T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Minkah Fitzpatrick are the reason why Pittsburgh has one of the best NFL defenses in 2023. 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. Carter is projected to be among the top selections in the 2023 NFL Draft CBSSports.com . 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 run defense. The biggest issue on defense is soft coverage. He is also the co-creator of the FF Faceoff (Faceoff Sports Network) and the FF Faceoff Mental Health Podathon partnered with the Hayden Hurst Foundation. Martin/Thomas/Millard/Doleman all had years in their career with over ten sacks. If the right additions are made at cornerback, this could be a top-5 unit. However, Miamis struggled to generate turnovers (12-4 TD-INT) with Byron Jones sidelined all season and Xavien Howard regressing. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a staple of our NFL defense rankings for years. Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Jaycee Horn is an ascending No. The defense lead the Vikings to a road playoff win vs the Saints. There are only three teams allowing more rushing yards after contact than the Packers. Minnesota's secondary features multiple superstar players, several up-and-coming stars, an ageless mystery and virtually no weaknesses. However, Arden Key is a free-agent Jacksonville must keep and its evident the Jags need help at corner. Martindale immediately turned around a defense that had an erratic run in 2021. This might be a minor quibble given how well the unit is playing as a whole. 2 receivers and the Jets finishing with the second-highest run-stop win rate (33%) in the league, everything came together. What will define Eric Bieniemy's success. The Vikings have been good at defending the run and PFF thinks they are among the best in doing so. Despite having a great season from punter Ryan Wright and PFFs number one long snapper in Andrew DePaola, the Vikings finished a paltry 21st in special teams with a grade of 76.0. Jets GM Joe Douglas has also hit on a few key free-agent acquisitions, including D.J. League rank: 12th, The Rams have their best cornerback healthy (Jalen Ramsey) but have been dealing with several injuries in the secondary early in the season. That 1988 D was fucking awesome and def on the level of 2017. We rank the 2023 draft prospects at DT ahead of the Combine. Vikings offensive and defensive rankings: a breakdown Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West. The Vikings defeated the Saints 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports, 240.7 YPG-7th They are also one of the worst defenses in the red zone (27th in red zone scoring percentage), thanks to giving up the sixth-most TDs on the ground. 2023 NFL free agency: Ranking best free agent crops from every team as 2022 NFL Team Defense Statistics | The Football Database The club did so early Tuesday morning, announcing that they have tagged star defensive tackle Daron Payne. The Chiefs are much better against the run, but they employ one of the most vulnerable secondaries in the NFL. League rank: 5th. ET. The Niners' defense has been mostly dominant for the season's first month, but the win column doesn't reflect just how good it has been. Team Att Cmp Cmp % Yds/Att Yds TD INT 1st 1st% Sck; Buccaneers . They have been better as of late as well, allowing only 45 yards on the ground this past Thursday against the New England Patriots. This was an issue last year, and it continues to be one this season. 2022 NFL defense passing stats by Team | NFL.com Wonky (for example last year it had the Jets as having the best run defense of all time). The Philadelphia Eagles went all-in this year, building one of the most talented defenses in the NFL. Roquan Smith will make an immense impact going forward, making the Baltimore defense that much more difficult to run against. The Seahawks entered the season with question marks on both sides of the football. 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. 2020 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com Find the most recent updates each day . League rank: 18th, The Chargers' defense appeared dominant -- on paper -- entering the season. Defensive efficiency, powered by ESPN's Football Power Index, is rated on a 0-100 scale, based on the defense's contribution to scoring margin on per-play basis and adjusted for strength of opposing offenses faced. I went by the total number (2017 being -12.3). Only the New York Jets, 49ers and Eagles finished ahead of them. Across 17 games, Chicago allowed opponents to average a 94.4 QB rating, 4.9 yards per carry and they allowed the most points per game (27.2) in the NFL. Fantasy Defense Rankings Week 18: Heavily motivated Bills and Patriots DVOA: -0.3-23rd. Some positives to build off of in an otherwise lost campaign. Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports. -- Courtney Cronin, Defensive efficiency: 54.3 It. I don't think there's any question we'll go . Cleveland needs to significantly improve at defensive tackle, while hoping Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit and Greg Newsome improve. See trending . DVOA: 10.8%-19th. New Orleans Saints (vs. Vikings) 15. That has helped stabilize the Vikings pass defense. DVOA: -0.5-13th, The Vikings rushing attack has been inconsistent this season but the big touchdown runs by Dalvin Cook have been a major factor in not seeing their rankings lower. The Chargers had a bunch of talent on defense last year, but the outfit was undermined by glaring holes at . 2023 NFL defense rankings: Offseason outlook for all 32 - Sportsnaut Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee (6-0, 18 pounds) Hyatt has great speed as a dynamic field-stretching big-play threat. Which is false (cue Dwight face). The Eagles are first in sacks (16), tied for first in takeaways (10), third in yards allowed (277.3 per game) and 10th in points allowed (17.8). Bet Tip: Nick Bosa to Win Defensive Player of the Year (+240) at Caesars Sportsbook. Leonard has been ruled out for Thursday night's game at Denver. More NFL coverage . -- Lindsey Thiry, Defensive efficiency: 53.6 Add it all up, and the Vikings ranked 30th in the NFL in yards allowed (383.6 per game) and 24th in points allowed per game (25.1). 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. The Jaguars have to figure out what went wrong because they face Dameon Pierce, Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley the next three weeks. 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. Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson intercepts a Josh Allen pass in the end zone. Still, there is room for improvement in terms of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. The Vikings pass rush was not viewed as highly, as they ranked 10th with a grade of 75.2, slightly ahead of the Patriots. The only three teams ahead of the Vikings are the 49ers, Dolphins and Chiefs. If Aaron Rodgers is traded, expect the draft picks coming over in return to be used on the defensive side. Baltimore Ravens The Giants have played very well for the most part, but need to improve their run defense. . This is on head coach Brandon Staley, who is/should be on the hot seat and on his way out of town. We have seen some good with some bad, which is to be expected from a team that is rebuilding. 2 corner to help this unit maintain its status as one of the best NFL defenses in 2023. Washington had the sixth-ranked fantasy season last year and they keep on getting better. The Seattle Seahawks struck gold with rookie cornerbacks Tariq Woolen and Cody Bryant, who look like long-term starters. Buffalos defense was a strength of the team early in the year. The Dallas defense may not be as polished as the 49ers since they do give up yards, but they step up when it counts. Related: Realistic veteran QB options for the Las Vegas Raiders. PIT Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. If the Jets can figure it out on offense, this team could do some damage. There is also a lot of room for improvement in the red zone and on third downs. . 21+ and present in OH. But that could also be a function of how much teams are throwing against Cincinnati. 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. This is another team that is ranked in the bottom eight in the most important defensive categories. They look really solid from front to back, even with safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, formerly of the New Orleans Saints, acclimating to a new position and team. Power Ranking Every NFL Defense After the 2021 Draft They were only behind the Los Angeles Rams. The Raiders made a key move this offseason with the acquisition of Chandler Jones. Joe Rexrode weighs in on who he thinks will miss out on the playoffs this year. Green Bay Packers @ DET 4. The Vikings ranked fifth in the NFL in overall offensive grade with a grade of 81.6. Figures indicate statistics each team allowed to their opponents. Steelers done? Rookie cornerbacks arent supposed to be great early, but Sauce Gardner became an All-Pro in his first season. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Reed and Carl Lawson. 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. The Kansas City Chiefs certainly didnt win the Super Bowl because of their defense. The biggest issue on defense is a consistent pass rush. 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. The Giants are 19th in the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 41.2%. SRS -- Simple Rating System: Team quality relative to average (0.0) as measured by SRS (Simple Rating System), SRS = Margin of Victory + Strength of Schedule = OSRS + DSRS, OSRS: Offensive SRS Team offense quality relative to average (0.0) as measured by SRS (Simple Rating System), DSRS: Defensive SRS Team defense quality relative to average (0.0) as measured by SRS (Simple Rating System), I definitely agree with the spirit of the post, but all I can think of when I recall the '98 season is, offense on field for 2 minutes: touchdown, defense on field for 10 minutes: exhausted, 4th quarter: No such thing as a 4-minute offense with Carter, Moss, Reed, and Smith, And intense stress when playing anyone that could finish off those 10 minute drives, There werent three better, I dont know the intricacies of defensive DVOA, but from a just pure output perspective Im questioning the value tbh. -- Sarah Barshop, Defensive efficiency: 39.6 The Vikings were viewed in excellent fashion by PFF in run defense, finishing second in the NFL with a grade of 85.4. Below, you will find our latest NFL Defense Power Rankings for 2022, ranking all 32 team defenses from around the league. Where is the Vikings' offense and defense breaking? - Sports 2022 NFL defense rankings: Best NFL defenses entering season The Las Vegas Raiders defense fell well short of expectations under play-caller Patrick Graham. New York Giants. 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. The Saints didn't have much of a pass rush to speak of to start the season, but they did get after Kirk Cousins on Sunday, finishing with three sacks. 1 in the NFL defense rankings. Minnesota also ranked between 25th and 29th in the following. Theyve allowed the second-fewest touchdowns while remaining stout in the red zone. The loss of Matt Eberflus has made an impact. Outside of Grady Jarrett and A.J. 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 . TreDavious White will also be at 100% with a full offseason and Kaiir Elam should elevate his game in his second year. With both Patrick Peterson and Dalvin Tomlinson free agents, Minnesota needs to re-sign its starters and overhaul the cornerback room. With an Eagles team that runs the ball effectively in their division, the Cowboys have to get better. Given Bobby Okereke is a free agent, it adds linebacker to the pressing list of needs this offseason. Plenty of work remains. Vikings Territory: Explained: Predictions and Analysis for Vikings-Lions. 2 cornerback Marcus Peters and its top two edge rushers to free agency. The Lions need to make some changes immediately, and head coach Dan Campbell knows it. You cant knock Les Snead for going all-in last season and winning it all, but the organization is now paying the price for it. This is a defense built for a Super Bowl run. UCLA hires D'Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator, moves Bill McGovern Check out the 2020 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics including AFC and NFC results and standings on Pro-football-reference.com. Will the Dolphins get a veteran QB? 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. We will probably have at least one new returner. The 2022 version of the Bill Belichick defense is one with flaws. Top free agents: Daniel Jones (QB), Saquon Barkley (RB), Julian Love (S) While Jones is a candidate to be franchise tagged, he's still one of the the top quarterbacks on the . Denvers 2022 season has been a disaster on offense. This was especially so when Denver was forced into its nickel package on defense and the Raiders then pounded away at it. Arizona allowed the highest completion rate (69.8%) to opponents and it surrendered the second-most passing touchdowns (29). CB Nnamdi Asomugha said the Eagles ' defense already looks more cohesive than it did last season. The Vikings rushing offense graded higher at 79.4, but they ranked 21st in the NFL. Welcome to Week 5 of the NFL regular season. 2 outside corner, this could be an excellent unit. 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. 1 receivers helps everyone else on this unit. In the meantime, the Chiefs have made the most of their four turnovers. Georgia star Jalen Carter booked, released: Top NFL Draft prospect left -- Tim McManus, Defensive efficiency: 57.9 The biggest issue on defense is defending the run. Related: Latest on Washington Commanders sale. The defensive line was gassed after dominating all year and the Eagles RPO took full advantage. However, they also lost some talent in free agency, and it has shown throughout the year. Just ask the 2018 Chiefs. While the Falcons have exceeded expectations with five wins through 13 games, their defense is not the reason why. Who has the best NFL defense in 2023? This is a team that can turn it around fast, however, with the right moves in the offseason. The biggest issue on defense is the run defense. 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. Stingy against both the run and the pass, young players like Sauce Gardner are stepping up in a big way and making an immediate impact. League rank: 1st. Following J.J. Watts retirement, almost the entire Arizona Cardinals defense needs to be addressed. The New England Patriots were the highest-scoring defense in 2019. -- Jake Trotter, Defensive efficiency: 51.0 Reed Jr. standing out in coverage vs No. It's that time of year again, when the top . NFL Defense Power Rankings 2022 | Ranking All 32 Team Defenses Eagles are No. 13 in a ranking of all 32 NFL defenses by The Athletic Green Bays defense is ranked 31st in rushing yards, 30th in attempts, and 25th in rushing touchdowns allowed. Putting the Vikings in the No. 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. 2022 Minnesota Vikings: How each unit ranked by PFF grades While they are 7-5, nobody expected them to be where they are entering Week 14. "It's like night and day,'' he said. 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. -- John Keim, What will define Eric Bieniemy's success? Honestly, there's very little to nitpick the Bengals' defense about. There has been a critical error on this website. Through four games, Tennessee has given up five plays of 40 yards or more. Bet Tip: Seahawks to Win NFC West (+320) at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Jaguars had allowed just 55 yards per game on the ground through the first three games, but gave up 210 yards and four touchdowns rushing to the Eagles on Sunday. But when the players say they still need to get better, slowing the run is their biggest must. 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. When you are a top-four defense in plays and touchdowns allowed, you are going to win a lot of football games. 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. If Robert Saleh can find a playmaking safety, the Jets could be No. -- 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? 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. The Jets are allowing opponents to convert 51% of the time on third down, which ranks 31st out of 32 teams. An intriguing element of that was it came despite just one defensive or return touchdown. We love the front of this group, especially if DaRon Payne returns. 1 wideouts. The New England Patriots defense played outstanding in 2022, with breakout campaigns from Josh Uche, Kyle Dugger and JaWhaun Bentley. Entering 2023, the 49ers are No. DeMeco Ryans coming in is the first small step toward fixing the Houston Texans defense. Positive is good for an offense and negative is good for a D. DVOA for defense is sadly shit. DVOA: -8.2%-13th. But not anywhere near the level of '17 From injuries to defending the run, every team has something it can improve on. Maybe the most talented DL in Viking history outside of the Purple People Eaters. Baltimore Ravens vs. Press J to jump to the feed. The Vikings defense has been one of the league's most consistent since Mike Zimmer was hired in 2014, ranking in the top 11 in points allowed each season. Passing Leader: Deshaun Watson, 4823 Yds. Anthony has made appearances on SiriusXM, amongst other publications. Another year in Aaron Glenns system with additions to the secondary and defensive line can make this a top-15 defense in 2023. Maybe this shouldnt surprise anyone, but the Lions have the NFLs worst defense. The Chiefs are doing a nice job of pressuring the quarterback, so it figures the turnovers will come. With D.J. Even if Aaron Donald returns to his elite form and linebacker Bobby Wagner plays at an All-Pro level again, there are too many voids at cornerback, edge rusher and safety for Los Angeles to maintain a top-15 defense next season. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. 5 absolute best Minnesota Vikings defenses of all-time - The Viking Age Minnesota Vikings 2022 Stats | NFL.com Otherwise, their defense is not as bad as the numbers might suggest (25th in points per game allowed). In the NFC Championship Game, DeMeco Ryans unit handled the Eagles offense until late in the second quarter, when undisciplined play by players extended the drive. Supercharging the Vikings Defense for Just $15 Million in 2023 Kansas City Chiefs @ DEN 10. Furthermore, the Browns also have the fifth-fewest interceptions. However, in the Week 4 loss to the Raiders, the Broncos were pushed off the ball far too often in run defense. -- Paul Gutierrez, Defensive efficiency: 42.7 To win NFC +1800. A unit looking to finish the year strong defensively, they will get a boost if/when Young returns. It is important to note that Pittsburgh is 24th in sacks. If a team can get to Philly, it is on the ground. 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. Ranking 15th in points per game allowed, the Indy defense is still a middle-of-the-pack unit, but they have been slashed and gashed by superior offenses. When the Minnesota Vikings pass rush couldnt create pressure, it was finished. While the offense has taken a drastic step forward, the Jacksonville defense remains a liability. Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to take 2023 season off from The Minnesota Vikings sit at 9-2 going into week 13 and they are feeling really good about their chances down the stretch. Outside of rookie Roger McCreary, all of the Titans' primary cornerbacks have been beat for explosive plays. The biggest issue on defense is getting off the field on third down. Without either, the Browns couldn't get pressure, while the Falcons ran the ball at will. The unit is a headache for all challengers. They are also 31st in plays, showing they cant get off the field. Its Week 14, and while some team defenses are living up to the hype, others have fallen short or exceeded expectations. League rank: 32nd. Ive been watching since around 1995 and cant recall any season that was definitively better. Look for the defense to be addressed. We should be poised for a giant bounce back. All betting content on TheGameDay.com is exclusively intended for audience members 21 years and older who are permitted to gamble in legal states. Reinforcements could be on the way if Ugo Amadi recovers from an ankle injury that held him out of the past two games and Elijah Molden eventually returns from injured reserve.