- yet their 68 total points given up would be fifth fewest. It's that time of year again, when the top . Given Bobby Okereke is a free agent, it adds linebacker to the pressing list of needs this offseason. Discover NFL team overall stats and rankings throughout the season. Below, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters across the league and asked what the biggest issue faced by each team's defense is. From the ruined ACL, Devin Bush is back to breathe new life. PFF viewed the Vikings as a good tackling team, ranking them fourth in the NFL with a grade of 85.5. 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. A defense that led the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate (52%), allowed the third-lowest average QB rating (81.6) and ceded the lowest adjusted net yards per pass attempt (4.4) in the NFL.. -- Ben Baby, Defensive efficiency: 60.8 While he will be missed, Steve Wilks is a fantastic fit for San Francisco. It also hasnt helped that Cook has looked like he has lost that next-level gear that has made him such a dynamic back, Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell celebrates the win after the game against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium. The biggest issue on defense is the pass rush. Martin/Thomas/Millard/Doleman all had years in their career with over ten sacks. Four of them came through the air, which has sparked questions about the secondary. Far from it. The Giants are 19th in the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 41.2%. There is a lot of inexperience in the secondary, but now those young, talented defensive backs have a seasons worth of lessons to learn from. Bet Tip: Bengals to Win AFC Championship (+600) at Caesars Sportsbook. Honestly, there's very little to nitpick the Bengals' defense about. 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. Another year in Aaron Glenns system with additions to the secondary and defensive line can make this a top-15 defense in 2023. Through four games, Tennessee has given up five plays of 40 yards or more. They also arent as good in the red zone as they have been in years past. -- Michael DiRocco, Defensive efficiency: 47.3 Although the Colts were one of the better defenses in 2021, they have taken a step back sans their former defensive coordinator. League rank: 1st. Green Bays secondary has done its part. League rank: 9th. They have found a way to score 23+ points in each of their wins this season. From injuries to defending the run, every team has something it can improve on. Dallas' struggling offense managed three pass plays of at least that length. The biggest issue on defense is forcing turnovers. The Bengals defense is a lot better than their points-per-game ranking suggests (12th). Who has the best NFL defense in 2023? NFL Defensive Rankings By Year 2000 To 2021 | StatMuse NFL defensive rankings by year 2000 to 2021 Explore Who has the most career 5+ passing TD games? Dont get me wrong, this is still one of the best defenses in the NFL, allowing the fourth-fewest points. However, New York ranked last in Football Outsiders Rush DVOA (11.6%) and its painfully thin at cornerback. Jacobs finished with 144 yards rushing with two touchdowns as the Raiders rushed for 212 yards overall. League rank: 30. The Cincinnati Bengals defense played outstanding football to close out the season and we fully expect this to be a well-coached unit with Lou Anarumo returning. Ranking 2022 NFL defenses: Rams, Bills, Saints most likely units to crack the top 10 . 2 in takeaways and No. League rank: 3rd. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Garrett could return next Sunday following last week's single-car crash. If Robert Saleh can find a playmaking safety, the Jets could be No. Even that's a reach, as corners Darius Slay (forearm) and Avonte Maddox (right ankle) are expected back soon. When you are allowing the second-fewest passing touchdowns in a passing league, you know you have some talent on the back end to build off of. Look for the defense to be addressed. Indianapolis Colts @ JAX 7. For a couple years in a row, the Vikings defense has allowed an average of 25.1 points against per game. 21+ and present in OH. 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). League rank: 18th, The Chargers' defense appeared dominant -- on paper -- entering the season. -- Brooke Pryor, Defensive efficiency: 36.3 The Patriots tend to be one of the more reliable units from season to season - top-12 DST since 2018 - and 2022 is no different. Let's overreact to NFL Week 4: Cooper Rush as Cowboys starter? Some positives to build off of in an otherwise lost campaign. Cap issues might push either linebacker Lavonte David or corner Jamel Dean out. Sign up for the Vikings Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, The PFF grades reflect Sunday's game very well. Minnesota's secondary features multiple superstar players, several up-and-coming stars, an ageless mystery and virtually no weaknesses. With Joe Burrow due for a record-breaking extension, the money wont be there to bring everyone back. He brings a brilliant defensive mind and his philosophies should get even more out of this unit. Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) hands the ball off to running back Dalvin Cook (4) against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. A star-studded unit with menacing players that include Fred Warner and Nick Bosa in the front seven, we have also seen the emergence of Talanoa Hufanga, who is already one of the leagues best safeties. Labeled as a top-five defense heading into the 2022 season, the Green Bay Packers didnt play like it until late in the year. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Chargers had a bunch of talent on defense last year, but the outfit was undermined by glaring holes at . Minnesota Vikings (vs. New Orleans Saints) Regarding those last two: The Saints D is good, the . Responsible Gaming: Many sportsbooks offer ways to encourage responsible gaming, including the establishment of limits to deposits, spending, and time dedicated to betting. Vikings NFC South Buccaneers Falcons Panthers Saints NFC West Cardinals Niners Rams Seahawks Colleges Pac-12 Colorado Oregon USC SEC Alabama Arkansas Auburn Florida Georgia LSU Tennessee Texas. Get updated NFL defense rankings for the 2022 season. They're losing one-on-one matchups and committing too many penalties on the back end, where they're playing three young corners plus a backup at safety in Josh Jones because of the serious knee injury Adams suffered in the opener. Each one hit the 10-sack benchmark (a top 20 . Hes a brilliant strategist and coach, whose impact should be felt immediately.