NFL defense rankings 2024: Best and worst NFL defenses, Seahawks rise and Eagles at No. 1

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 14. 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.

Related: NFL playoff clinching scenarios Week 15

Week 15 fantasy defense rankings

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

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 15 power rankings

Worst NFL defenses 2024

32. Cincinnati Bengals (32)

Rico Dowdle had no trouble running on the Cincinnati Bengals erupting for a career-high 131 rushing yards and averaging 7.3 yards per carry. CeeDee Lamb (6-93-1) also had his best game in weeks before an injury essentially made him a decoy. While Cincinnati only allowed 20 points, it came with a 5.5 yards-per-play average and 4 red-zone trips allowed on 10 drives against a Dallas Cowboys offense missing multiple starters on the offensive line and starting a backup quarterback. This remains the worst defense in the NFL.

Related: Cincinnati Bengals coaching candidates

31. Atlanta Falcons (27)

It certainly doesn’t help to have one of the worst NFL defenses and a starting quarterback who gives the opponent short fields and extra possessions. That’s what happened to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Kirk Cousins threw 2 interceptions, playing a co-starring role in the 42 points and 433 total yards put up by the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14. Atlanta’s defense is also just as responsible for the rough performance, as it allowed a 66.7% third-down conversion rate, 100 percent red-zone touchdown rate and 7.7 yards per play.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (31)

We just can’t put much stock in how the Jacksonville Jaguars defense performed on Sunday. Facing a bottom-three offense, Jacksonville allowed over 100 yards to Tony Pollard and it only sacked Will Levis twice. We say just twice because he took 34 dropbacks on Sunday and entered with a league-high 13.36 percent sack rate. That’s why just two sacks is an indictment on the Jaguars’ defense.

Related: Jacksonville Jaguars coaching candidates

29. New York Jets (28)

The Miami Dolphins haven’t been able to run the football effectively this season, so the New York Jets holding them to 44 yards and 2.3 yards per carry isn’t noteworthy. What was apparent on Sunday, especially with Sauce Gardner inactive, is that New York’s pass defense has taken alarming steps backward since Robert Saleh was fired. Unfortunately, it could get even worse in 2025 because No. 2 cornerback DJ Reed Jr is probably bolting in free agency.

28. New England Patriots (25)

The New England Patriots have had one of the worst NFL defenses in 2024, in part due to injuries. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley hasn’t played since Week 2 and standout defensive tackle Christian Barmore (blood clots) just returned to the field after missing a majority of the season. However, it hasn’t made much of a difference. While opponents averaged just 176.9 pass ypg against New England from Weeks 8-13, those numbers are skewed by a 69-yard performance with 9 sacks against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 10. In the three weeks since that game, opponents posted a 10-2 TD-INT line with a 116.6 QB rating. Kyler Murray will have plenty of big-play opportunities against the Patriots in Week 15.

27. Carolina Panthers (30)

The worst run defense in the NFL did exactly what you’d expect against the Philadelphia Eagles, allowing 209 rushing yards and 6.7 yards per carry. With that said, there are some positives emerging from this Carolina Panthers defense. Carolina sacked Jalen Hurts four times on Sunday, tacking on 5 quarterback hits and 3 tackles for loss. That’s an improvement for a unit that spent the majority of the season at the bottom of our NFL defense rankings. Expect Rico Dowdle to get plenty of chances to run on Carolina in Week 15.

26. New York Giants (29)

The NFL stats certainly looked good for this New York Giants defense in Week 14. On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints finished with just 200 net passing yards on 31 attempts and turned just 33 carries into 93 rushing yards (2.8 (ypc) while going 5-for-15 on third downs. Still, without Dexter Lawrence, Week 15 is probably going to get very ugly for the Giants defense against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

Related: NFL coaching candidates 2025

25. Cleveland Browns (22)

Jameis Winston’s penchant for interceptions requires an elite defense that can get stops after the veteran quarterback’s mistakes. That’s not what the Cleveland Browns have. Even without George Pickens, the centerpiece of their passing game, the Pittsburgh Steelers still put up 27 points with a 43 percent third-down conversion rate on Sunday. Cleveland needs Myles Garrett to be healthy for this defense to even be league-average and he’s playing hurt right now.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26)

Facing Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder in Week 14, there’s just not a ton of stock that can be put into this performance from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Besides, while the Las Vegas Raiders only put up 13 points, Sincere McCormick averaged 5.2 yards per carry (78 rushing yards), with Tampa Bay’s issues against the run continuing. We expect plenty of defensive regression against Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey next week in a cross-country trip to Los Angeles.

23. Las Vegas Raiders (23)

Baker Mayfield gifted the Las Vegas Raiders a pair of interceptions on Sunday and even with those giveaways, Tampa Bay still put up 420 total yards while averaging 7.1 yards per play. The Raiders defense is really just a one-man show right now and with teams scheming up ways to slow down Maxx Crosby, quarterbacks and running backs are doing whatever they want to the Raiders defense.

Related: Las Vegas Raiders coaching candidates to replace Antonio Pierce

22. New Orleans Saints (24)

The New Orleans Saints defense did exactly what you’d expect against a team led by Drew Lock. Lock recorded just 213 net passing yards on a whopping 49 attempts, taking 2 sacks with 1 interception and a 48.6 QB rating. New Orleans also held the Giants’ offense to a 26.3 percent third-down conversion rate. Now, let’s all remember how bad the Giants’ offense has been this season and keep in mind that the Saints have had one of the league’s worst run defenses since Week 3.

21. Kansas City Chiefs (19)

Two months ago, the Kansas City Chiefs sat toward the top of our NFL defense rankings. There were issues with the pass rush, but a great scheme and strong play at cornerback made this one of the league’s top defenses. Then, No. 2 cornerback Jaylen Watson went down with a season-ending injury.

• Kansas City Chiefs defense (Weeks 1-7): 215.7 pass ypg, 7-5 TD-INT, 6.7 ypa, 61.3% completion rate, 82.4 QB rating, 32.86% third-down conversion rate
• Kansas City Chiefs defense (Weeks 8-13): 232.5 pass ypg, 10-1 TD-INT, 7.4 ypa, 69.7% completion rate, 105.5 QB rating, 45.45% third-down conversion rate

On Sunday Night Football, the Chiefs caught a break. The wide receiver they spent all week game-planning for (Ladd McConkey) couldn’t play due to injury. Life got even easier for Kansas City’s pass defense when Chargers tight end Will Dissly left in the first half with an injury. The Chiefs still gave up over 200 passing yards with a 101.1 QB rating to Justin Herbert, even against the worst receiving corps in the NFL. So, we’ll hold off on saying Kansas City’s pass defense is fixed, but at least the pass rush (7 QB hits and 3 sacks) showed some life.

NFL defense rankings: 49ers rise, Bears keep falling

20. Indianapolis Colts (21)

We’ve just never been particularly sold that the Indianapolis Colts have a good defense, though, DOVA and EPA per Play are higher on this unit. In 13 games this season, the Colts rank 23rd in ESPN pass-rush win rate (38 percent) and they lead the NFL in missed tackles (115). It’s also worth highlighting that 77 percent of Colts’ opponents (11 of 13) have rushed for 120-plus yards and averaged over 4 yards per carry. Indianapolis also surrendered 250-plus passing yards to seven opponents, with four of those coming since Week 9. On top of all that, the Colts have the third-worst defense on third downs (45.3 percent conversion rate) this season.

19. Chicago Bears (17)

Don’t put this defensive performance on the firing of Matt Eberflus, the Chicago Bears defense was taking significant steps back long before Chicago finally fired Eberflus. On Sunday, Brock Pury picked Chicago’s secondary apart with a season-high 145.5 QB rating and San Francisco tacked on over 1230 yards on the ground. Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea for Chicago to hire a defensive-minded head coach who can bring a new culture to this franchise.

Related: Chicago Bears coaching candidates

18. Tennessee Titans (18)

Facing Mac Jones will certainly make your defense look a lot better. Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson had an easy assignment in Week 14 and his game plan worked to perfection. Tennessee generated 2 takeaways, held Jackson to a 50 percent red-zone touchdown rate and pitched a shutout into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Titans’ offense never got anything going and that resulted in the 10-6 loss.

Related: Best NFL dynasties ever

15. Dallas Cowboys (16)

Trevon Diggs returned to the field in Week 14, but this Dallas Cowboys defense suffered another devastating loss. DeMarvion Overshown, who quickly emerged as a breakout player and a great complement to Micah Parsons, suffered a torn ACL and additional ligament damage in his knee. Losing him obviously hurts this Cowboys pass rush and as a result its effectiveness at stopping the pass for the rest of the season, but the even bigger blow could be Overshown’s extended absence in 2025 after suffering another ACL tear.

Related: Dallas Cowboys coaching candidates to replace Mike McCarthy

16. San Francisco 49ers (20)

Still dealing with so many injuries at every level of their defense, the San Francisco 49ers still played well against Caleb Williams. For the first time in a while, San Francisco neutralized the run game with Chicago finishing under 90 yards and averaging less than 4 yards per carry. On top of that, the 49ers’ pass rush came alive for a season-high in sacks, even without Nick Bosa out there. We’re still not convinced the 49ers will make the playoffs, but getting Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward could make this defense very good once again.

15. Miami Dolphins (14)

Becoming the first NFL team since 2021 to allow 300 yards to Aaron Rodgers isn’t a great sign for the Miami Dolphins’ defense. Garrett Wilson (7-114-0) and Davante Adams (9-109-1) both torched Miami’s secondary on Sunday and Rodgers rightfully targeted them on 21 of his 39 pass attempts. In the last two games now, the Dolphins have allowed 56 points.

14. Baltimore Ravens (15)

From Weeks 1-8, the Baltimore Ravens had one of the worst NFL pass defenses. Opponents averaged 291.4 passing yards per game ()most) with a 103.4 QB rating, 8.1 ypa and threw 17 touchdown passes (2.1 per game). Baltimore then made a big change in November, moving Kyle Hamilton deep and benching Marcus Williams. In the last three games before the bye, this same Ravens defense held opponents to 165 pass ypg with a 1-1 TD-INT line and a 76.3 QB rating. If this pass defense can be even league-average with Michael Pierce about to return and strengthen this run defense, Baltimore will be just fine defensively.

13. Los Angeles Rams (10)

Josh Allen is unstoppable. The Buffalo Bills quarterback became the first player in NFL history with 3 passing touchdowns and 3 rushing touchdowns. If you’re looking for a bright side, Los Angeles limited James Cook to 20 rushing yards on 6 carries. Of course, Buffalo stopped running it with Cook because Khalil Shakir (5-106-1) and Amari Cooper (6-95) torched the Los Angeles Rams secondary. The larger body of work over six-plus weeks suggests this is still a solid defense, but only if the Rams’ pass rush gets home and that didn’t happen (0 sacks and 3 QB hits) on Sunday for Los Angeles.

Related: Love Los Angeles Sports? Check Out LAFB Network

12. Washington Commanders (13)

Before highlighting the significance of cornerback Marshon Lattimore taking the field in Week 15, it’s worth giving head coach Dan Quinn some credit. Expectations for this Washington Commanders defense were on the floor entering the 2024 season, they sat near the bottom of our NFL defense rankings. The NFL stats backed it up early, with opponents averaging a 114.7 QB rating, 69.9 percent completion rate and posting a 12-1 TD-INT line in the first six games. From Weeks 7-13, though, Washington surrendered just an 88.6 QB rating, 60.3 percent completion rate and 168.7 passing yards per game allowed.

Related: NFL Rookie of the Year candidates

Now, a No. 1 cornerback takes the field to provide Quinn with a reliable defensive back to put in man coverage against top wideouts. However, that doesn’t do anything to erase concerns with a Commadners run defense that allows the sixth-most rush ypg (137) and the sixth-highest yards per carry (4.8). Keep that in mind for the playoffs, because the Lions, Eagles, Packers and Buccaneers love running the football and they do it very well.

11. Arizona Cardinals (8)

The Arizona Cardinals defense has played extremely well over the last month-plus, especially considering the lack of blue-chip talent on this side of the ball. Unfortunately, great coaching and game plans only work for so long if opponents can just start exploiting matchups. With Arizona’s pass rush unable to get to Geno Smith on Sunday (0 sacks and 2 QB hits) and Seattle dominating the trenches to open up the ground game (176 yards, 5.6 ypc), the Cardinals’ defense stood no chance in Week 14.

10. Green Bay Packers (10)

Already without No. 1 cornerback Jaire Alexander and standout rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, things got even worse for this Green Bay Packers defense on Thursday Night Football. Star safety Evan Williams (concussion), fellow rookie safety Javon Bullard (ankle) and edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (thumb) all left the game with injuries. What has to be of far greater concern regarding this Packers’ defense, its pass rush continues to disappear for long stretches of games. That might not be a problem in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks offensive line, but it can be this unit’s fatal flaw in playoff matchups against the Lions or Eagles.

9. Houston Texans (12)

The Houston Texans defense isn’t remotely close to being this team’s biggest problem. However, there are now some reasons to be concerned about this side of the ball as well. In the final two games before the bye, Texans’ opponents averaged a 96.2 QB rating with 256.5 passing yards and 114.5 rushing yards per game. It’s a stark contrast from the first nine games when Houston allowed just 167.4 pass ypg with an 84.5 QB rating and 54.9 percent completion rate. Set to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, Houston’s aggressive pass rush will be tested by Tua Tagovailoa’s quick passing game.

Best NFL defenses 2024

8. Buffalo Bills (6)

The Buffalo Bills finally get healthy, only to revert to some of the same problems that have plagued them against top competition. A run defense that entered Sunday allowing 125.3 rushing yards per game with a 5.2 yards-per-carry average over the last four weeks, was gashed for 137 yards and 3 scores on Sunday. The Bills also had no answers for Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp in coverage, with the Rams’ receiver duo combining for 254 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 receptions. Maybe it was the cross-country trip to Los Angeles or maybe it’s just an instance of the best receiver duo in the NFL beating the Bills’ secondary. No matter the answer, the one thing that remains unchanged is there are some vulnerabilities for the Detroit Lions to exploit in Week 15.

7. Seattle Seahawks (11)

The first learning curve is in the rearview mirror for the Seattle Seahawks’ defense. Mike Macdonald’s system takes a long time to learn, as we saw with the Baltimore Ravens. Just as it happened in Baltimore, the turnaround started in the second half of his first season. Fast forward to 2024, Seattle ranks first in Defense EPA per Play (-0.142) since Week 10. That came before Sunday when Seattle picked off Kyler Murray twice and held the Cardinals to a 25 percent third-down conversion rate with a 33 percent red-zone touchdown rate. Seattle now has one of the best NFL defenses right now.

6. Detroit Lions (7)

The injuries inexplicably keep mounting for the Detroit Lions defense and Thursday Night Football was no different. Despite orchestrating a defense that missed half its starters at times in Week 14, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn still held the Packers offense to a 20 percent third-down conversion rate and 14 of the points allowed came on short fields after turnovers. With that said, until this unit gets healthier, there are some concerns because Detroit has three games in the past four weeks with 1 sack or fewer and this run defense is beginning to have some issues. Both of those could loom large in a Week 15 matchup against the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen.

5. Denver Broncos (5)

Coming off the bye, the Denver Broncos defense is certainly hoping cornerback Riley Moss returns in Week 15. Following Moss’s injury, the Broncos allowed 775 passing yards and 5 touchdowns in their last two games with a 7.4 ypa average. Now compare that to how the Broncos’ defense performed with Moss on the field, allowing just 190.7 pass ypg with a 6.4 ypa average and a 12-8 TD-INT line in 11 games from Weeks 1-11. Once Moss returns, Denver will reclaim a top-three spot in our NFL defense rankings.

4. Minnesota Vikings (4)

The Minnesota Vikings secondary still isn’t particularly reliable – 310 receiving yards allowed to Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud and Drake London – but it doesn’t have to be thanks to the supporting cast. Brian Flores dialed up the heat on Kirk Cousins, forcing 2 interceptions and keeping Atlanta’s passing game from finding the end zone. Minnesota did have some problems on third down (54 percent conversion rate), but it stepped up in the red zone with Atlanta going just 2-for-5 on its red-zone trips. The numbers weren’t flashy – 496 total yards allowed and 7.1 yards-per-play average – but the Vikings allowed just 21 points.

Related: Vikings were interested in this star QB before signing Sam Darnold

3. Los Angeles Chargers (2)

The Los Angeles Chargers defense got a little help with some drops by the Chiefs’ pass-catchers, but all in all this was another strong performance. Los Angeles held up very well against the run – 71 rushing yards on 19 carries (3.7 ypc) – and the pass rush (13 QB hits and 3 tackles for loss) showed out. While the Chargers did have some uncharacteristic issues on third down (8-for-15 converted by Kansas City), that can be chalked up to facing Patrick Mahomes. This remains one of the best defenses in the NFL.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3)

The Pittsburgh Steelers got back edge rusher Alex Highsmith on Sunday and what a difference it makes. While this is already one of the best defenses in the NFL without Highsmith, getting him back on the field arguably makes this the best pass rush in the NFL. T.J Watt didn’t get home in Week 14 on Sunday, but he didn’t have to with Highsmith and Cameron Heyward combining for 3 sacks and 4 quarterback hits. Thanks to all those pressures, Jameis Winston was sacked thrice and threw 2 interceptions to finish Sunday with a 39.0 QBR. The Philadelphia Eagles offense versus the Steelers defense is a must-see battle in Week 15.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (1)

The Philadelphia Eagles only sacked Bryce Young once on Sunday, but that’s only because the second-year quarterback did a remarkable job evading pressures and keeping plays alive. Even with his maneuverability in the pocket, Philadelphia still held Young to 184 net passing yards on 34 attempts. As for the total yardage allowed by the Eagles defense – 302 total yards – it came on 69 plays, with Carolina averaging just 4.4 yards per play. There are certainly some things for this Eagles defense to improve on, but those are coaching tweaks and mental mistakes that can be fixed this week in practice. With Jalen Hurts and Co. facing one of the best NFL defenses in Week 14, Philadelphia’s defense might be what takes this team to a 12-2 record.

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 second-most passing yards per game (278.3), the most touchdown passes (23), the highest QB rating (111.6) and the second-highest completion rate (70.9 percent).

Related: Best undrafted players in NFL history

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 Baltimore Ravens allow the most passing yards in the NFL, allowing 284.5 passing yards per game.

What teams have the best defense in the NFL?

The Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers 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 third-fewest passing yards per game (175.5), the sixth-fewest passing touchdowns (11) and the fifth-lowest QB rating (81.5).

Who has the best run defense in the NFL?

The Minnesota Vikings have the best run defense in the NFL, allowing the fewest rushing yards per game (74.7) and the second-lowest yards per carry average (3.6) in 2024.

Who has the worst defense in the NFL?

The Carolina Panthers 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 (160.1) and the most rushing touchdowns (17).

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.

Related: 10 Most Popular American Football Teams and Why