As if getting gashed by Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon wasn't enough to have the Bears licking their wounds after a Week 2 loss at Green Bay, Giants running back Saquon Barkley totaled 145 yards on 31 carries and earned 94 of his rushing yards after first contact in Week 4. -- Jamison Hensley, Defensive efficiency: 68.2 Minnesota's secondary features multiple superstar players, several up-and-coming stars, an ageless mystery and virtually no weaknesses. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? Responsible Gaming: Many sportsbooks offer ways to encourage responsible gaming, including the establishment of limits to deposits, spending, and time dedicated to betting. The biggest issue on defense is effectively rushing the passer. Entering the 2022 NFL season, we projected and ranked the top defenses in the NFL according to offseason personnel movements and overall finishes from 2021. Maybe this shouldnt surprise anyone, but the Lions have the NFLs worst defense. Check out the 2020 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics including AFC and NFC results and standings on Pro-football-reference.com. Not only can the 49ers stop the run, but they are just as frugal against the pass. And you cant blame Chicagos inability to stop the run on the Roquan Smith trade. Only the 49ers, Rams and New England Patriots ranked ahead of them. However, the Seattle defense is allowing the fifth-most points per game while slated in the bottom six in a slew of categories including points, plays, passing yards, rushing yards, and touchdowns allowed. Tennessee Titans @ HOU 8. -. -- Sarah Barshop, Defensive efficiency: 39.6 While injuries have played a role, notably to T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, a decline that began in last season has continued, with no signs of improvement. It wasnt a clean performance, but this is also a young defense. They must also find a way to create more turnovers. The biggest issue on defense is injuries to the secondary. Patrick Surtain II is the best cornerback in the NFL and the ability to blanket No. While they allow their opponents into the red zone quite frequently, this defense is stingy as they come from inside 20 yards. New Orleans Saints (vs. Vikings) 15. CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND This is another spot where I could have slotted other teams. Please check your email for a confirmation. Related: 2023 NFL franchise tag projections. Vikings Territory: Explained: Predictions and Analysis for Vikings-Lions. The Lions need to make some changes immediately, and head coach Dan Campbell knows it. With that side, star linebacker David Long Jr. is a free agent and the Titans cornerback room is a mess. They converted each into a touchdown. With both Patrick Peterson and Dalvin Tomlinson free agents, Minnesota needs to re-sign its starters and overhaul the cornerback room. Related: NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl. -- Courtney Cronin, Defensive efficiency: 54.3 The defense lead the Vikings to a road playoff win vs the Saints. In the industry, Anthony has excelled in both the fantasy football and sports betting space with fantasy his proverbial bread and butter. While he will be missed, Steve Wilks is a fantastic fit for San Francisco. However, New York ranked last in Football Outsiders Rush DVOA (11.6%) and its painfully thin at cornerback. The Game Day is a TGD Operations Limited endeavor. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News. The fourth-quarter comebacks have significantly made an impact on the passing yards and PFF grade, but DVOA, a metric designed to predict future success, isnt convinced of the sustainability of the unit. The Dolphins made him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL for a reason and the 2023 season will show why. The biggest issue on defense is defending the run. The biggest issue on defense is points allowed. The Vikings have a very balanced offense because of their star players. 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. Ultimately, the Eagles got Mahomesd in the Super Bowl and the San Francisco 49ers, along with so many other NFL teams, know what thats like. The 49ers defense has stepped up in a big way under second-year defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. Here is an explanation from Football Outsider's website: DVOA is a method of evaluating teams, units, or players. They are the third-worst unit in that category. I do think this is generally accurate tho, I mean, we know we have had really good defenses most years. DE Jadeveon Clowney has missed the past two games with an ankle injury. Overall, this unit likely tops out as a top-12 defense. So 3 years were ahead of 2017 by total number but one of those was ranked #4 within it's year. So, let's get to it. Every year, the Chiefs defense seems to get better as the season progresses. Im struggling to think of any other seasons that stand out. Wonky (for example last year it had the Jets as having the best run defense of all time). The Chiefs are much better against the run, but they employ one of the most vulnerable secondaries in the NFL. I have no clue myself. 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. -- Jenna Laine, Defensive efficiency: 52.3 In 2021, the Commanders had one of the leagues worst defenses, which is no longer the case. 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. When EK54 got hurt, the young front 7 began to crumble at the touch of a feather. Terrell, the Falcons have some work to do when it comes to bringing in more talent to improve this unit. The New England Patriots defense played outstanding in 2022, with breakout campaigns from Josh Uche, Kyle Dugger and JaWhaun Bentley. Where Chiefs' offense, defense rank through the first quarter of 2021 Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans. Related: Indianapolis Colts mock draft 2023\. -- Jordan Raanan, Defensive efficiency: 68.3 The Vikings coverage grade feels a little big closer than normal, as they finished with a grade of 71.8, good for 18th in the NFL. The biggest issue on defense is getting gouged on the ground, again. While the offense has taken a drastic step forward, the Jacksonville defense remains a liability. Like I did with the Chargers earlier, I am deducting points from the Packers, a team that entered the year with a defense that looked like it was ready to take a step forward. The New England Patriots were the highest-scoring defense in 2019. Who threw the most touchdowns in the 1990s? 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. May 23, 2012 at 2:53 pm ET 1 min read. A lot of analysts believe that the Vikings are not what their record says they are. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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? The Jets are allowing opponents to convert 51% of the time on third down, which ranks 31st out of 32 teams. Preceding the Smith trade, the team also moved Robert Quinn, another veteran contract. If the Texans are doing anything right in 2023, its on defense. Year Advertising. However, because of injuries in the secondary, it has since become a handicap. The Chiefs' defensive rankings in four years with Patrick Mahomes as their quarterback: 24th, 14th, 18th, and 26th. Entering 2023, the 49ers are No. 1 team: Jump to a team: He brings a brilliant defensive mind and his philosophies should get even more out of this unit. Buffalo Bills vs. NYJ 2. The Vikings defeated the Saints 28-25. See trending Cincinnati has one of the best defenses in the NFL. From the ruined ACL, Devin Bush is back to breathe new life. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New Orleans Saints) Regarding those last two: The Saints D is good, the . Choose from seasonal averages or review past weekly performance to help optimize your lineup. SUBSCRIBE: $1 for 3 months. Heading into the offseason, especially with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero likely gone, wed love to see Denver upgrade its pass rush. DVOA isn't perfect but it gives you a good idea of about where that team ranked in that category. 2 receivers and the Jets finishing with the second-highest run-stop win rate (33%) in the league, everything came together. They are allowing the second-most passing yards and the fourth-most touchdowns through the air. With studs like Brian Burns, Shaq Thompson, and Jaycee Horn on all three levels of the defense, this unit could emerge in 2023, especially if they end this season on a high note. 8. Figures indicate statistics each team allowed to their opponents. They are the No. Theres an opportunity for the Carolina Panthers to have one of the best NFL defenses in 2022. Dallas was not being drafted in the top 12 at the position, and New England was 9th. The Vikings finished a paltry 19th in the league with a grade of 66.6. The Giants have a top-10 pass defense at the moment. March 1, 2023. A unit looking to finish the year strong defensively, they will get a boost if/when Young returns. The Jags have five picks in the first four rounds in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. But when the players say they still need to get better, slowing the run is their biggest must. It largely paid off, resulting in an NFC title with a single-season record for sacks and plenty of outstanding performances. He'll need to work on his route-running and consistency in the NFL. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is returning for the 2023 season, which might be the biggest offseason move for the Dallas Cowboys. The biggest issue on defense is no T.J. Watt. Fans might not like Brandon Staley as a head coach, but he is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. 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. Pro Football Reference's Simple Ranking System (SRS and then OSRS and DSRS for offense and defense) is another metric to compare different teams that are decades apart. Find the most recent updates each day . These are the Vikings definitive year-end defensive rankings. Adding an edge defender like Myles Murphy or Tyree Wilson would be an excellent step forward for this unit. The Vikings defense is fourth in interceptions and turnovers forced,, showing those all-important opportunistic tendencies that will come in handy come playoff time. Reed and rookie Sauce Gardner are holding up nicely on the outside, but they're giving up too many chunk plays in the middle of the field. The best bench press performance of the day went to Michigan's Mazi Smith. The biggest issue on defense is soft coverage. Transactions | Injuries That has helped stabilize the Vikings pass defense. But they do need much more than what they've gotten thus far. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. . 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. Are the DVOA percentages flipped from a positive/negative standpoint? League rank: 11th. I just wanted to correct the history that gets a little murky on here. Once Brock Purdy went out and San Francisco trailed by two scores with a fourth-string quarterback, that was a wrap for this defense. If the Ravens are going to tread water until Lamar Jackson returns, their defense must play lights-out football. 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. The Vikings pass defense has been interesting to say the least. Before Jared Allen joined the Vikings in 2008 and donned the number 69 jersey, Doug Sutherland played 10 years on the defensive line in Minnesota with the same number.. Sutherland joined the . While the defense was a strength of the Dolphins during the Brian Flores era, that is no longer the case. As they have over the past few years, the Vikings were a good run-blocking team. Just ask the 2018 Chiefs. Learn More > All of the other teams ahead of them scored at least three, with the Dolphins and Cowboys scoring six and nine, respectively. The Vikings defense overall has had stretches of brilliance and others where you question literally everything. Change is coming. We paired each response with the team's defensive efficiency rating and where that stacks up in the league. New England Patriots @ MIA 5. It might work against the quarterbacks they faced, but life is about to get much more difficult with Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence and Geno Smith on deck. Most impressively, in a sign of things to come, the Lions averaged 3.1 sacks per game in those last seven games. "Last year, we sort of had to feel our way through things because we didn't have an offseason together. DVOA is a percentage, so a team with a DVOA of 10.0% is 10 percent better than the average team, and a quarterback with a DVOA of -20.0% is 20 percent worse than the average quarterback. . NFLPA Releases First Ever 'Report Cards' For All 32 NFL Teams After Surveying Every Player In League. They are allowing 5 yards per carry and have given up 20 runs of 10 yards or more in four games, including two runs of at least 33 yards in the past two games. Industry Clout: The Giants field one of the more surprising defenses in the NFL, thanks to new defensive coordinator Don Wink" Martindale. Everything came together after leading the Vikings to a 13-3 record their most regular-season wins since Randy Moss ' 1998 rookie season and a defense that led the NFL in both points and yards allowed. 2022 Regular Season Statistics Minnesota Vikings OPPONENTS 382 TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 359 93 244 45 FIRST DOWNS Rushing Passing By Penalty 113 224 22 93 / 226 THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS 82 / 215 9 / 19. The Chicago Bears had the worst defense in the NFL this season. Bet Tip: Nick Bosa to Win Defensive Player of the Year (+240) at Caesars Sportsbook. The biggest issue on defense is the pass rush. It is difficult to put any team ahead of the 49ers. The Indianapolis Colts can no longer count on Shaquille Leonard to stay healthy for a full season. Outside of Grady Jarrett and A.J. The Raiders made a key move this offseason with the acquisition of Chandler Jones. Cornerbacks D.J. 1 corner and the quarter of Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, Frankie Luvu and Shaq Thompson gives Carolina a strong front seven. With the incredible talent this team boasts on defense and a defensive-minded head coach, there is simply no excuse for the Chargers defense conceding 25.8 points per game, the third-worst mark in the NFL. Ranking the top 20 NFL defenses ahead of Week 17 of the 2021 season. The Vikings rushing offense graded higher at 79.4, but they ranked 21st in the NFL. Thankfully, the defense is not devoid of talent. This is another team that is ranked in the bottom eight in the most important defensive categories. -- Kevin Seifert, Defensive efficiency: 76.1 While the Lions are 12th in the NFL with 15 takeaways, they are a bottom-seven unit in most statistical categories, including points, totals yards, passing yards, rushing yards, and touchdowns conceded. With an Eagles team that runs the ball effectively in their division, the Cowboys have to get better. However, this defense still has its issues. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN The Washington defense is a big reason why this team is in the postseason conversation in December. Ive been watching since around 1995 and cant recall any season that was definitively better. The Falcons desperately need to find pass rushers this offseason. The Washington Commanders became the first team in the NFL to deploy the franchise tag this offseason. Positive is good for an offense and negative is good for a D. DVOA for defense is sadly shit. However, Houston doesnt have much standout talent on the defensive side right now with Derek Stingley Jr. a work in progress and Jalen Pitre still needs to iron out a lot of issues. 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. We will probably have at least one new returner. 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. The Ravens used to get offenses off the field when they had Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs forcing clutch turnovers. Stats courtesy Football Outsiders, Pro Football Reference, ESPN, and Pro Football Focus. Losing Chandler Jones this offseason while not addressing their needs in the secondary, most notably, at cornerback, we expected the Cardinals defense to be among the leagues worst. Getting Von Miller and Micah Hyde back for the 2023 NFL season are huge boosts for the Buffalo Bills defense. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 2 cornerback Marcus Peters and its top two edge rushers to free agency. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. An intriguing element of that was it came despite just one defensive or return touchdown. Offense Defense 1 Bills 35.1% 2 49ers 27.5% 3 Eagles 25.2% 4 Chiefs 23.0% 5 Bengals 18.1% View Overall DVOA New Orleans Saints @ ATL 6. Its defense has faced the third-most pass attempts in the NFL this season. Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluated how teams are stacking up through four weeks and named a new No. Putting the Vikings in the No. in 89 Doleman had 21 and Millard was NFL Defensive Player of the Year with 18 sacks out of the DT spot. Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings. So that's where we come in by ranking the top 20 defense/special teams units in the NFL before Week 17 games begin. The Rams do have four interceptions this season. Under the tag, Payne is projected to make roughly $18.9 million fully guaranteed for the 2023 season. Below, you will find our latest NFL Defense Power Rankings for 2022, ranking all 32 team defenses from around the league. The Colts might also need to upgrade at edge rusher over Yannick Ngakoue and even safety could become a position to address. However, Arden Key is a free-agent Jacksonville must keep and its evident the Jags need help at corner. After dropping three straight, there are plenty of issues to point to on the defensive side, but the root of it stems from Watt's absence. Donald led all defensive lineman in the NFL last year in pass-rush wins with 127. -- DJ Bien-Aime, Updated NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus the biggest issues for every team's defense, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? League rank: 18th, The Chargers' defense appeared dominant -- on paper -- entering the season.