Who Has the Best Defense in the NFL?
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It’s a debate as old as time itself: Who has the best defense in the NFL? Is it the vaunted “Legion of Boom” of the Seattle Seahawks? Or is it the stingy unit of the Denver Broncos?
The Case for the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have been quietly putting together one of the best defenses in the NFL. They are currently ranked second in the league in points allowed per game and have the league’s best run defense. They also have a good mix of experience and young talent. Let’s take a closer look at why the Baltimore Ravens have the best defense in the NFL.
Their secondary is the best in the league
The Baltimore Ravens have the best secondary in the NFL.
The Ravens’ defensive backs are led by safety Earl Thomas, who is a three-time All-Pro and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Thomas is flanked by All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who is one of the league’s best cover men.
The Ravens also have two young and talented cornerbacks in Jimmy Smith and Marcus Peters, who are both former first-round picks. Smith is a two-time Pro Bowler and Peters is a one-time Pro Bowler.
The Ravens’ safeties, Thomas and Humphrey, are both excellent tacklers and they have a combined 13 interceptions over the past two seasons. The team’s cornerbacks, Smith and Peters, are also good tacklers and they have a combined eight interceptions over the past two seasons.
The Ravens’ secondary has been so dominant that they have allowed the fewest passing yards per game over the past two seasons. They have also intercepted more passes than any other team over that span.
They have a great pass rush
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best defenses in the NFL. They have a great pass rush and they can stop the run. They are also good at forcing turnovers.
The Case for the New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have been dominant on defense for the past few seasons. Their defense is led by All-Pro linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who is one of the best in the business. The Patriots also have a great secondary, led by Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore. They also have a good pass rush, led by defensive end Trey Flowers.
They have a great secondary
The New England Patriots have the best defense in the NFL.
The Pats’ secondary is superb, allowing a league-low 5.7 yards per passing attempt and a stingy 60.5 percent completion rate (both numbers led the NFL in 2019). They also finished second with 22 interceptions.
They have a great pass rush
The Patriots have a great pass rush. In 2019, they had the second most sacks in the NFL. They also have a very good secondary. Their defense is good at forcing turnovers.
The Case for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had one of the best defenses in the NFL for the past few years. They are known for their tough defense, which is led by their star linebacker, James Harrison. The Steelers defense is tough against the run and the pass, and they always seem to be in the right place at the right time.
They have a great secondary
The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best defenses in the NFL. They have a great secondary, led by safety Troy Polamalu. Polamalu is a three-time All-Pro and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He is a big reason why the Steelers have been so successful over the years.
They have a great pass rush
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best pass rush in the NFL. In 2019, they had 54 sacks, 8 more than the next closest team. They also had 6 more forced fumbles than any other team. Their top 3 pass rushers (Bud Dupree, Cameron Heyward, and Javon Hargrave) all had at least 9 sacks.
Not only do they have a great pass rush, but they also have a great secondary. In 2019, they had the 2nd most interceptions in the NFL with 21. They also had the 2nd fewest passing yards allowed per game with 193.4.
The combination of a great pass rush and a great secondary is what makes the Pittsburgh Steelers defense so good. If you can’t stop the pass, you can’t win in today’s NFL.
