Following J.J. Watts retirement, almost the entire Arizona Cardinals defense needs to be addressed. When youre not getting pressure, opposing signal-callers will pick you apart. Far from it. Cornerbacks D.J. Minnesota Vikings. The turnaround from the New York Jets defense last season was incredible. They also arent as good in the red zone as they have been in years past. 2 cornerback Marcus Peters and its top two edge rushers to free agency. -- Courtney Cronin, Defensive efficiency: 54.3 1 in sacks. 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Below, you will find our latest NFL Defense Power Rankings for 2022, ranking all 32 team defenses from around the league. Responsible Gaming: Many sportsbooks offer ways to encourage responsible gaming, including the establishment of limits to deposits, spending, and time dedicated to betting. League rank: 3rd. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. Crosby has four of the Raiders' five sacks -- cornerback Nate Hobbs has the other -- and while that's a good early return on Las Vegas' four-year, $98.98 million investment via the extension Crosby got this offseason, the Raiders need more from the defensive line in general, Chandler Jones in particular. 2 outside corner, this could be an excellent unit. The Vikings easily had a top 10 offense in 2022 and they should be at the top of the league in 2022. 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. The biggest issue on defense is stopping the run. 1 of 11. Performance is also adjusted for the quality of the opponent. . While injuries to the secondary forced their defense to take a step back, they are managing to get the job done when they need to. League rank: 26th. The Minnesota Vikings sit at 9-2 going into week 13 and they are feeling really good about their chances down the stretch. The biggest issue on defense is the fourth quarter. DVOA isn't perfect but it gives you a good idea of about where that team ranked in that category. Football Power Index rankings Its Week 14, and while some team defenses are living up to the hype, others have fallen short or exceeded expectations. 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. Team Att Cmp Cmp % Yds/Att Yds TD INT 1st 1st% Sck; Buccaneers . Denvers 2022 season has been a disaster on offense. The defending Super Bowl champions have taken an immense step back on both sides of the ball in 2022. Our weekly NFL defense rankings examine every unit across the league on a weekly basis to determine the best defenses in the NFL. Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings. Who threw the most touchdowns in the 1990s? However, they are 14th in third-down rate, giving opposing offense more opportunities to take advantage of the injuries on the back end. With that side, star linebacker David Long Jr. is a free agent and the Titans cornerback room is a mess. But they're going to have to rush the passer more effectively if that is going to continue. League rank: 4th. So that's where we come in by ranking the top 20 defense/special teams units in the NFL before Week 17 games begin. However, a tight salary cap means losing at least two impact defenders and that will have significant ramifications on the Bills defense. 2006 Minnesota Vikings (6-10) 3 of 10 The 2006 Vikings were led by 38-year-old quarterback Brad Johnson, a journeyman on the last leg of his career in Minnesota. League rank: 16th. The Chicago Bears had the worst defense in the NFL this season. Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson missed Weeks 1 and 3 after undergoing ankle surgery in August, and when he did give it a go in Week 2, he said he was playing at less than 100 percent. PFF Pass rush: 73.8-11th Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. -- 2022's consensus defensive player of the year after winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Vince Lombardi Award -- has battled some of the NCAA's toughest linemen across his three-year collegiate career. They need to find a way to turn those drives into field goals to right the ship. The Washington defense is a big reason why this team is in the postseason conversation in December. -- Rob Demovsky. 2020 Team DVOA Ratings: Defense Updated 02/22/2023 10:17 AM EST Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 If the Texans are doing anything right in 2023, its on defense. 1 ranking at defensive back also secures the top spot in the overall NFC North roster points standings. The Vikings defense graded highly in PFFs model, ranking fourth in the NFL with a grade of 85.3. The Dallas defense may not be as polished as the 49ers since they do give up yards, but they step up when it counts. So. The Eagles have a new defensive coordinator in Jonathan Gannon and added several key pieces during a quietly efficient offseason. The Vikings ranked fifth in the NFL in overall offensive grade with a grade of 81.6. Sunday's 26-16 loss to Arizona was a prime example as the Cardinals had the ball for just over 38 minutes to 21:25 for Carolina. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? League rank: 18th, The Chargers' defense appeared dominant -- on paper -- entering the season. Barnwell predicts the next QBs to get benched: Did Pittsburgh wait too long? The Steelers ranked second in D/ST scores last year. And you cant blame Chicagos inability to stop the run on the Roquan Smith trade. Sure, they managed to improve this season, but they are very much a middle-of-the-pack bunch. The Baltimore Ravens are set at safety and linebacker, but it will be losing No. -- Sarah Barshop, Defensive efficiency: 39.6 They have the personnel to do so. 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%). Related: Realistic veteran QB options for the Las Vegas Raiders. Anthony has made appearances on SiriusXM, amongst other publications. 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. Overall, this unit likely tops out as a top-12 defense. PFF: 80.3-16th -- Rob Demovsky, Defensive efficiency: 46.2 The Vikings rank in the bottom eight of almost every defensive category. The Browns defense is more than just elite pass-rusher Myles Garrett. Who has the best NFL defense in 2023? Still, there is room for improvement in terms of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, Defensive efficiency: 58.2 Safety Lamarcus Joyner is coming off his best game (two interceptions), but the Jets need better coverage from S Jordan Whitehead and MLB C.J. Through four games, Tennessee has given up five plays of 40 yards or more. Opponents posted a 92.7 QB rating with an 11-5 TD-INT ratio in the final eight games and Minnesota had one of the softest second-half schedules. 2017 was only the franchises fourth best season from a DVOA perspective since 1983? The New England Patriots were the highest-scoring defense in 2019. See trending 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. Below, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters across the league and asked what the biggest issue faced by each team's defense is. 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. Its quite remarkable that the New Orleans Saints defense continues to play at a high level every season despite constant turnover. The Vikings pass defense has been interesting to say the least. Tennessees pass rush should also improve in 2023 with the return of Harold Landry. Fans might not like Brandon Staley as a head coach, but he is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. They've allowed 415 yards off play-action, which is the fourth most in the NFL. Figures indicate statistics each team allowed to their opponents. PFF: 85.3-2nd Its difficult to imagine the Cleveland Browns defense performing worse with a new defensive coordinator. That was the tipping point to total collapse. That has helped stabilize the Vikings pass defense. Plus, edge rusher George Karlaftis showed improvement and defensive tackle Chris Jones played like the Defensive Player of the Year. Look for the defense to be addressed. The 2022 Vikings defense isn't in the upper echelon of most statistical rankings through six games, but Head Coach Kevin O'Connell referred to the group as the team's "backbone" shortly after. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons finished with the lowest pressure rate (14.6%) and the second-fewest sacks (20) in the NFL. Green Bays secondary has done its part. This was an issue last year, and it continues to be one this season. We probably don't factor them in enough when talking about the offensive and defensive performances. The defense struggles in yards per rush, red zone efficiency and third-down conversions -- ranking last in all categories. They are also a top-end unit when it comes to sacks and takeaways. I thought positive is good and negative is bad, and yet all of our bad seasons are listed with a negative percentage and our bad season (2020) has a positive percentage. The Vikings have historically been a defense-first franchise, notwithstanding some cloddish stretches. New Orleans Saints @ ATL 6. The only three teams ahead of the Vikings are the 49ers, Dolphins and Chiefs. Bet Tip: Seahawks to Win NFC West (+320) at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Jacksonville Jaguars defense showed a lot of flashes late in the regular season, holding its final five opponents to 197.8 pass ypg with an 81.2 QB rating and a 6-5 TD-INT line. They ranked behind only the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens. Vikings Patrick Peterson celebrates as Bills quarterback Josh Allen walks off the field. Defense has carried the Saints since the retirement of Drew Brees. 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. An already potent defense added Super Bowl champ, Von Miller, to the mix this offseason. This is a defense built for a Super Bowl run. They are No. J.J. Watt may be an elite player on the back end of his career, but he cant do it alone. To win Super Bowl +4500. This is a team that can turn it around fast, however, with the right moves in the offseason. 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. 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 Detroit Lions defense showed tangible progress late in the season. That's exactly when it mattered. The Jags have five picks in the first four rounds in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. Because DVOA measures scoring, defenses are better when they are negative. Cant imagine 98 or 09 were better (although both were solid). Mel Kiper takes another shot predicting the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, with elite QBs and defensive players highlighting the latest mock. 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. 5. . If you go look at the PFF grades per unit, the Vikings were an excellent team. It's that time of year again, when the top . Four of them came through the air, which has sparked questions about the secondary. Under the tag, Payne is projected to make roughly $18.9 million fully guaranteed for the 2023 season. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News. Its understandable to not fully buy into the team, but 23rd in the league is quite the outlier. I have no clue myself. We have seen some good with some bad, which is to be expected from a team that is rebuilding. He'll need to work on his route-running and consistency in the NFL. Johnson only managed nine. This can be one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, but we havent seen any signs of its run defense improving for two years now. They are the No. Steelers done? Follow us for breaking news and latest updates: Explained: Predictions and Analysis for Vikings-Lions. The Denver Broncos defense played extremely well given the circumstances of the 2022 season. PFF Coverage: 59.1 21st Patrick Surtain II is the best cornerback in the NFL and the ability to blanket No. The biggest issue on defense is third-down conversions. Related: Indianapolis Colts mock draft 2023\. Smith, who opted out of all other tests and interviews, put up 34 reps of 225 pounds. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/vikings-offense-defense-kevin-oconnell-ed-donatell/. 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 . Full schedule | Standings 44. The Game Day may earn revenue from site visitor referrals to betting services. Theyve allowed the second-fewest touchdowns while remaining stout in the red zone. However, Seattle allowed 150.2 rush ypg, 21 rushing touchdowns and it ranked 28th in ESPNs pass-rush win rate (34%). I know those 80s teams were a little up and down but Im guessing 87 or 88 might be one of the three defenses that were better. -- Brooke Pryor, Defensive efficiency: 36.3 League rank: 7th. I think what happened was our D was so good in 2017 that by comparison '18 and '19 seemed worse then they were because we were expecting them to be nearly as good as '17. The Vikings have a very balanced offense because of their star players. Dallas must re-sign linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who proved to be an integral piece this year. The other shocking thing is our 2020 defense wasn't as bad as we all remember (although I think the 18th ranking is a bit high) I'm guessing Alvin Kamara deleted anything positive from our brains. The return of Dalvin Tomlinson presumably against the New York Jets will be a big addition to the run defense. Next year, the defense will be able to not have to worry about a full install but rather tweaking things and bringing in more personnel. -- Lindsey Thiry, Defensive efficiency: 53.6 Stat to know: The Rams defensive line ranked tied for first in the NFL in time to pressure generated with a mark of 2.48. This is on head coach Brandon Staley, who is/should be on the hot seat and on his way out of town. This is another club chock full of young talent with seasoned vets in the mix. -- Jake Trotter, Defensive efficiency: 51.0 From the ruined ACL, Devin Bush is back to breathe new life. The greatest issue the Dolphins are having this season is when they are in the red zone. PFF viewed the Vikings as a good tackling team, ranking them fourth in the NFL with a grade of 85.5. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. DVOA measures not just yardage, but yardage towards a first down: Five yards on third-and-4 are worth more than five yards on first-and-10 and much more than five yards on third-and-12. Related: Latest on Washington Commanders sale. 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.. A big reason for this is the absence of linebacker Shaquille Leonard, who made his short-lived season debut on Sunday, only to leave with a concussion in the second half. NFL Defense Power Rankings 2022 | Ranking All 32 Team Defenses NFL Spread Pick Of The Day C.J. It also reflects the Miami Dolphins' loss on Thursday night to the Cincinnati Bengals after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) left the game on a stretcher. The Bengals defense is a lot better than their points-per-game ranking suggests (12th). The Rams do have four interceptions this season. The Jaguars have to figure out what went wrong because they face Dameon Pierce, Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley the next three weeks. Mosley. 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. Find the most recent updates each day . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. When you can hold the Chiefs to 24 points, you know you are doing something right. Detroit currently leads the league in scoring but also allows the most points in the league. They have figured it out in critical stretches and have played well against top-tier quarterbacks and offenses. When the Minnesota Vikings pass rush couldnt create pressure, it was finished. League rank: 13th. Only four teams have forced fewer turnovers, and all of them have losing records. However, when it comes to stopping the run, the Packers fail to show up. The Giants are 19th in the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 41.2%. While they are 7-5, nobody expected them to be where they are entering Week 14. The path to the 2023 NFL Draft will cross a major checkpoint with the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from February 28 to March 6. Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE 9. With the right defensive coordinator and the addition of a No. Since the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year tore his pectoral at the end of regulation in Week 1, the Steelers have given up an average of 23 points per game and recorded just three total sacks. League rank: 31st. in 89 Doleman had 21 and Millard was NFL Defensive Player of the Year with 18 sacks out of the DT spot. An intriguing element of that was it came despite just one defensive or return touchdown. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports, 114.6 YPG-13th 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. Check out the 2020 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics including AFC and NFC results and standings on Pro-football-reference.com. Although the Colts were one of the better defenses in 2021, they have taken a step back sans their former defensive coordinator. Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports. Joe Rexrode weighs in on who he thinks will miss out on the playoffs this year. Baltimore Ravens The concerning part for Washington is that it lacks corner depth and its starters are both established vets -- Kendall Fuller and William Jackson III. This could be troublesome, however, in the playoffs. League rank: 6th, Everything you need this week: 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. The Cowboys have not allowed 20 points in a game yet and have allowed just one touchdown in each game. It's hard to argue. That's led to New Orleans' defense being afforded favorable field position, with their opponents ranking 24th, 28th, 30th, and 30th in average starting field position over the last four. 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. 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. Jets GM Joe Douglas has also hit on a few key free-agent acquisitions, including D.J. Minnesota Vikings (3-1) Week 4 ranking: 9. If Chase Young takes an expected step forward, the defense will be winning Washington a lot of games. 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. . I do think this is generally accurate tho, I mean, we know we have had really good defenses most years. Minnesota's secondary features multiple superstar players, several up-and-coming stars, an ageless mystery and virtually no weaknesses. League rank: 2nd. 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. Every year, the Chiefs defense seems to get better as the season progresses. The Seahawks entered the season with question marks on both sides of the football. However, the all-around play of the Cowboys defense is hard to ignore. Of the 97 pass completions against them, 69 have come by receivers who have at least three yards of separation at the time of the throw, the fourth-highest total in the league. -- Ben Baby, Defensive efficiency: 60.8 Depth charts for every team Please check your email for a confirmation. They are also 31st in plays, showing they cant get off the field. The biggest issue on defense is the nickel package. New Orleans Saints (vs. Vikings) 15. Carter is projected to be among the top selections in the 2023 NFL Draft CBSSports.com . ET. They also had the lowest "gash-rate" in the NFL giving up a 10-yard run on just 7.5% of carries against them. More NFL coverage . The Panthers have been one of the biggest messes in the NFL this season, and that led to the early firing of head coach Matt Rhule. T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Minkah Fitzpatrick are the reason why Pittsburgh has one of the best NFL defenses in 2023. It feels even more likely to happen with Ejiro Evero taking over as defensive coordinator. Ranking 25th in third-down percentage, 28th in rushing yards, and 26th in passing touchdowns allowed, this team has a lot of work to do in the offseason. With both Patrick Peterson and Dalvin Tomlinson free agents, Minnesota needs to re-sign its starters and overhaul the cornerback room. A lot of analysts believe that the Vikings are not what their record says they are. The Vikings ranked top-five again at fourth with a grade of 82.0. These are the Vikings definitive year-end defensive rankings. Leonard has been ruled out for Thursday night's game at Denver. Transactions | Injuries Heading into the offseason, especially with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero likely gone, wed love to see Denver upgrade its pass rush. The Falcons are allowing opponents to convert 44% of third-down chances, ranking 24th out of the 32 teams. The Dolphins made him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL for a reason and the 2023 season will show why. Minnesota also ranked between 25th and 29th in the following. While the defense was a strength of the Dolphins during the Brian Flores era, that is no longer the case. The Vikings offense has been good so far this season. The biggest issue on defense is forcing takeaways. Plus they had NFL 1980s All Decade safety Joey Browner and Carl Lee as the best cover CB the Vikings had outside of maybe Rhodes. Speaking of special teams, have we done much to improve in this area other than hire a new coordinator? Green Bays defense is ranked 31st in rushing yards, 30th in attempts, and 25th in rushing touchdowns allowed. Use the rankings and projections below to help you win your fantasy football draft. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. -- Todd Archer, Defensive efficiency: 74.5 Otherwise, their defense is not as bad as the numbers might suggest (25th in points per game allowed). 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. Rushing Leader: Derrick Henry, 2027 Yds. That's been costly for a team that continues to lose close games, and fatigue might be a problem. If the Ravens are going to tread water until Lamar Jackson returns, their defense must play lights-out football. -- Jordan Raanan, Defensive efficiency: 68.3 The biggest issue on defense is the pass rush. The defensive line was gassed after dominating all year and the Eagles RPO took full advantage. Preceding the Smith trade, the team also moved Robert Quinn, another veteran contract. The Bills finished as the fourth-ranked defense for fantasy last year. Buffalo Bills vs. NYJ 2. The Saints need Marcus Davenport and Cam Jordan to consistently step up, while getting production out of 2021 first-round pick Payton Turner, to have success moving forward. And although they can contain the run, they are a bottom-five unit in most passing categories, as well as plays. The losses in the secondary could have significant ramifications on this pass defense in 2023. They were fifth best in that category . What will define Eric Bieniemy's success. However, the Browns are allowing the sixth-most ppg in the NFL (25.0), which means either their big-pop players arent gelling or theyve simply failed to show up.