Related: 5 NFL QB trades wed love to see this offseason. Still, it is not all bad for the Saints. 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. With David Onyemata and Marcus Davenport both set to hit the open market, salary cap restrictions will likely force New Orleans to lose at least one of them. The Los Angeles Chargers ended the regular season averaging 2.7 sacks per game with a 77.1 QB rating and 55.7% completion rate allowed to opponents in their past seven contests. 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. The Vikings rank in the bottom eight of almost every defensive category. CB Nnamdi Asomugha said the Eagles ' defense already looks more cohesive than it did last season. Some positives to build off of in an otherwise lost campaign. Ranked 28th in sacks, 31st in takeaways, and 26th in third-down percentage, this defense can simply not get off the field. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN From injuries to defending the run, every team has something it can improve on. Here's the weird part: It's not because of the pass rush. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is returning for the 2023 season, which might be the biggest offseason move for the Dallas Cowboys. Lets dive into our 2023 NFL defense rankings after Super Bowl LVII, evaluating every single defense and where they stand heading into the offseason. 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. Defense 2021 Stats - Minnesota Vikings The biggest issue on defense is getting off the field on third down. Although, Carolina would be wise to upgrade at safety. NFLPA Releases First Ever 'Report Cards' For All 32 NFL Teams After Surveying Every Player In League. League rank: 14th. The unit is a headache for all challengers. 1 ranking at defensive back also secures the top spot in the overall NFC North roster points standings. They have allowed the most yards per game to their opponent and consistently let players catch the ball shallow and they usually get yards after the catch to amplify that. I do think this is generally accurate tho, I mean, we know we have had really good defenses most years. Cant imagine 98 or 09 were better (although both were solid). 1 spot might be ambitious, but betting on Zimmer having a top-five defense is usually a smart decision. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New Orleans Saints) Regarding those last two: The Saints D is good, the . Danielle Hunter and Za'Darius Smith both finished in the top 15 of the PFF rankings for edge rushers. Adding an edge defender like Myles Murphy or Tyree Wilson would be an excellent step forward for this unit. . 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. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates: Explained: Predictions and Analysis for Vikings-Lions. League rank: 30. 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. When EK54 got hurt, the young front 7 began to crumble at the touch of a feather. Cap issues might push either linebacker Lavonte David or corner Jamel Dean out. Press J to jump to the feed. League rank: 3rd. Twelfth in sacks, but 28th in interceptions, the Colts defense has not been as opportunistic as they have been in years past. PFF Pass rush: 73.8-11th They need to find a way to turn those drives into field goals to right the ship. 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Cornerback Dane Jackson and safety Jordan Poyer have returned, but CB Christian Benford is still dealing with a right hand injury, S Micah Hyde (neck) is out for the season, DT Ed Oliver is recovering from a right ankle injury and CB Tre'Davious White continues to rehab a torn ACL in his left knee. They were fifth best in that category . The Chargers had a bunch of talent on defense last year, but the outfit was undermined by glaring holes at . Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports, 99.4 YPG-25th The Detroit Lions defense showed tangible progress late in the season. Most impressively, in a sign of things to come, the Lions averaged 3.1 sacks per game in those last seven games. Fantasy Football Defense Rankings 2022 - TeamRankings.com Vikings Territory: Explained: Predictions and Analysis for Vikings-Lions. Below, you will find our latest NFL Defense Power Rankings for 2022, ranking all 32 team defenses from around the league. Ryans will certainly help, but so much talent needs to be injected at every level of this defense. Performance is also adjusted for the quality of the opponent. QB Power Rankings: Williams leads trio of Pac-12 stars . The Broncos had surrendered only six points in the second half of their first three games combined, so they were rolling. These are the Vikings definitive year-end defensive rankings. This might be a minor quibble given how well the unit is playing as a whole. Still, when you are allowing 18.8 points per game, you are going to be in every football game, especially when you are ranked in the top four in sacks and picks. 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. They don't have an edge rusher with more than one sack and have called the third-most blitzes (57) so far this season. If a team can get to Philly, it is on the ground. Baltimore Ravens After allowing opponents to average a 96.5 QB rating with 262.2 pass ypg and a 16-8 TD-INT line in the first 10 games, Detroit ceded a 59% completion rate 222.4 pass ypg and 10-4 TD-INT in its final seven contests. We will probably have at least one new returner. The biggest issue on defense is soft coverage. Jets GM Joe Douglas has also hit on a few key free-agent acquisitions, including D.J. Martin/Thomas/Millard/Doleman all had years in their career with over ten sacks. Labeled as a top-five defense heading into the 2022 season, the Green Bay Packers didnt play like it until late in the year. This was an issue last year, and it continues to be one this season. Look for the defense to be addressed. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. Assessing Browns' FA needs, Defensive efficiency: 69.3 2 corner to help this unit maintain its status as one of the best NFL defenses in 2023. The Ravens defense had an erratic start to the year. The biggest issue on defense is effectively rushing the passer. A lot of analysts believe that the Vikings are not what their record says they are. 6) New England Patriots. Lunchbreak: Stats Show Vikings Defense Incorporating 'Bend-Don't-Break Thankfully, the defense is not devoid of talent. Minnesota Vikings (3-1) Week 4 ranking: 9. They are also 31st in plays, showing they cant get off the field. 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. NFL Defensive Team Rankings 2022-23 - Lineups Tennessee Titans @ HOU 8. -- Stephen Holder, Defensive efficiency: 46.0 However, I am doing so because this should have been expected. Related: NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl. The offense has been so bad with three-and-outs and turnovers that the defense continues to be forced back on the field. They have found a way to score 23+ points in each of their wins this season. 2022 NFL Team Defense Statistics The following are the 2022 NFL team overall defense statistics, including team rushing yardage, team passing yardage and total team yardage. 4. -- Ben Baby, Defensive efficiency: 60.8 With an Eagles team that runs the ball effectively in their division, the Cowboys have to get better. The Raiders made a key move this offseason with the acquisition of Chandler Jones. Miami currently has the second-worst pass defense in the NFL through its first four games, although that hasn't translated to the scoreboard. 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. To further get a better sense of what this team is and how they rank, I took a look at how their units rank across the league. League rank: 9th. 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. Vikings Defense at Bye: Stats Explain 5-1 Start & Room to Improve The best bench press performance of the day went to Michigan's Mazi Smith. He'll need to work on his route-running and consistency in the NFL. Given Bobby Okereke is a free agent, it adds linebacker to the pressing list of needs this offseason. 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. Theyve allowed the second-fewest touchdowns while remaining stout in the red zone. Fantasy Football Defense Rankings (2022) 1 in our NFL defense rankings, the Los Angeles Rams have rolled into a freefall. . 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. -- Michael Rothstein, Defensive efficiency: 42.4 With the right defensive coordinator and the addition of a No. When you are a top-four defense in plays and touchdowns allowed, you are going to win a lot of football games. It's time to project how each team's defense will fare in 2021. If the rights additions are made and second-year leaps happen, this could be a very good defense in 2023. However, a tight salary cap means losing at least two impact defenders and that will have significant ramifications on the Bills defense. Friday, March 03. The biggest issue on defense is third-down conversions. They open up against Miami and . The Falcons are another team that we expected to struggle defensively. "Last year, we sort of had to feel our way through things because we didn't have an offseason together. There should be even greater improvement under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. To win NFC +1800. Dallas' struggling offense managed three pass plays of at least that length. 2 outside corner, this could be an excellent unit. 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. However, defensively, it hasnt been that bad. Vikings Defensive Rankings By Year 2008 To 2021 | StatMuse However, the Vikings are one of the best teams in the NFC because they find a way to get the job done, making plays when they need to. Vikings offensive and defensive rankings: a breakdown They finished with a grade of 74.5, good enough for third in the NFL. Defensive efficiency: 39.6 League rank: 27th. The team is also feeling the aftermath of horrendous drafts from Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden. Sign up for the Vikings Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, The Vikings were well represented on the PFF top 101. The biggest issue on defense is injuries to the secondary. More NFL coverage . NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF 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. A lot has changed since those initial rankings were posted. 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. League rank: 29th. It was 2nd worst in the league and we never read or talk about it. Learn More > Advanced research data including targets, touches and red zone opportunities are also available. Latest details on the Deshaun Watson case, plus ranking top-10 The Vikings have historically been a defense-first franchise, notwithstanding some cloddish stretches. The Steelers ranked second in D/ST scores last year. The Bills' defense is ranked in the top five of almost every major category -- with third-down defense (41.3%, 19th) being one of a few concerns. They have legit talent at all three levels of their defense. Ranking NFL's top 10 defenses for 2021: Hail to the Football Team, with They did a better job of it in 2019 but still came up short when it mattered. The defense has been much improved from a season ago, but this is the next step toward being the type of unit that defensive coordinator Dean Pees wants to have in Atlanta. Teammate Glover Quin has performed like an elite safety for years and earned an . They are scoring slightly less than the 25.0 PPG than they did last year, but they are playing better defense and consistency is more important than overall points. League rank: 2nd. 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. They must also find a way to create more turnovers. Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. Who has the best NFL defense in 2023? But Garrett is going to have to play through left shoulder and right biceps injuries, at least in the short term. The Chicago Bears had the worst defense in the NFL this season. 2 cornerback Marcus Peters and its top two edge rushers to free agency. 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. Honestly, there's very little to nitpick the Bengals' defense about. They converted each into a touchdown. The Minnesota Vikings sit at 9-2 going into week 13 and they are feeling really good about their chances down the stretch. Related: Indianapolis Colts mock draft 2023\. Denver Broncos (at Raiders) 13. The Bengals defense is a lot better than their points-per-game ranking suggests (12th). Plus, edge rusher George Karlaftis showed improvement and defensive tackle Chris Jones played like the Defensive Player of the Year. The Vikings have been good at defending the run and PFF thinks they are among the best in doing so. The defensive line was gassed after dominating all year and the Eagles RPO took full advantage. I am being generous with my ranking of the Cardinals. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Outside of Grady Jarrett and A.J. 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. This shows that the organization is looking to rebuild for 2023 and beyond. Sure, they managed to improve this season, but they are very much a middle-of-the-pack bunch. But what has also stood out is how many injuries the Bills have accumulated, especially in the secondary. 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. Looking ahead to 2023, the combo of Christian Wilkins and Jaelan Phillips will be phenomenal. If you are looking to make a wager on the NFL, perhaps on some defensive props, be sure to check out the best sportsbook promos. 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. It is difficult to put any team ahead of the 49ers. -- Michael DiRocco, Defensive efficiency: 47.3 Overall, this unit likely tops out as a top-12 defense. Green Bay Packers @ DET 4. | 8th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for sleepers (2020) Plenty of work remains. Supercharging the Vikings Defense for Just $15 Million in 2023 Jan 15, 2022 The Minnesota Vikings ended their disappointing 2021 campaign with an 8-9 record, missing the postseason altogether and firing their general manager and head coach. . However, the all-around play of the Cowboys defense is hard to ignore. 2 in takeaways and No. They're actually getting decent pressure on the quarterback, with a 35% pressure rate (19th) on third down. 2023 NFL Combine Bench Press Results - profootballnetwork.com 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. Cincinnati has one of the best defenses in the NFL. CAR 3. | 13th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for in-season accuracy, including 2nd at quarterback and 3rd at tight end (2021). While they are worse on offense, their defense has not been able to carry them. -- Tim McManus, Defensive efficiency: 57.9 Here's our new No. This is another club chock full of young talent with seasoned vets in the mix. 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. 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 SUBSCRIBE: $1 for 3 months. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). 2023 NFL Draft Mock: Mel Kiper's First Round Picks, Predictions