NFL defense rankings 2024: Best and worst NFL defenses right now, Week 16 fantasy defense rankings

Who has the best NFL defense in 2024? Our weekly NFL defense rankings examine every unit across the league every week to determine the best defenses in the NFL.

Let’s dive into our NFL defense rankings following Week 15. Note: Our NFL defense rankings are season-long, but you can find our Week 15 fantasy defense rankings below followed by our analysis of all 32 defenses.

NFL defensive statistics are from ESPN, RBSDM.com and Pro Football Reference. Feedback on our NFL defense rankings can be sent on Bluesky to Matt Johnson.

Related: NFL Week 16 power rankings

Week 16 fantasy D/ST rankings

1. Buffalo Bills D/ST vs New England Patriots
2. Green Bay Packers D/ST vs New Orleans Saints
3. Detroit Lions D/ST vs Chicago Bears
4. Los Angeles Rams D/ST vs New York Jets
5. Indianapolis Colts D/ST vs Tennessee Titans
6. Denver Broncos D/ST vs Los Angeles Chargers
7. Atlanta Falcons D/ST vs New York Giants
8. Philadelphia Eagles D/ST vs Washington Commanders
9. Los Angeles Chargers D/ST vs Denver Broncos
10. Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST vs Baltimore Ravens
11. San Francisco 49ers D/ST vs Miami Dolphins
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST vs Dallas Cowboys
13. Baltimore Ravens D/ST vs Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Arizona Cardinals D/ST vs Carolina Panthers
15. Miami Dolphins D/ST vs San Francisco 49ers
16. Tennessee Titans D/ST vs Indianapolis Colts

With our Week 16 fantasy defense rankings out of the way, let’s dive into our evaluation of the best and worst NFL defenses right now.

Related: NFL playoff clinching scenarios Week 16

Worst NFL defenses 2024

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (30)

There’s the Jacksonville Jaguars defense we’ve grown accustomed to watching this season. Aaron Rodgers delivered a season-best performance, with Davante Adams (9-198-2) decimating the Jaguars’ secondary. New York also did whatever it wanted on the ground, averaging 5.4 yards per carry with 125 rushing yards. The worst defense in the NFL now faces one of the worst NFL offenses (Las Vegas Raiders) in Week 16, a stoppable force versus movable object.

Related: Jacksonville Jaguars coaching candidates

31. Atlanta Falcons (31)

Against legitimate competition, the Falcons have allowed a 122.9 QB rating, 71.3 percent completion rate and 8.3 yards per attempt with a 13-0 TD-INT ratio in their last five games. This is an awful defense, in large part because of a non-existent pass rush.

The numbers the Falcons’ defense put up on Monday Night Football – 10 TFLs, 9 points allowed, 6 QB hits, 4 sacks and 2 interceptions – are close to irrelevant. Even below-average defenses should be doing that versus a Raiders offense that isn’t even really NFL-caliber right now. With all that said, the Falcons D/ST will be a decent streaming option against the Giants in Week 16.

31. Carolina Panthers (27)

It’s the same story as always with this Carolina Panthers defense. Entering Week 15 with the worst run defense in football, Carolina allowed a 200-yard game to the Dallas Cowboys. The coverage from the Panthers’ secondary – 3 touchdowns and a 119.0 QB rating allowed to Cooper Rush – wasn’t any better. While we understand why strengthening the offensive cast around Bryce Young will be a priority this offseason, this Panthers defense needs even more help.

29. New York Jets (29)

That kind of effort against Mac Jones certainly won’t move the New York Jets back up our NFL defense rankings. New York had no answer for Brian Thomas Jr (10-105-2) and it couldn’t even contain Brenton Strange (11-73), allowing Mac Jones to deliver one of his best performances since his rookie season. If the Jets defense looks like this versus Jacksonville, it’s going to get ugly in Week 16 against Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams.

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28. New York Giants (26)

It could’ve been even worse for the New York Giants defense if not for the strip-sack of Lamar Jackson. Even with that turnover in the Giants’ territory, Jackson posted a 154.6 QB rating with 5 touchdown passes and completed 21-of-25 passes against New York. Without Dexter Lawrence, this is one of the worst NFL defenses right now. Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons should fare very well versus this unit in Week 16.

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27. New England Patriots (28)

The New England Patriots still have no answers against the run. James Conner dominated on Sunday afternoon – 110 yards, 6.9 yards per carry and 2 touchdowns — as did tight end Trey McBride (9 receptions for 87 yards). Unsurprisingly, the Patriots pass rush – 0 QB hits and 0 sacks – also didn’t show up, leading Kyler Murray to a 224-yard performance with a 97.1 QB rating. The Patriots defense needs a lot of work, but Jerod Mayo is increasingly looking like a big part of the problem.

26. Cincinnati Bengals (32)

The very fact that the Cincinnati Bengals are moving up our NFL defense rankings should tell you everything about how the worst NFL defenses performed in Week 15. Cincinnati did a great job taking advantage of opportunities for takeaways – 4 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries – but points (27) and total yards (374) still came easy for the Tennessee Titans. Likely facing Jameis Winston in Week 16, Cincinnati will likely deliver another boom-or-bust performance defensively.

Related: Cincinnati Bengals coaching candidates

25. Las Vegas Raiders (23)

Monday Night Football was the final evidence to justifiably conclude that Kirk Cousins is done as a starting-caliber quarterback. The Atlanta Falcons gashed this Raiders run defense (168 yards, 4.5 ypc), but Cousins couldn’t take advantage of Las Vegas even with Maxx Crosby lost for the season. Better quarterbacks will and Crosby’s absence makes this one of the worst defenses in the NFL moving forward.

Related: Las Vegas Raiders coaching candidates to replace Antonio Pierce

25. Chicago Bears (19)

Entering Monday Night Football, the Chicago Bears defense allowed 280 passing yards per game against the Bears secondary with a 7-2 TD-INT line, 68.8 percent completion rate, 115.6 QB rating and averaged 10.3 yards per attempt in the last four games. On the ground, opponents averaged 138.8 rush ypg and 4.7 yards per carry in the same span.

Maybe Week 15’s performance is a sign of slight improvements. The Vikings offense averaged just 4.6 yards per play and turned it over once, so Chicago did well in some areas. However, Minnesota also posted a 50 percent third-down conversion rate and a 75 red-zone touchdown rate, so this unit isn’t close to being fixed.

23. Cleveland Browns (25)

Defense doesn’t really matter when your offense turns it over 6 times. The Cleveland Browns defense held the Kansas City Chiefs to just 4.1 yards per play, surrendering just a 50 percent red-zone touchdown rate and a 38.9 percent third-down conversion rate. Of the 21 points allowed, 14 came off turnovers, The Browns offense just constantly put this defense in holes it had no chance of digging out of. With that said, Cleveland’s defense hasn’t been particularly strong before this.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24)

Still without All-Pro safety Antoinie Winfield Jr. along with fellow defensive backs Troy Hill and Jordan Whitehead, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense exceeded our expectations in Week 15. After allowing 17 first-half points to the Chargers offense, the Bucs shut out Los Angeles in the second half. Tampa Bay’s run defense (32 yards and 2.9 ypc average) certainly stood out in this one, but the pass rush (3 sacs and 10 QB hits) also deserves its flowers for a strong performance that helped pave the way to a big win.

21. Tennessee Titans (21)

The Tennessee Titans played fairly well defensively early in the season, allowing just 155.8 passing yards per game with a 5.0 net yards per attempt average and a 63.2 percent completion rate (Weeks 1-9). Prior to Sunday, Tennessee allowed 218 passing yards per game with a 70 percent completion rate and 6.5 ny/a in their last four games. Those numbers will get even worse after facing the Cincinnati Bengals – 370 total yards, 5.8 yards per play and 76.9% third-down conversion rate allowed – with this defense falling apart. Still, we love the early work from coordinator Dennard Wilson and our confident he just needs more talent to work with in 2025.

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NFL defense rankings 2024: Colts, Chiefs climb

20. New Orleans Saints (22)

After allowing a 12-play touchdown drive to the Washington Commanders offense to open the game, the New Orleans Saints defense made adjustments. The next touchdown drive from Washington came on a relatively short field (53 yards on 10 plays) and New Orleans surrendered just 6 points the rest of the way. However, it’s going to be a lot more challenging in Week 16 with the Green Bay Packers offensive line far better equipped to keep the Saints’ pass rush off Jordan Love and Green Bay will also be able to run the football effectively.

19. Kansas City Chiefs (21)

The good news for the Kansas City Chiefs from this performance is that after really struggling to stop deep passes over the last month-plus, the Browns’ offense mustered just two plays of 20-plus receiving yards on Sunday. Kansas City’s pass rush – 11 QB hits and 5 sacks – also came alive in this one, with George Karlaftis (2 sacks) and Charles Omenihu (1 sack) getting to Jameis Winston. All of this is a nice step forward from the Chiefs defense versus the pass, but we’ll have to see it sustained for the remainder of the regular season to really believe in this unit again come playoff time.

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18. Indianapolis Colts (20)

The Indianapolis Colts defense allowed just 10 points through three quarters on Sunday. While the wheels came off in the fourth quarter of a 31-13 loss, one of those touchdowns was a 50-yard fumble return. Another score came just a few plays after Anthony Richardson threw an interception at the Colts’ 34-yard line. In total, Indianapolis surrendered just 193 total yards with a 3.2 yards-per-play average and a 35.3 percent third-down conversion rate. It just wasn’t enough because the Colts’ offense turned it over 5 times.

17. Dallas Cowboys (17)

The Dallas Cowboys’ pass rush controlled this game. Micah Parsons (2 sacks and 1 QB hit) set the tone for a defense that finished Sunday with an NFL-high 6 sacks and tacked on 10 quarterback hits and 7 tackles for loss. The dominance up front also showed up against the run, with Carolina averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. At the very least, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has done enough to secure his return in 2025. Still, the season-ending injury for Trevon Diggs is a blow for this secondary against better opponents.

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16. Miami Dolphins (17)

The Miami Dolphins defense got to C.J. Stroud plenty on Sunday (4 sacks and 6 quarterback hits), but he still found the end zone twice and completed 69.2 percent of his pass attempts. Week 15 also marked the third consecutive game in which an opponent completed over 69 percent of their passes and recorded a 100-plus QB rating against Miami. Keep that in mind with Brock Purdy on deck in Week 16.

15. Arizona Cardinals (11)

While the Arizona Cardinals only allowed 17 points to the New England Patriots on Sunday, it wasn’t all that strong of a performance defensively. Drake Maye completed 19-of-23 passes and averaged 8.8 yards per attempt, New England rushed for 116 yards with a 4.8 ypc average and this offense went 2-for-3 in the red zone. The only area where the Cardinals’ defense really stood out came on third downs (0-for-6). This unit has still vastly exceeded our pre-season expectations, but Jonathan Gannon needs a lot more help for this scheme to work and the regression is starting to show.

14. San Francisco 49ers (16)

The San Francisco 49ers defense is starting to get healthy and it’s made a world of difference in recent weeks. While it’s only a two-game sample size, San Francisco limited the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams to 5.9 yards per attempt with 7 total sacks and 254 passing yards (127 per game) in the last two weeks. We’ve also seen excellent situational defense, with the 49ers’ opponents going 8-for-25 (32 percent) on third-down attempts over that span. It’s too late to save the season, but the 49ers D/ST is a quality streaming option for fantasy football in Week 16.

13. Baltimore Ravens (14)

Entering Week 15, the Baltimore Ravens defense limited its last three opponents to a 76.3 QB rating, 165 passing yards per game while averaging 3.3 sacks per contest with just 0.3 passing touchdowns allowed per game. That’s the context that matters when highlighting this unit’s turnaround. As for the performance on Sunday – 236 total yards allowed and 3.9 yards-per-play average – that’s what good defenses should do versus the Giants offense. The Ravens defense, with the new-look secondary, is just that.

12. Los Angeles Rams (13)

Playing defense is much easier when you aren’t facing Josh Allen. The Los Angeles Rams defense kept the 49ers out of the end zone on Thursday Night Football, limiting the 49ers’ offense to a 25 percent third-down conversion rate and just 3.6 yards per play. A big part of that was a Rams pass rush that sacked Brock Purdy 3 times, with pressure limiting him to 4.6 ypa with a 45.2% completion rate. It’s a step in the right direction and Los Angeles still ranks 12th in Defensive EPA Per Play (-0.002) since Week 7.

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11. Washington Commanders (12)

There’s obvious context to consider from this game. Without Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints were forced to turn to rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler off the bench after Jake Haener (4 completions and 3 sacks) was abysmal. Still, the NFL stats from this game count and New Orleans went just 3-for-11 on third-down attempts while turning it over once and finishing with just 245 total yards on 9 drives. The real test for Washington comes in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Although, this run defense could be the Commanders’ undoing versus Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts.

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10. Detroit Lions (6)

The injuries are too much at this point. Following Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, head coach Dan Campbell revealed that the injuries suffered by cornerback Carlton Davis and interior defensive lineman Alim McNeill are likely season-ending. Already without Aidan Hutchinson, even Aaron Glenn’s blitz-heavy approach isn’t enough to overcome the fact that this defense is missing five-plus starters and several key role players. Detroit deserves endless credit for maintaining a top-10 defense through all the absences, but we’ve reached the point where there are likely too many holes to overcome.

9. Buffalo Bills (8)

A week after allowing 44 points to the Los Angeles Rams, the Buffalo Bills defense had to face the best offense in the NFL all without Rasul Douglas, Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin. To make matters worse, fill-in safety Cole Bishop left Sunday’s game with an injury. It’s no surprise why Buffalo has now allowed 40-plus points in consecutive games. We certainly expect this defense to be better when its top defensive backs return, but there are some concerns when looking ahead to the playoffs for matchups against the likes of the Chiefs and Ravens.

8. Seattle Seahawks (7)

In the first quarter, the Seattle Seahawks defense allowed 14 points on two drives covering 143 yards. The Packers offense put up 226 total yards with 16 points the rest of the way, with one touchdown coming two plays after a Sam Howell interception that put Green Bay near the red zone. It’s just hard to have answers for the Packers offense with this many weapons when it’s executing this well, but Mike Macdonald made nice adjustments and restored confidence in the Seahawks defense moving forward.

Best NFL defenses right now

7. Green Bay Packers (10)

It’s hard to put stock in how this Green Bay Packers pass rush performed – 7 sacks 12 QB hits – considering the woeful state of the Seahawks’ offensive line. What moves Green Bay back up in our NFL defense rankings is the return of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (2 QB hits, 2 pass deflections, 2 TFLs, 1 sack and 1 INT), the recent resurgence of Rashan Gary and the looming return of cornerback Jaire Alexander. Creating pressure gets a little easier with a No. 1 corner and if Alexander can stay healthy, this Packers defense is battle-tested and can be trusted to get some big stops in the playoffs.

6. Houston Texans (8)

The Houston Texans defense won that game, taking complete advantage of a Miami Dolphins offensive line forced to start backup offensive tackles. Will Anderson Jr (1.5 sacks) and Will Anderson Jr (2 QB hits and 1 sack) led the way, with a pass rush that forced Tua Tagovailoa into 3 turnovers including a 68-yard interception return. Holding the Dolphins to just 3.6 yards per play (2.7 ypc and 4.9 ypa), Houston’s defense did the heavy lifting and it now puts this team in a great position to win the division.

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5. Los Angeles Chargers (3)

The Los Angeles Chargers had no answers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ playmakers on Sunday. Bucky Irving (117 rushing yards, 7.8 ypc), Rachaad White 81 scrimmage yards), Mike Evans (159 yards and 2 TDs) and Jalen McMillan (75 yards and 1 TD) just torched Los Angeles. We can certainly write this performance off a bit, but it’s also reminded that Jesse Minter’s scheme has been doing a lot of heavy lifting for a young secondary that is clearly prone to making some mistakes in coverage and Los Angeles can be had on the ground, too.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)

Already missing multiple Larry Ogunjobi and DeShon Elliott, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense suffered an even bigger blow on Sunday. T.J. Watt exited with an ankle injury and didn’t return, heading for X-rays and raising significant concerns regarding his availability for Saturday’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. If Watt, Elliott and Ogunjobi are all out, Pittsburgh’s normally stout defense against Lamar Jackson could be in for a long day in a critical game.

3. Denver Broncos (5)

Nik Bonitto found the end zone again, Pat Surtain II picked up another interception and the Denver Broncos defense made a feast out of a mistake-prone Colts offense. There was a little good fortune in this one, as Jonathan Taylor dropped the football inches shy of the end zone to wipe a touchdown off the board. Even without that, Denver suffocated the Colts offense – 4.3 yards-per-play average and 26.7% third-down conversion rate – with Vance Joseph’s group demonstrating once again that this is one of the best NFL defenses in 2024.

2. Minnesota Vikings (4)

This was just too easy for Brian Flores. While Caleb Williams’ athleticism allowed him to limit the number of sacks taken (2), pressure is what mattered. The Minnesota Vikings defense limited Williams to 166 net passing yards on over 30 dropbacks with a 25.3 ESPN QBR. Chicago also averaged just 3.9 yards per carry. The Vikings pass rush feasts on weak offensive lines and that’s precisely what they face in Week 16. The Seahawks offense is in for a very long Sunday.

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1. Philadelphia Eagles (1)

The best defense in the NFL delivers again. On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles neutralized the Steelers run game (56 yards and 3.3 yards per carry), got to Russell Wilson (2 sacks and 4 QB hits) and held Pittsburgh to just 3-for-10 on third-down attempts. Wilson became the sixth consecutive quarterback to finish with less than 200 net passing yards against the Eagles defense and opponents have just a 7-5 TD-INT ratio with 9 sacks taken in the last seven games. For as good as Jayden Daniels has been this season, Philadelphia’s defense is better and we should see that in Week 16.

NFL defense stats 2024

NFL defense rankings FAQ

What is the best defense in the NFL?

The Philadelphia Eagles have the best defense in the NFL right now.

Which NFL defense has forced the most turnovers?

The Houston Texans lead the NFL in takeaways this season with 23 (15 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries).

What NFL defense is best for fantasy?

The Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos are some of the best NFL defenses to target in fantasy.

What is the NFL defense rankings?

Sportsnaut’s NFL defense rankings evaluate and rank all 32 NFL defenses each week, reviewing their performances and projecting how they’ll perform in their upcoming game based on matchups and NFL defense stats.

Who is the number 1 defense in NFL?

The Philadelphia Eagles have the No. 1 defense in the NFL this season.

Who has the best defense in NFL history?

The 1985 Chicago Bears had the best NFL defense ever. Led by three Hall of Famers – Mike Singletary, Richard Dent and Dan Hampton – Chicago allowed just 101 total points on its way to winning Super Bowl XX, including an NFL record two shutouts in the playoffs. In addition, the 1985 Bears’ defense held opponents to a 50.2 passer rating with a 46.5 percent completion rate and 17-37 TD-INT ratio in 19 total games and opponents averaged just 76 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry across 19 contests in the regular season and playoffs.

Who has the worst pass defense in the NFL?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing the most passing yards per game (264.3), the most touchdown passes (27) and the highest QB rating (108.3).

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What’s the top 5 defenses in the NFL?

The top 5 NFL defenses are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Who gives up the most passing yards in the NFL?

The Jacksonville Jaguars allow the most passing yards in the NFL this season.

What teams have the best defense in the NFL?

The Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings have the best defenses in the NFL this season.

Who has the best pass defense in the NFL?

The Philadelphia Eagles have the best pass defense in the NFL, allowing the fewest passing yards per game (173.4), the fifth-fewest passing touchdowns (15) and the sixth-lowest QB rating (82.8).

Who has the best run defense in the NFL?

The Baltimore Ravens have the best run defense in the NFL, allowing the fewest rushing yards per game and the lowest yards per carry average.

Who has the worst defense in the NFL?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the worst NFL defense right now.

Who has the worst run defense in the NFL?

The Carolina Panthers have the worst run defense in the NFL this year, allowing the most rushing yards per game (173) and the second-most rushing touchdowns (19).

What team has the most sacks in a season?

The Chicago Bears set the NFL record for most sacks in a season with 72 sacks in 16 games in 1984. Most recently, the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles became just the fourth team in NFL history to record 70 sacks in a single season.

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