NFL Defense Rankings 2026: Ranking Defenses in NFL Playoffs, Offseason Evaluations for Eliminated Teams

Our weekly NFL defense rankings examine every unit across the league to determine the best defenses in the NFL. With the preseason wrapped up, let’s dive into our evaluations for the worst and best NFL defenses this season. We’ll update our NFL defense rankings, with analysis on all 32 teams, every Sunday night each week.

Our NFL defense rankings are updated as of Sunday, January 4. We lead off by rankings the best and worst defenses in the NFL playoffs. After that, the defenses from eliminated teams are ranked with offseason analysis for each of them.

1. Houston Texans

It’s splitting hairs when comparing the best defenses in the NFL playoffs. The Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles have great coaching and a standout defensive line. What the Houston Texans bring is a cornerback tandem that is more than capable of locking down a team’s two best receivers. When you can generate one of the highest pressure rates in the NFL without blitzing and your secondary can shut down passing lanes for a quarterback under duress, you’re an absolute nightmare to face. Expect a defensive clinic from Houston on the road against the Ravens.

2. Seattle Seahawks

During the regular season, the Seattle Seahawks’ defense held an opponent under 20 points in 11 games. It allowed the second-lowest yards-per-play average (4.6) and scoring rate (28.7 percent) in the NFL. Mike Macdonald has all the chess pieces he needs defensively, with Seattle just as adept at shutting down the run game (3.7 yards per carry, first in the NFL) as it is the passing attack (6.0 yards per attempt, first in the NFL). With two weeks to prepare, this group should look even better.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

From Weeks 8–17, opponents averaged just 15.1 points and 291.4 total yards per game against the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. That came with quarterbacks completing just 54 percent of their pass attempts with a 5.02 yards-per-attempt average and a 68.4 passer rating, taking more than five times as many sacks (31) as passing touchdowns thrown (six). This unit is single-handedly capable of winning a playoff game for Philadelphia, and this team is going to become much more dangerous if the offense can maintain any form of consistency.

4. Los Angeles Chargers

Despite having arguably the league’s worst offensive line for half the season, the Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs and won 11 games. That is a testament to Jesse Minter’s defense. Heading into Week 18, Los Angeles boasted the sixth-best defense on third down (35.3 percent conversion rate), allowed the fourth-fewest red-zone touchdowns (23), and ranked sixth in yards per drive allowed (27.9). You can guarantee that Minter will have this defense very well-prepared for the Wild Card Round, and great coaching will be crucial to slowing down Drake Maye.

5. Denver Broncos

As dominant as this Denver Broncos defense was for a majority of the season, it did start to drop off a bit late in the year. From Weeks 10–17, Denver ranked 12th in EPA per play (−0.001) and surrendered 23.2 points per game in the final five contests prior to Week 18. The pass rush has not been quite as dominant, and the reliance on man coverage has seen some battles lost more frequently. This is still a great defense, but it is not the shutdown unit that it used to be.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense really turned things on down the stretch, allowing just 15.6 points and 266.7 total yards per game from Weeks 11 through 17. Across that span, quarterbacks had nearly as low of a passer rating (65.2) as they did a completion rate (61.7 percent), averaging just 5 yards per attempt with a 36.3 percent third-down conversion rate. Jacksonville might not have a ton of blue-chip talent defensively, but Anthony Campanile has done a phenomenal job with the one-year turnaround.

7. Los Angeles Rams

We have a ton of faith in the Los Angeles Rams’ pass rush, a front that is absolutely capable of taking over a game. There is a similar level of trust in defensive coordinator Chris Shula, who has really demonstrated this season why he is on the NFL’s head-coaching radar. However, this same Rams defense allowed 29.4 points and 365.6 total yards per game with a 6.1 yards-per-play average from Weeks 13–17, including three contests where the opponent rushed for 160-plus yards. The Rams can get through Wild Card Weekend, but there is some real volatility with this unit, and the wrong matchup could really expose the flaws.

8. New England Patriots

What version of the New England Patriots defense do we get in the playoffs? In the first nine games, New England allowed just 75.4 rushing yards per game with a 3.6 yards-per-carry average. Over the next seven contests, the Patriots defense allowed 141 rushing yards per game and 5 yards per carry. It does help that the front seven is now healthy, but we also can’t ignore that corner Carlton Davis III hasn’t exactly been consistent in coverage this year.

9. Buffalo Bills

During the regular season, the Buffalo Bills’ defense allowed under 100 passing yards 10 times, and quarterbacks finished with a passer rating below 72.0 on nine occasions. Passing the football is not the way to beat Buffalo; instead, you must keep it on the ground. This Bills defense allowed five-plus yards per carry eight times this year, with four opponents putting up 200-plus rushing yards and seven posting 160-plus yards on the ground.

10. Chicago Bears

It’s takeaways or bust for this Chicago Bears defense. Generating turnovers is the reason why, from Weeks 12–17, Chicago allowed 5.7 yards per play and nearly 350 total yards per game, but its opponents also put up just a modest 22 PPG. That dependence on takeaways can be credited in part to great coaching and good timing, but there is also a great deal of luck involved. Realistically, that luck will likely run out during the playoffs, and it is just a question of when.

11. Carolina Panthers

There are bad defenses in the NFL playoffs (the Packers and 49ers), and then there are the below-average. That is the category the Carolina Panthers fit into. Ejiro Evero’s group allowed nearly 23 points per game with a 5.4 yards-per-play average in its final seven regular-season games, but it kept quarterbacks in check (82.8 passer rating) with more sacks per game (2.0) than passing touchdowns allowed. Set for a Wild Card Round matchup against the Rams’ offense, it is worth remembering that Los Angeles averaged 7.4 yards per play but turned the ball over three times in their previous meeting. If the Panthers cannot repeat that turnover luck, it could look ugly for this group.

12. San Francisco 49ers

Similar to Green Bay, injuries decimated the San Francisco 49ers’ defense. We have also seen the toll those absences have taken lately, especially when defending against the run. In the final 10 games, San Francisco’s defense allowed a 4.6 yards-per-carry average and the highest Rushing Success Rate in the NFL. That is already one issue. Now we will highlight the fact that the 49ers have no pass rush to speak of. Those two weaknesses set San Francisco up to give up a lot of points to the Eagles’ offense on Wild Card Weekend.

13. Green Bay Packers

Without Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt, the Green Bay Packers have the worst defense in the NFL playoffs. Jeff Hafley is a great defensive coordinator, but there is only so much you can scheme when the defensive line cannot generate any pressure without blitzing. To make matters worse, even with Trevon Diggs providing Green Bay with much-needed depth, this is the worst cornerback room in the postseason. The game plan for Ben Johnson in the Wild Card Round should be simple: keep pounding the rock and give Caleb Williams a handful of deep shots. That is all it will take to decimate the Packers’ defense.

14. Baltimore Ravens

Updated after Sunday Night Football

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Updated after Sunday Night Football

16. Minnesota Vikings

As long as a team with a head-coaching vacancy doesn’t poach Brian Flores this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings’ defense will be great in 2026. There was a rough stretch midway through the season, but this group then allowed just 16.7 points and 261.1 total yards per game with a 4.25 yards-per-play average, limiting quarterbacks to a 61.8 passer rating with one passing touchdown and 21 sacks taken from Weeks 11–17. It is even more impressive because Minnesota’s cornerback room still is not exactly a glowing strength.

17. Cleveland Browns

As long as Myles Garrett is willing to play for the Cleveland Browns, this will be a top-10 defense in the NFL. What allowed this unit to be even better in 2025 was a standout season from rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger, with first-round pick Mason Graham also playing really well on the interior. There are plenty of issues on the other side of the ball to fix this offseason, but Cleveland’s defense will again be the absolute strength of this team next fall.

Related: Cleveland Browns Offseason Moves that Should be Made

18. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have building blocks defensively now in James Pearce Jr., Jalon Walker, and Xavier Watts. Pairing that rookie trio with A.J. Terrell, Jessie Bates, and Divine Deablo gives you a unit that can consistently play well and really stand out at defending the pass. The draft-day trade proved instrumental in turning this defense around, and as the youngsters get more experience, there is a path to the Falcons’ defense becoming an excellent unit next fall.

19. New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley truly did some impressive work this season in his first year with the group. Taking over a defense with a few aging stars, some draft busts, and relative unknowns, it only took a few months before it all started coming together. From Weeks 10–17, the Saints’ defense surrendered just 17.3 points and 269.7 total yards per game, allowing just a 58.5 percent completion rate and 5.3 yards per attempt to quarterbacks. Even more talent will come in this offseason, and that leaves us really optimistic about what Staley can do in 2026.

20. Indianapolis Colts

Health will be paramount for the Indianapolis Colts’ defense in 2026. Charvarius Ward landed on IR twice with concussions, DeForest Buckner missed significant time, and Sauce Gardner dealt with a lingering calf injury. If they can all stay on the field in Lou Anarumo’s defense, this can be a top-12 unit next season. Whether or not Indianapolis can be even better than that defensively comes down to what they do at edge rusher and off-ball linebacker this offseason.

21. Detroit Lions

The smaller concern with the Detroit Lions’ defense is the possibility of linebacker Alex Anzalone and edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad departing this offseason in free agency. Regardless of those potential exits, the graver concern is a secondary featuring Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch in the early stages of recovery from Achilles surgery while Kerby Joseph deals with a nagging long-term knee injury. If Detroit cannot find a truly impactful No. 2 edge rusher to pair opposite Aidan Hutchinson, this defense could struggle to be anything better than league-average in 2026.

22. Kansas City Chiefs

Chris Jones, in his age-31 season, showed signs of slowing down. It also became painfully apparent this fall that the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense does not have a true No. 1 edge rusher who can win with explosiveness. It might also be fair to question Trent McDuffie’s long-term future with the team; his contract demands may not be worth meeting if the front office views him primarily as a nickel corner rather than a boundary stopper against big-bodied receivers. What could really make a difference for Kansas City defensively next season, especially if Jones is more inconsistent at 32 years old, is using premium draft capital on an edge rusher, defensive tackle, and safety.

Related: Kansas City Chiefs Offseason Moves to Create Cap Space

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a strong start to the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense plummeted, much like the rest of the team. From Weeks 10–18, Tampa Bay allowed 351.3 total yards per game with a 6.25 yards-per-play average and a 102.4 opponent passer rating. This decline is a reflection on Todd Bowles, whose blitz-heavy tendencies seem to have become stale, as most offenses now have clear answers for his pressure packages.

24. New York Giants

The New York Giants’ defense really should have been so much better than it was in 2025. A front with Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux should anchor a top-15 defense. Unfortunately, the play out of the secondary was abysmal this season, and New York had a bottom-five run defense once again. We are holding out hope that a great defensive play-caller can finally unlock this unit’s potential, but we have been let down by the Giants’ defense before.

Related: New York Giants Offseason Moves That Should be Made

25. Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver truly did some impressive work with this unit in the second half of the season. From Weeks 8–17, the Dolphins’ defense allowed just 20.1 points and 325.6 total yards per game. Those are not elite statistics, but it is an achievement given the struggles in Miami’s secondary. Good coaching can do a lot to mask a unit’s holes; the issue is that the Dolphins will not have much cap space this offseason to improve the roster. The next Dolphins general manager must be exceptional at identifying talent in the NFL Draft; if they can do that, Weaver has proven he will maximize those players.

26. Las Vegas Raiders

Trading Maxx Crosby is certainly in the best long-term interest of the Las Vegas Raiders. However, look at what happened to the Cowboys and Packers over the years when All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons was off the field. If Crosby is not on the Raiders’ roster when the regular season kicks off, especially with the focus being placed on improving the offense for a rookie quarterback, this could be a bottom-three defense in 2026—if not worse.

Related: Las Vegas Raiders Offseason Moves that Should be Made

27. Arizona Cardinals

Here is the big problem with the Arizona Cardinals’ defense heading into 2026. Top corner Garrett Williams is in the early stages of recovering from Achilles surgery, Walter Nolen could miss significant time with a serious knee injury, and Calais Campbell might finally retire. The front seven needs a ton of work, even with Josh Sweat earning the contract he signed last offseason, and the secondary is now missing Williams while relying on an injury-prone corner in Will Johnson. There are plenty of reasons to fear Jonathan Gannon is coaching another bottom-10 defense next fall.

28. Cincinnati Bengals

Trey Hendrickson almost certainly won’t be taking the field for this Cincinnati Bengals defense in 2026 and first-round pick Shemar Stewart recorded just 4 pressures while playing 247 defensive snaps. The real issue we have with Cincinnati is that the front office has missed on so many picks on the defensive side of the ball and the lack of development from said players leads very little reason to believe a turnaround is coming. It also doesn’t help that DJ Turner, one of the few defensive standouts, will be in a contract year next season and that could create a whole new contract saga with the front office.

29. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans defense boasts Jeffery Simmons, T’Vondre Sweat, Amani Hooker, and not much else. It is also a bit unfortunate that defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson likely won’t get to stick around, as he was never really given the talent to help him out as a young play-caller. On the bright side, Tennessee boasts the cap space to invest in its secondary and linebacker corps this offseason, then later use its top-five pick to snag a premier edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pairing an impact edge rusher with Sweat and Simmons could be enough for this to become a top-20 defense next season.

30. Dallas Cowboys

It turns out that trading away a generational pass rusher results in your secondary being exposed on nearly every drive. Who would’ve thought? Even adding Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams did little to help a Dallas Cowboys defense that allowed at least three passing touchdowns six times and a passer rating over 100 in ten different games. The cornerback room needs to be overhauled, off-ball linebacker has been a glaring weakness for years, and there isn’t a blue-chip pass rusher left on this roster. Dallas simply can’t fix all of those issues in one offseason.

31. Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders defense needs an influx of talent on the defensive line and probably some new ideas brought forth to Dan Quinn in the meeting rooms. Washington allowed 29-plus points to an opponent seven times in 2025 and surrendered eight 400-yard games. By far the most pressing need is the pass rush, a weakness on this unit for the last two seasons under Quinn. Washington might also need to invest some Day 2 draft capital and cap space into the cornerback room, which has fallen well short of expectations.

Read More: NFL Teams with the Most Cap Space in 2026, including the Washington Commanders

32. New York Jets

The New York Jets defense went the entire 2025 season without an interception. That shouldn’t be possible, but this unit ‘accomplished’ it this year. Aaron Glenn oversaw a unit that finished with the lowest pressure rate in the NFL, and there arguably wasn’t a starting-caliber player in the Jets secondary. New York essentially needs to completely overhaul the secondary this offseason, and even then, it might only be a top-25 defense next fall.

Related: New York Jets Offseason Moves that Should be Made

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