NFL Defense Rankings 2024: Ranking All 32 NFL Defenses

You’ve heard it before: offense gets the glory, defense wins championships. 

The NFL in 2024 might be skewed to favor offenses, but defense still reigns supreme. The top three Super Bowl favorites allowed the fewest points per game a year ago and are expected to be highly competitive on that side of the ball again.

We update our NFL Offense Rankings weekly, but here, it’s all about the backbone of every team: the defense.

Here are our rankings for all 32 NFL defenses.

Grant Mitchell covers a wide array of topics in the gambling industry, including trends, legislative updates, and headlines in casino and sports betting.

Ranking All 32 NFL Defenses

32. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals allowed the second-most points per game and ranked dead last in DVOA in 2023. Head coach Jonathan Ganon came over from the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC-champion 2022 squad but failed to make any noticeable improvements for a team that has spent the past few seasons riding the struggle bus. The Cards’ defense has a few solid names on paper but hasn’t impressed in a long time.

31. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game last year, but a large part of that was because opponents often had leads late in games and ran the ball to drain the clock, foregoing their chances of racking up gaudy passing totals. In any case, the defense lost its best player in Brian Burns to the Giants and is undermanned in every unit.

30. Denver Broncos

Sean Payton’s crew memorably surrendered 70 points to the Miami Dolphins in a non-overtime game last year. They showed signs of improvement for the next couple of months but were one of the least talented groups in the league and got even worse during the offseason due to player departures. The team is counting on its youth, but we don’t foresee them having a successful season.

29. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were likely one dropped pass away from winning the AFC South and advancing to the playoffs last year, though that was almost entirely on the back of their offense. Their secondary is young and doesn’t run very deep, but they should be able to get after the passer with Kwity Paye, DeForest Buckner, and Laiatu Latu, a rookie whom many considered the best pass-rusher in the draft.

28. Tennessee Titans

The Titans spent the big bucks during the offseason to make themselves a competitive team in a young and bubbling AFC South. They fired head coach Mike Vrabel and replaced him with an offensive-minded coach, but they added cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to a group that has been outstanding in containing the run but just hasn’t been able to defend the downfield pass.

27. Washington Commanders

The Commanders underwent more offseason player movement than any team in the league by a wide margin. They also brought in a defensive-minded head coach in Dan Quinn and a new defensive coordinator in Joe Whitt Jr., who will try to get the best out of a unit that was at the bottom of nearly every metric a year ago. On the bright side, the linebacking corps will be elite, and rookies Jer’Zhan Newton and Mike Sainristil should both see the field sooner rather than later. 

26. New England Patriots

The Patriots have the personnel to be an elite defensive team but are putting lots of faith in Jerod Mayo, a 36-year-old first-time head coach, to replace the mighty Bill Belichick. Christian Gonzalez and Matthew Judon are both special players but will need to adapt to a new system with Mayo, who is a total unknown as a sideline leader.

25. New York Giants

The G-Men will rely on their literal giants up front to carry them defensively. The front line of Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence II, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches is simply one of the best in the entire league, but their linebackers and secondary both leave a lot to be desired. Expect them to be great at stuffing the run and to be disruptive, but still surrender lots of points. 

24. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags fell apart late in the season after Trevor Lawrence suffered an ankle injury, but their defense flew under the radar. They ranked 10th in DVOA and ninth in rushing yards allowed per game, but their shoddy secondary was often exposed through the air. If they can tighten up the screws on the back end, they’ll have a higher upside than most teams in this neighborhood. 

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In what seems to be a common theme for NFC South squads, the Bucs were great on the ground (fourth-fewest rushing yards allowed per game) but couldn’t stop the pass. They held onto Antoine Winfield Jr. but lost several notable contributors at different levels and will be in for a much tougher challenge in the division this time around.

22. Detroit Lions

The Lions had one of the greatest disparities in run-pass ability in the NFL. They were outstanding against the run but provided essentially no resistance to opposing quarterbacks, which is a major reason why they blew a 17-point halftime lead in the NFC Championship Game. The additions of Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold should boost their pass defense, while Macus Davenport will give them more beef in the front-seven.

21. Minnesota Vikings

Brian Flores continued to prove himself as a defensive mind in his first year with the Vikings, helping them improve from a bottom-three pass defense and to rank eighth in rushing yards and 13th in points allowed per game. Andrew Van Ginkel had the best year of his career last year and headlines several offseason signings for the Purple People Eaters.

20. Seattle Seahawks

Mike MacDonald engineered one of the best defenses in college football at the University of Michigan in 2022 and then oversaw one of the best defenses in the 21st century last year as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator. He will take his secrets to the Seahawks, who have a terrific pair of young corners and can get after the quarterback but haven’t found much overall success.

19. Los Angeles Rams

No Aaron Donald, no problem? Young Kobie Turner had nine sacks from the interior as a rookie and will be aided in his pursuit of the quarterback by rookie first-round pick Jared Verse. Tre’Davious White and Kamren Curl are both excellent players in the secondary, and the Rams are likely to turn a few heads in their first year without Donald in over a decade.

18. New Orleans Saints

If you want a team that gets sacks, stuffs the run, and still doesn’t get national recognition, you want the Saints. Part of their issue is simply how long they’re on the field and how little help they received from the offense in 2023. They added Chase Young and Willie Gay and allowed the sixth-fewest points per game a year ago, which makes them liable to move up our list as the year progresses.

17. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons made a slew of changes in personnel last summer and repealed the rewards, ranking eighth in rushing yards allowed per game and about league-average in points and passing yards allowed per game. They didn’t make any major additions during the offseason but hired a defensive-minded coach in Raheem Morris, who will look to build on their recent improvement.  

16. Los Angeles Chargers

Jim Harbaugh is no stranger to winning or excellent defense. He has the highest winning percentage amongst all active NFL head coaches and oversaw the nation’s best defense at Michigan and is inheriting a ton of talent with players such as Joey Bosa, Derwin James, and Kahlil Mack, among others. The Bolts underachieved for three or four straight seasons but have the talent to make some noise.

15. Green Bay Packers

The Packers are a young team on both sides, which makes their arrival in the playoffs last year an ominous warning for the rest of the league. Their defense ranked 13th in points per game despite playing in a division with the Lions, one of the league’s highest-scoring teams, and is loaded with high-potential players. Edgerrin Cooper and Xavier McKinney headline a crop of new arrivals expected to make an immediate impact.

14. Buffalo Bills

The Bills are finally taking their medicine and addressing their wage bill and are likely to take a step back. Their defense was still one of the 10 best in the league last year despite dealing with numerous injuries, but the roster turnover and added pressure from the offense also due to regress back should leave them floundering somewhere in the middle of the league. 

13. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals’ defense disappointed last year, one year after it ranked in the top five for points allowed per game. They replaced D.J. Reader with Sheldon Rankins and added the league’s joint-leading interception man in safety Geno Stone, giving them a reasonable shot at a bounce-back year. The AFC North will be a bloodbath yet again, and their ability to get stops and win within the margins will define their season. 

12. Miami Dolphins

Despite their inability to beat more than one team with a winning record, expectations are high for the Dolphins. The loss of Christina Wilkins looms large (literally), but the additions of Calais Campbell, Kendall Fuller, and Jordan Poyer will solidify a team that was often gashed. The Miami offense will score points, so the defense needs to be prepared to defend deep down the field.

11. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles went from allowing the fewest passing yards per game in 2022 to the third-most per game in 2023, which is why they drafted two corners (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) and brought back safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The pass-rush is more than serviceable but isn’t elite like it once was, and they’re counting on lots of young players as they pursue another Super Bowl appearance. 

10. Las Vegas Raiders

Get ready for the Raiders to be one of the surprises of the league. Antonio Pierce got the team ready to battle last year in an impressive season for the interim coach who was upgraded to head coach during the summer. Christian Wilkins and Maxx Crosby will control the defensive line, and they’re one developmental year from the secondary away from becoming an elite unit.

9. Houston Texans

The Texans are firmly the “it” team, with many believing they can build on an impressive 2023 with a potential Super Bowl run. They were eighth in rushing yards and 11th in points allowed per game and added Danielle Hunter and Jeff Okudah to the defense. Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. are also entering their second and third years and will continue to grow as potential stars for H-Town.

8. Chicago Bears

The Monsters of the Midway could be back. In nine games with Montez Sweat (following a trade with the Commanders), the Bears allowed just 17.8 points per game, a mark that would rank third if applied to the entire year. That was while dealing with a much worse offense than the one they are expected to field, not to mention they added Kevin Byard III to command the secondary. 

7. Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin perennially finishes with a winning record and finds a way to reach the playoffs, but the bigger story here is that the Steelers win nearly two-thirds of their games when T.J. Watt is on the field. They swiped All-Pro linebacker Patrick Queen from the Ravens and are still improving their young but talented secondary.

6. New York Jets

Some people may have the Jets as high as first on their respective lists. While we can’t quite venture that far, the defense has carried the Jets for the past two seasons and is undoubtedly capable of playing at an elite level. Their pass coverage in particular is arguably the best in the league, and Quinnen Williams can nearly shut down the rushing game on his own.

5. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas is liable to take a major step back following the departures of Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr., but they have too much talent to be downgraded without a true decline in performances. Micah Parsons is the obvious standout for a team that was excellent at forcing turnovers and can play at a high level against both the run and the pass.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs ranked second in points and yards allowed and in total sacks in their second straight Super Bowl-winning season. The loss of Sneed to the Titans could hurt them, but they have a proven ability to draft and cultivate talent in their secondary. They also brought back Chris Jones on a massive contract and have several other capable pass-rushers, along with a healthy Nick Bolton.

3. Baltimore Ravens

Nothing is impossible, but there’s an extremely high chance that the Ravens’ defense isn’t as unbelievably amazing as it was last year. They lost several key contributors and defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald, which should force them to take an inevitable step back. That said, they have an abundance of talent all over the field and have a strong identity that sticks with them from year to year.

2. Cleveland Browns

The Browns’ defense seemed as if it was capable of carrying the team to the AFC Championship Game until they were annihilated by the Texans (largely because of Joe Flacco’s poor showing). They enter the new campaign with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, and after ranking in the top 10 in passing and rushing yards allowed. Any notable contributions from the offense will help the defense flash its true potential of the best in the league.

1. San Francisco 49ers

The Niners are tough to rank. Although they haven’t had the best defense in football in a few years, they seem to always be in the top three or top five, depending on who you ask. They were third in points and fourth in rushing yards allowed last year and are stacked with All-Pros at every level, making them the defense with the highest floor, and arguably, the highest ceiling.

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Top Five NFL Passing Defenses

5. San Francisco 49ers

The Niners’ front-seven tends to get the majority of the praise, but their secondary is elite. Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga are the standouts for a squad that might not look great in simple yardage, though that’s largely because they’re usually winning late in games and force opponents to abandon the run. They also get after the quarterback and get lots of both standard and coverage sacks. 

4. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas has had its troubles against high-caliber opponents but just might be the best defense in the league on any given week, especially at its peak. Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence can collapse any pocket, and they have a real knack for snagging interceptions. They also ranked ninth in points allowed despite missing Trevon Diggs, their top cornerback, for all but two games. 

3. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore makes another appearance on our list, but with a caveat. Teams are probably going to have more time to throw the ball and won’t have a ballhawk in Stone patrolling the center of the secondary, which could lead to them surrendering more chunk plays than they did a year ago. Regardless, they have the proof of concept and are a top contender heading into the new season.

2. New York Jets

Good luck throwing the ball on the Jets. The cornerback pairing of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed is among the best in the league, while C.J. Moseley and Quincy Williams ranked first and second in Pro Football Focus’ linebacker coverage ratings. They’ve been responsible for nearly all of the Jets’ (limited) recent success and are begging for production from the offense.

1. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland wound up second in passing yards allowed per game at 171.1, less than three yards behind the Jets. Like many of the great pass defenses, they are aided by their ability to get after the quarterback but also have a characteristic aggressive style that fits their players. We expect them to be even better than they were last year if the offense can move the ball to greater effect than it did in 2023. 

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Top Five NFL Rushing Defenses

5. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore again… we’ve said pretty much everything there is to say at this point. Roquan Smith is one of the best tacklers in the league, and their defensive line is beefy to the point there basically aren’t holes to run through. Good luck to their opponents.

4. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland also made all three of our lists here. They are used to playing tough-nosed football and fly around the field, which is why they are a fitting top-five team on our list of the best rushing defenses.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers ranked fifth in rushing yards allowed per game in 2023 and have heavy-hitters in the front-seven, including Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and Lavonte David. The speed of their linebacking corps is an underrated asset behind one of the league’s best stuffers in Vea.

2. Detroit Lions

As previously mentioned, the Lions ranked second in rushing yards allowed per game with a stingy 91.1. They should be even better with D.J. Reader sliding into the center of the defensive line, not to mention Jack Campbell was a rookie last year and should have an even better understanding of the professional game. 

1. San Francisco 49ers

The Niners are, once again, the safest pick there is. The defensive line is capable of dominating nearly every offensive line in the league, and the linebacking corps is unflappable under the leadership of Fred Warner. Don’t look for them to let up in their pursuit of a Super Bowl ring despite constantly running into the thorn that is Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

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NFL Defense Rankings 2023