The Chargers had a bunch of talent on defense last year, but the outfit was undermined by glaring holes at . T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Minkah Fitzpatrick are the reason why Pittsburgh has one of the best NFL defenses in 2023. When you can hold the Chiefs to 24 points, you know you are doing something right. Its defense has faced the third-most pass attempts in the NFL this season. 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 . There are also 15 teams this week that have a 2-2 record. -- Todd Archer, Defensive efficiency: 74.5 Here's the bad news: The Vikings defense currently ranks 25th in the NFL according to Football Outsiders' DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), which is an opponent-adjusted. The Vikings' No. 6) New England Patriots. 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. The Bills finished as the fourth-ranked defense for fantasy last year. The Washington defense is a big reason why this team is in the postseason conversation in December. NFLPA Releases First Ever 'Report Cards' For All 32 NFL Teams After Surveying Every Player In League. The biggest issue on defense is finishing the game. 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. Once Brock Purdy went out and San Francisco trailed by two scores with a fourth-string quarterback, that was a wrap for this defense. The Giants have played very well for the most part, but need to improve their run defense. 2. 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. But Garrett is going to have to play through left shoulder and right biceps injuries, at least in the short term. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons finished with the lowest pressure rate (14.6%) and the second-fewest sacks (20) in the NFL. League rank: 5th. The Vikings have been good at defending the run and PFF thinks they are among the best in doing so. With Jamin Davis added in the 2021 NFL Draft, things are only looking up for this young defense. Most impressively, in a sign of things to come, the Lions averaged 3.1 sacks per game in those last seven games. 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. However, the all-around play of the Cowboys defense is hard to ignore. At safety, the team is set with Harison Smith and rookie Lewis. 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. Figures indicate statistics each team allowed to their opponents. The Vikings ranked sixth again at 77.3, tied with the Miami Dolphins. It wasnt a clean performance, but this is also a young defense. The losses in the secondary could have significant ramifications on this pass defense in 2023. This is one defense that offenses struggle to get anything going against. To win Super Bowl +4500. It was 2nd worst in the league and we never read or talk about it. 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. -- Brady Henderson, Defensive efficiency: 37.6 Through four games, Tennessee has given up five plays of 40 yards or more. The Saints' defense has been good all year despite the offense's shortcomings and quarterback changes. The Giants field one of the more surprising defenses in the NFL, thanks to new defensive coordinator Don Wink" Martindale. A variety of factors were included in these rankings, including returning personnel, how these defenses performed in recent. They can look atrocious at times, but Kansas City always finds a way to tighten up in big spots and in the money months. Over the course of the last two years, the NFLPA has sat down and drawn up ways to improve available information for free agents who are making decisions about where they'd like to play next, and this . Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. A lot of analysts believe that the Vikings are not what their record says they are. When looking at the season from a macro view, things are wildly different depending on where you look. Outside of Grady Jarrett and A.J. 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 . When youre not getting pressure, opposing signal-callers will pick you apart. With an Eagles team that runs the ball effectively in their division, the Cowboys have to get better. CAR 3. Even that's a reach, as corners Darius Slay (forearm) and Avonte Maddox (right ankle) are expected back soon. PFF viewed the Vikings as a good tackling team, ranking them fourth in the NFL with a grade of 85.5. This is a defense built for a Super Bowl run. Related: Latest on Washington Commanders sale. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, Defensive efficiency: 62.7 Still very sound against the run, the Steelers are 27th in passing yards and 30th in passing touchdowns conceded. But what has also stood out is how many injuries the Bills have accumulated, especially in the secondary. 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. That's been costly for a team that continues to lose close games, and fatigue might be a problem. Teams have still been able to run on the Buccaneers, something that was an afterthought under Todd Bowles, but theyre a bit more difficult to throw on, allowing the fifth-fewest passing yards in the NFL. 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 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. They are also a top-end unit when it comes to sacks and takeaways. It's hard to argue. The Kansas City Chiefs certainly didnt win the Super Bowl because of their defense. DVOA isn't perfect but it gives you a good idea of about where that team ranked in that category. The Vikings defense overall has had stretches of brilliance and others where you question literally everything. -- Michael Rothstein, Defensive efficiency: 42.4 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. 1 spot might be ambitious, but betting on Zimmer having a top-five defense is usually a smart decision. -- Courtney Cronin, Defensive efficiency: 54.3 The Dolphins have been stout against the run, and the numbers they've given up are a bit skewed considering Josh Allen's 63 pass attempts in Week 3 and Lamar Jackson's prolific first half in Week 2. Maybe the most talented DL in Viking history outside of the Purple People Eaters. Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; New Orleans Saints running back Latavius Murray (28) scores a touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Tay Gowan (31) defends during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ranking the top 20 NFL defenses ahead of Week 17 of the 2021 season. 1 in our NFL defense rankings, the Los Angeles Rams have rolled into a freefall. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/vikings-offense-defense-kevin-oconnell-ed-donatell/. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The defense lead the Vikings to a road playoff win vs the Saints. 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. Maybe this shouldnt surprise anyone, but the Lions have the NFLs worst defense. The Panthers give up the 14th-most points per game. Its understandable to not fully buy into the team, but 23rd in the league is quite the outlier. And you cant blame Chicagos inability to stop the run on the Roquan Smith trade. 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. Jets GM Joe Douglas has also hit on a few key free-agent acquisitions, including D.J. League rank: 9th. They are the No. 1 ranking at defensive back also secures the top spot in the overall NFC North roster points standings. Using DVOA once more, the Vikings rank 11th in "mid-zone" defense (plays between the opponents' 40-yard line and their 40-yard line) and 15th in "front zone" defense, (plays between . The biggest issue on defense is the nickel package. The Vikings were viewed in excellent fashion by PFF in run defense, finishing second in the NFL with a grade of 85.4. He brings a brilliant defensive mind and his philosophies should get even more out of this unit. Only the 49ers, Rams and New England Patriots ranked ahead of them. | 13th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for in-season accuracy, including 2nd at quarterback and 3rd at tight end (2021). -- Michael DiRocco, Defensive efficiency: 47.3 Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee (6-0, 18 pounds) Hyatt has great speed as a dynamic field-stretching big-play threat. A star-studded unit with menacing players that include Fred Warner and Nick Bosa in the front seven, we have also seen the emergence of Talanoa Hufanga, who is already one of the leagues best safeties. The New England Patriots defense played outstanding in 2022, with breakout campaigns from Josh Uche, Kyle Dugger and JaWhaun Bentley. This shows that the organization is looking to rebuild for 2023 and beyond. 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. So 3 years were ahead of 2017 by total number but one of those was ranked #4 within it's year. 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 best bench press performance of the day went to Michigan's Mazi Smith. In fact, its now a liability. Adding an edge defender like Myles Murphy or Tyree Wilson would be an excellent step forward for this unit. Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. They must also find a way to create more turnovers. If they can get these areas right, they will be a vastly improved defense in 2023. The New England Patriots were the highest-scoring defense in 2019. 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. New Orleans Saints @ ATL 6. I wanted to look this up and post it because I've seen a lot of people say that we had bad defenses in 2018 and 2019. 1 of 11. Dont get me wrong, this is still one of the best defenses in the NFL, allowing the fourth-fewest points. Transactions | Injuries New York Giants. 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. | 8th most accurate ranker in the FantasyPros ECR for sleepers (2020) While building around Justin Fields is a priority, the Bears defense will also be completely overhauled. The biggest issue on defense is allowing big plays. With the right defensive coordinator and the addition of a No. Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit The Chicago Bears had the worst defense in the NFL this season. Minnesota scored when Allen didnt handle the snap at the goal line and the Vikings recovered the ball in the end zone. The biggest issue on defense is soft coverage. The defense struggles in yards per rush, red zone efficiency and third-down conversions -- ranking last in all categories. While they are still one of the leagues best, the Patriots struggle at times defending the pass. March 1, 2023. The Vikings offense has been good so far this season. 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. Still, there is room for improvement in terms of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. 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. See how each team defense ranks against the rest and see updated stats and rankings throughout the year. Jim Schwartz has plenty to work with, but Schwartzs approach doesnt work without a strong defensive interior and improved play on the boundary. The Giants are 19th in the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 41.2%. The nickel package has struggled with veteran Terrance Mitchell and second-year player Caleb Farley finding their way as they rotate opposite of Kristian Fulton. Look for the defense to be addressed. PFF Pass rush: 73.8-11th Welcome to Week 5 of the NFL regular season. 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. From 2015 to 2019, the Vikings were consistently towards the . Despite employing notable names like Bobby Wagner, Jalen Ramsey, and Aaron Donald, the Los Angeles defense has holes and is beginning to age. SUBSCRIBE: $1 for 3 months. The biggest issue on defense is effectively rushing the passer. Despite a rough start to the year, as well as the fact that Chase Young has yet to play a snap, Jack Del Rios unit has turned it around. In the industry, Anthony has excelled in both the fantasy football and sports betting space with fantasy his proverbial bread and butter. Green Bays secondary has done its part. League rank: 14th. They have figured it out in critical stretches and have played well against top-tier quarterbacks and offenses. The Vikings put the NFL on notice following three consecutive years of defensive domination. The Minnesota Vikings sit at 9-2 going into week 13 and they are feeling really good about their chances down the stretch. The Falcons are allowing opponents to convert 44% of third-down chances, ranking 24th out of the 32 teams. 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. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. Running back Dalvin Cook is a top 5 back in the league due to his speed, footwork, and pass catching ability. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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. Moving off as many draft picks as the Rams have through the years is catching up to them, as is a mismanaged salary cap. Usually these comments are made in one of the endless Kirk arguments to say he never had a good defense. However, Washington allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns because corner is a glaring issue that must be addressed via free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft. 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. Speaking of special teams, have we done much to improve in this area other than hire a new coordinator? Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. -- Alaina Getzenberg, Defensive efficiency: 85.7 Depending on your scoring sytem, Dallas or New England were the two top fantasy defenses in 2021. 1 in sacks. J.J. Watt may be an elite player on the back end of his career, but he cant do it alone. Here's our new No. 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. This was especially so when Denver was forced into its nickel package on defense and the Raiders then pounded away at it. Martindale immediately turned around a defense that had an erratic run in 2021. Who threw the most touchdowns in the 1990s? It is difficult to put any team ahead of the 49ers. 3. They have found a way to score 23+ points in each of their wins this season. Find the most recent updates each day . -- Rob Demovsky, Defensive efficiency: 46.2 CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND 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. If a team can get to Philly, it is on the ground. 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. The Cardinals' four sacks are the fewest in the NFL, and their sacks per pass attempt rate is a league-low 2.88%. Advanced research data including targets, touches and red zone opportunities are also available. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). Stroud: No. The team is also feeling the aftermath of horrendous drafts from Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden. Here you go: Vikings top 6 DVOA rankings 2008 was a legit D. Great DL, Good LBs, Better secondary than 2009 because that creep Sharper was still on the team. 1 in the NFL defense rankings. I went by the total number (2017 being -12.3). They did a better job of it in 2019 but still came up short when it mattered. 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. Responsible Gaming: Many sportsbooks offer ways to encourage responsible gaming, including the establishment of limits to deposits, spending, and time dedicated to betting. 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. It is important to note that Pittsburgh is 24th in sacks. Outside of rookie Roger McCreary, all of the Titans' primary cornerbacks have been beat for explosive plays. 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. Getting Von Miller and Micah Hyde back for the 2023 NFL season are huge boosts for the Buffalo Bills defense. Red zone plays are worth more than other plays. 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. But not anywhere near the level of '17 While they are 7-5, nobody expected them to be where they are entering Week 14. Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Full schedule | Standings However, when it comes to the Broncos defense, they have done their part to keep this team in games. The Cardinals have been able to get to the quarterback and get their hands on him at times, as was the case against Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, but getting opposing quarterbacks down has been a struggle. The biggest issue on defense is defending the pass. League rank: 2nd. DVOA: -0.3-23rd. Leonard has been ruled out for Thursday night's game at Denver. Minnesota's secondary features multiple superstar players, several up-and-coming stars, an ageless mystery and virtually no weaknesses. Tennessees pass rush should also improve in 2023 with the return of Harold Landry. Related: 5 NFL QB trades wed love to see this offseason. 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. These are the Vikings definitive year-end defensive rankings. Bet Tip: Cowboys to Win Super Bowl 57 (+800) at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Steelers ranked second in D/ST scores last year. 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. 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. League rank: 16th. Rookie cornerbacks arent supposed to be great early, but Sauce Gardner became an All-Pro in his first season. They have the 2017 team as the only one that ranks with the Purple People Eaters. Labeled as a top-five defense heading into the 2022 season, the Green Bay Packers didnt play like it until late in the year. The biggest issue on defense is a consistent pass rush. 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. The Indianapolis Colts can no longer count on Shaquille Leonard to stay healthy for a full season. Use the rankings and projections below to help you win your fantasy football draft. . While the offense has taken a drastic step forward, the Jacksonville defense remains a liability. It's that time of year again, when the top . The Dolphins made him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL for a reason and the 2023 season will show why. 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. After Baltimore totaled 126 yards in the second half in Week 3, and Green Bay totaled 199 yards on 35 carries overall in Week 4, it has exposed a vulnerability for the Patriots.