Who Has The Worst Defense In The NFL?

The NFL season is underway and we’re already seeing some teams struggling on defense. Who has the worst defense in the NFL?

The Case For The Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have had one of the worst defenses in the NFL for the past few years. In fact, they were ranked dead last in yards allowed per game in 2018. However, there are a few reasons why the Bengals may not be the worst defense in the NFL. Let’s take a look at the case for the Bengals.

They gave up the most points in the NFL in 2020

The Cincinnati Bengals had the worst defense in the NFL in 2020, giving up an average of 31.3 points per game. They were also near the bottom of the league in yards allowed per game (377.6), passing yards allowed per game (274.7) and rushing yards allowed per game (102.9).

The Bengals’ struggles on defense were a big reason why they had a losing record for the fourth straight season, and they will need to make some improvements on that side of the ball if they want to compete in 2021.

One area that needs to be addressed is the pass defense. The Bengals gave up the second-most passing yards in the NFL last season, and their secondary was shredded by some of the league’s top quarterbacks.

They will need to add some talent to their defensive backfield, and they could also use an upgrade at linebacker. The Bengals have some young players with potential on defense, but they need to take a step forward in 2021 if they want to be a playoff team.

They allowed the most yards per play in the NFL in 2020

In 2020, the Bengals finished with the NFL’s worst defense, allowing the most yards per play. They also ranked last in points allowed per game, and their -166 point differential was the worst in the league. While the Bengals offense was not great, it was not nearly as bad as the defense. The Bengals ranked 23rd in yards per play on offense, and 22nd in points per game. The offense scored 27 more points than the defense allowed, which was the second worst margin in the NFL.

The Bengals have some young talent on defense, but they need a lot of help. They need to add several playmakers on both sides of the ball, and they need to find a quarterback who can lead them to success. The Bengals have a lot of work to do, but they should be much better in 2021.

They allowed the most first downs in the NFL in 2020

The Cincinnati Bengals finished the 2020 season with the worst defense in the NFL, allowing opponents to convert on over 50% of their third downs. They also allowed the most first downs of any team in the league.

This was despite having made some significant changes to their defensive personnel in the offseason, including signing free agent defensive end Carlos Dunlap and drafting linebacker Logan Wilson in the first round.

The Bengals’ struggles on defense were a major reason why they finished with a record of 4-11-1, missing out on the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

If they are to improve in 2021, they will need to make some changes to their defense, either through personnel or scheme. Otherwise, they could be in for another long season.

The Case For The Texans

The Houston Texans have the worst defense in the NFL. This is a fact. They have given up the most yards, the most points, and have the worst statistical defense in the entire league. But does that mean they are the worst defense in the NFL?

They gave up the most passing yards in the NFL in 2020

The Houston Texans gave up the most passing yards in the NFL in 2020, according to NFL.com. They allowed an average of 283.7 passing yards per game, and their opponents completed 64.1 percent of their passes against them.

The Texans also allowed 39 passing touchdowns, tied for the most in the NFL. They had just eight interceptions, tied for the fewest in the league.

So, yes, it was a tough year for the Houston Texans’ defense. But there were some bright spots. The Texans did a good job of getting to the quarterback, sacking him 50 times (tied for sixth-most in the NFL). And they were decent against the run, allowing just 106.4 rushing yards per game (seventh-fewest in the NFL).

Overall, though, it was a tough year for the Texans’ defense. They’ll need to make some changes this offseason if they want to improve in 2021.

They allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL in 2020

The Houston Texans had the worst-ranked defense in the NFL in 2020. They allowed the most points per game, the most yards per game, and the most rushing yards per game. They also allowed the second-most passing yards per game. In total, they gave up 6,825 yards on the season. This is by far the most yards given up by any team in the NFL.

They allowed the most yards per play in the NFL in 2020

In 2020, the Texans allowed the most yards per play in the NFL. They also allowed the most points per game. And they had the worst-ranked defense in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric.

It’s no surprise, then, that they’re widely considered to have the worst defense in the NFL. But is that really the case? Let’s take a closer look.

The Texans’ defense was certainly bad in 2020. But there are a few things to keep in mind when considering whether or not they were the worst in the league.

First, their offense was also very bad. The Texans ranked 31st in yards per play on offense, and their anemic offense put their defense in tough situations all season long.

Second, their schedule was immensely difficult. They faced some of the best offenses in the league, including the Chiefs, Ravens, Bills, Packers, and Saints.

When you consider those factors, it’s fair to say that the Texans’ defense wasn’t quite as bad as it seemed. They weren’t good, but they weren’t worst-in-the-league bad.

The Case For The Jaguars

The Jaguars have the worst defense in the NFL. They have given up the most points, the most yards, and have the worst turnover differential. They have struggled against the run and the pass, and their secondary has been a mess. Their only bright spot has been their pass rush, but even that has not been enough.

They gave up the most yards per play in the NFL in 2020

The Jaguars gave up the most yards per play in the NFL in 2020. They allowed 6.7 yards per play, which is 1.5 yards more than the second-worst defense (the New York Giants). The Jaguars also allowed 7.4 yards per pass attempt, which is the worst in the NFL. And they allowed 5.2 yards per carry, which is the second-worst in the NFL.

The Jaguars’ defense was so bad that it cost them games. They blew a 16-point lead against the Detroit Lions and a 17-point lead against the Houston Texans. They also gave up a 21-point lead against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a 24-point lead against the Green Bay Packers. In all, the Jaguars blew five leads of at least 14 points. And they lost all five of those games.

The Jaguars’ defense was so bad that it cost them their season. They finished with a 1-15 record, which is the worst in franchise history. And they fired their head coach, Doug Marrone, after just three seasons.

So why was the Jaguars’ defense so bad in 2020? There are a few reasons:

1) They were inexperienced: The Jaguars started four rookie defensive players: cornerbacks CJ Henderson and Tre Herndon, linebacker Myles Jack, and safety Jarrod Wilson. All four of them struggled at times throughout the season.

2) They were injured: The Jaguars were without two of their best defensive players for most of the season: defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and linebacker Leon Jacobs. Ngakoue was traded to the Baltimore Ravens midway through the season, and Jacobs tore his ACL in October.

3) They lacked playmakers: The Jaguars simply didn’t have many good defenders on their roster. Their best player was probably cornerback AJ Bouye, who had just one interception all season. And their only other Pro Bowl defender was defensive tackle Calais Campbell, who is 33 years old and clearly past his prime.

They allowed the most first downs in the NFL in 2020

If you thought the 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars were bad, you were right. They allowed the most first downs in the NFL, according to Football Outsiders. They allowed the second-most passing yards and third-most points per game. And their defense was especially bad in the red zone, where they allowed a touchdown on 65.4 percent of opponents’ trips inside their 20-yard line.

The Jags’ defense was so bad that it cost them games. Their offense was decent, scoring 24 or more points in eight of their 16 games. But their defense surrendered 30 or more points 11 times. They allowed 40 or more points three times, including a franchise-record 53 against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.

The Jags’ defense was so bad that it got their head coach fired. Doug Marrone was let go after just two seasons, despite leading the team to a surprising AFC South division title in 2017.

The Jags’ defense was so bad that they used five different players at one of the starting cornerback spots opposite Jalen Ramsey. A season after Ramsey demanded a trade and was eventually dealt to the Los Angeles Rams, the Jags got virtually nothing out of his replacement, C.J. Henderson. He struggled mightily as a rookie and was benched late in the season.

They allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL in 2020

That is not a good sign for a team that has had problems stopping the run for years. They also allowed the most yards per carry (5.4) and the second-most rushing touchdowns (26).

The Case For The Lions

The Detroit Lions have allowed the most points per game in the NFL this season. They have given up 30 or more points in six of their nine games, including a season-high 48 points to the Carolina Panthers. Their defense has been a big reason why they have struggled to win games.

They allowed the most passing yards in the NFL in 2020

In 2020, the Detroit Lions allowed the most passing yards in the NFL. They also allowed the second-most total yards and the most points. Their defense was porous, and it was a big reason why they finished with a 5-11 record.

The Lions’ secondary was especially bad, as they allowed 27 touchdown passes (tied for the most in the NFL) and gave up an average of 7.9 yards per pass attempt (the second-highest average in the NFL). Opposing quarterbacks had a 115.1 passer rating against the Lions, which was the third-highest mark in the NFL.

The Lions’ struggles on defense were compounded by an anemic offense that ranked 31st in the NFL in points scored. The Lions’ offense is not good enough to carry their team, and their defense is not good enough to hold leads or stop opponents from scoring. If the Lions don’t make significant improvements on both sides of the ball, they will continue to be one of the worst teams in the NFL.

They allowed the most points in the NFL in 2020

The Case For The Lions – (Who Has The Worst Defense In The NFL?)
They allowed the most points in the NFL in 2020

In 2020, the Detroit Lions had the worst defense in the NFL. They allowed the most points of any team in the league, and their opponents had an average scoring margin of over 11 points per game.

There are a number of factors that contributed to the Lions’ poor defensive performance. First, they had one of the worst pass defenses in the league. They allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete nearly 70% of their passes, and they gave up 31 touchdown passes (tied for second-most in the NFL).

Second, the Lions were extremely poor at stopping the run. They allowed opponents to gain over 5 yards per carry (worst in the NFL), and they gave up 20 rushing touchdowns (also worst in the NFL).

Finally, the Lions’ defense was simply not very good at creating turnovers. They forced just 13 turnovers all season (tied for 23rd in the NFL), and they had a negative turnover differential (-8, tied for 28th).

The Lions’ poor defensive performance was a big part of why they finished with a record of 5-11 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. If they want to turn things around in 2021, they will need to make significant improvements on defense.

They allowed the most first downs in the NFL in 2020

The 2020 Detroit Lions defense was one of the worst in NFL history. They allowed the most first downs in the NFL, the second-most yards, and the third-most points. They were also one of only four teams to allow over 7,000 yards of offense.

The Lions had trouble stopping the run and the pass. They were last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, and they were 27th in the league in passing yards allowed per game. The only thing they did well was force turnovers, as they were sixth in the NFL in turnovers forced.

The Lions’ struggles on defense were especially evident in their losses. In their 12 losses, they allowed an average of 34 points per game. In their four wins, they allowed an average of 19 points per game.

The Lions’ defense was a big reason why they finished last in the NFC North with a 5-11 record. If they want to be competitive in 2021, they will need to make some major improvements on defense.

The Case For The Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have the worst defense in the NFL. They have given up the most points, the most yards, and they have the worst turnover differential. But there are some silver linings. Let’s take a look at the case for the Atlanta Falcons.

They allowed the most passing yards in the NFL in 2020

The Atlanta Falcons allowed the most passing yards in the NFL in 2020, with 4,548 yards given up through the air. The New Orleans Saints were second worst, allowing 4,465 passing yards. The Falcons also allowed 31 passing touchdowns, which was tied for second worst in the NFL.

They allowed the most points in the NFL in 2020

The Atlanta Falcons allowed the most points per game in the 2020 NFL season. They gave up an average of 31.8 points per game, which was more than any other team in the league. The Falcons also allowed the most yards per play, with 6.7 yards allowed per play. They gave up the most first downs, with 27.4 first downs allowed per game. The Falcons had the worst defense in the NFL in 2020, and they will need to improve their defense if they want to be competitive in 2021.

They allowed the most yards per play in the NFL in 2020

In 2020, the Atlanta Falcons had the worst defense in the NFL. They allowed the most yards per play in the NFL, and their opponents scored on a higher percentage of their drives than any other team in the league. In short, they were downright bad on defense.

So, what happened? How did a team that was so good on defense in 2019 suddenly become one of the worst units in the league?

There are a few factors that contributed to the sudden decline of the Falcons’ defense. First, they lost two key starters from their 2019 unit: edge rusher Vic Beasley and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Beasley was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and Jarrett is one of the best interior linemen in the NFL. Losing two players of that caliber is always tough to overcome.

Second, the Falcons’ secondary struggled mightily in 2020. They allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 70 percent of their passes and recorded just seven interceptions all season. In contrast, they had 14 interceptions in 2019. Cornerback Desmond Trufant was released mid-season and safety Keanu Neal missed most of the year with an injury. The Falcons’ secondary simply wasn’t good enough in 2020.

Lastly, the Falcons’ defense was hampered by injuries all season long. In addition to Beasley and Jarrett, they lost cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Kendall Sheffield to season-ending injuries. Linebackers Deion Jones and Foyesade Oluokun both missed time with injuries as well. When you lose that many key players to injury, it’s tough to compete at a high level.

The Falcons’ defense was undoubtedly bad in 2020, but there are some reasons why they struggled as much as they did. With some key players returning from injury and adding some new pieces via free agency or the draft, there’s reason to believe that they can be much better in 2021.