Who Has the Worst Defense in the NFL?
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We all know that defense wins championships, but which NFL team has the worst defense? We take a look at the numbers to find out.
The Case for the Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed the most points per game of any team in the NFL this season. They have given up an average of 30.5 points per game, and their opponents have scored at least 27 points in every game this season. The Bengals have also allowed the most yards per game, and their opponents have been able to convert on almost half of their third downs.
The Bengals have allowed the most yards per game in the NFL
The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed the most yards per game in the NFL. In fact, they’ve given up an average of 505.3 yards per game this season. That’s almost 100 more yards than the next closest team, the New Orleans Saints.
So, why are the Bengals so bad on defense? Well, there are a few reasons.
First, the Bengals have had trouble stopping the run. They’re allowing an average of 150 yards per game on the ground, which is the third worst mark in the NFL. Consequently, opposing teams have been able to control the clock and keep Cincinnati’s offense off the field.
Second, the Bengals haven’t been able to generate much of a pass rush. They’ve only recorded 14 sacks through nine games, which is tied for 26th in the league. When opposing quarterbacks have time to throw, they’ve been able to pick apart Cincinnati’s secondary.
Finally, injuries have played a role in the Bengals’ defensive struggles. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict missed most of training camp and the first four games of the regular season due to a suspension. Defensive end Michael Johnson has also been sidelined for several weeks with an ankle injury. When you take two starters away from any defense, it’s going to struggle.
The bottom line is that there are a lot of reasons why the Bengals have the worst defense in the NFL. If they can’t figure out how to stop giving up so many yards, they’re going to have a tough time winning games down the stretch.
The Bengals have allowed the most points per game in the NFL
The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed the most points per game in the NFL this season. Some might say that’s because they’re the worst team in the league, but that’s not necessarily true. The truth is, the Bengals have been hit hard by injuries, particularly on defense.
Injuries are a part of football, and every team has to deal with them at some point. But the Bengals have been hit especially hard this season. Starting defensive end Carl Lawson was lost for the season in Week 2, and starting linebacker Vontaze Burfict missed most of the season with a concussion. Starting safety Shawn Williams also missed several games with an ankle injury.
Those are just some of the key injuries that the Bengals have dealt with this season. As a result, their defense has struggled mightily. They’ve allowed an average of 31.5 points per game, which is worst in the NFL.
So while it’s easy to say that the Bengals are the worst team in the NFL, it’s important to remember that they’ve been dealt a tough hand by injuries this season. And when you take into account all of the circumstances, it’s actually not surprising that they’re struggling so much on defense.
The Bengals have the worst turnover differential in the NFL
The Cincinnati Bengals have the worst turnover differential in the NFL. They have given up the most points off of turnovers, and their offense has been unable to sustain drives. As a result, the Bengals have the worst record in the NFL.
The Case for the Detroit Lions
It’s no secret that the Detroit Lions have had a rough few years. They haven’t had a winning season since 2016, and their defense has been historically bad. In 2019, they allowed the most yards per play, the most yards per game, and the most points per game. So, why are they still in the NFL? Let’s take a closer look.
The Lions have allowed the second-most yards per game in the NFL
The Lions have allowed the second-most yards per game in the NFL this season, and they are on pace to surrender the most yards in a season in NFL history. The defense has been especially bad against the pass, giving up an average of 305.5 yards per game through the air.
The Lions have allowed the second-most points per game in the NFL
The Lions have allowed the second-most points per game in the NFL, and their opponents have converted on 46.7 percent of their red zone trips, which is the fourth-worst mark in the league. They have also given up 14 rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the second-most in the NFL.
The Lions have the second-worst turnover differential in the NFL
The Lions have the second-worst turnover differential in the NFL. They’ve only forced nine turnovers while giving up the ball 19 times. Against good teams, that’s a recipe for disaster. The Rams, Bears, and Seahawks are all in the top half of the league in turnover differential, and they’ve all beaten the Lions.
The Case for the New York Giants
The New York Giants have the worst defense in the NFL. They have given up the most yards, the most points, and they have the worst turnover margin. But there is more to the story than just those numbers. The Giants have been hit hard by injuries, and they have had to start several rookies. Let’s take a closer look at the Giants’ defense.
The Giants have allowed the third-most yards per game in the NFL
The New York Giants have had a terrible season. They are currently last in their division with a 2-10 record. But one thing that has been especially bad for the team is their defense. The Giants have allowed the third-most yards per game in the NFL.
Defensive struggles have been a theme for the Giants this season. They are currently ranked 30th in the NFL in points allowed per game. They have also given up the most rushing yards per game and the second-most passing yards per game. In fact, the only team that has given up more passing yards than the Giants is the winless Cleveland Browns.
The Giants’ struggles on defense are especially surprising because they have some big-name players on that side of the ball. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is a two-time Pro Bowler, and linebacker Olivier Vernon was a Pro Bowler last year. The team also spent a lot of money this offseason to sign defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who was considered one of the best run-stoppers in the NFL.
So why have the Giants been so bad on defense? There are a few reasons. One is that they have been hit hard by injuries. Pierre-Paul missed four games early in the season, and Vernon has missed six games due to injury. Harrison has also missed three games due to injury.
Another reason is that the Giants’ young cornerbacks have not played well. Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple were both considered promising young players when they were drafted, but they have struggled this season. Apple, in particular, has been beaten often and has looked lost at times on the field.
The Giants’ defense will need to improve if the team wants to turn things around next season. But with so many injuries and young players struggling, it will be tough for them to do that right away.
The Giants have allowed the third-most points per game in the NFL
The New York Giants have been one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, and their defense has been a big reason why. The Giants have allowed the third-most points per game in the NFL, and they have struggled to stop opposing offenses all season long.
The Giants’ struggles on defense began in Week 1, when they allowed 34 points to the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were able to move the ball at will against the Giants, and they gashed the New York defense for 537 total yards. The Giants’ struggles continued in Week 2, when they allowed 28 points to the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo’s offense was able to move the ball up and down the field against the Giants, and they ultimately won the game by double digits.
The Giants’ defense has not improved since those early struggles, and it has cost them dearly in recent weeks. In Week 8, the Giants allowed 37 points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay’s offense was once again able to move the ball at will against the New York defense, and they put up over 500 total yards of offense in the process. The 37 points that Tampa Bay scored were the most that any team had scored against the Giants all season long.
The Giants’ defense took another step backwards in Week 9, when they allowed 31 points to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles were able to score touchdowns on each of their first three possessions of the game, and they ultimately won by double digits. The 31 points that Philadelphia scored were tied for the most that any team had scored against the Giants all season long.
The New York Giants’ defense is one of the worst units in all of football, and it has cost them dearly this season. The Giants have allowed more than 30 points in five different games this season, and they have only won one of those games (Week 3 against Houston). If the New York defense does not improve soon, it is going to cost them even more games inthe future.
The Giants have the third-worst turnover differential in the NFL
The New York Giants have the third-worst turnover differential in the NFL. They have given up the most points per game, and their offense has been turnover-prone. The Giants’ defense has been a liability all season, and their special teams have been among the league’s worst. These factors have all contributed to the team’s poor record.
The Case for the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have the worst defense in the NFL. They have given up the most points, the most yards, and have the worst pass defense. They are also last in sacks. However, there are some that think they are not the worst. Let’s take a look at the case for the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most yards per game in the NFL
The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most yards per game in the NFL, and their points allowed per game ranks sixth-worst. They’ve also been uncharacteristically bad at stopping the run, surrendering 4.8 yards per carry (29th in the NFL).
The biggest problem for the Cardinals has been their pass defense. They’re allowing 8.2 yards per pass attempt (the most in the NFL), and their opponents have a passer rating of 114.8 (second-highest in the NFL). Arizona is also Skiesorks 32nd in ESPN’s Pass Rush Win Rate metric, which measures how often a team is able to pressure the quarterback into a bad throw or sack.
The good news for Cardinals fans is that their defense should improve as the season goes on. Their schedule gets easier, and they should benefit from the return of senior cornerback Robert Alford, who missed the first four games of the season with a broken leg.
The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most points per game in the NFL
The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most points per game in the NFL, and their opponents have scored 30 or more points in five of their seven games. While their offense has been decent, averaging 22.9 points per game (16th in the NFL), it hasn’t been good enough to offset their defensive struggles.
The Cardinals’ defense ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed per game (433.6), and they’re giving up an average of 29.4 points per game (fourth-worst in the NFL). They’ve allowed 20 or more points in all but one of their seven games, and they’ve given up 30 or more points four times.
To make matters worse, the Cardinals are playing some of the worst teams in the NFL over the next few weeks. They’ll face the San Francisco 49ers (2-7), who have scored a total of 23 points over their last two games, and the New York Giants (1-7), who have scored a total of 28 points over their last three games. After that, they’ll play the Seattle Seahawks (5-3), who are coming off a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If the Cardinals want any chance of turning things around, they need to find a way to improve their defense. Otherwise, they could be in for a long second half of the season.
The Cardinals have the fourth-worst turnover differential in the NFL
The Cardinals have a turnover differential of -9, which is the fourth-worst in the NFL. They have only forced 12 turnovers while turning the ball over 21 times. That’s a recipe for disaster, and it’s a big reason why they rank near the bottom of the league in points allowed per game.
The Case for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the worst defense in the NFL. This may be surprising to some, but the numbers don’t lie. The Buccaneers have given up the most yards, the most points, and have the worst turnover margin. In short, they’re not very good at playing defense.
The Buccaneers have allowed the fifth-most yards per game in the NFL
The Buccaneers have allowed the fifth-most yards per game in the NFL, and their opponents have scored the second-most points per game. They have given up at least 30 points in four of their seven games, and their only victory came against the hapless Giants. So, yes, the defense has been bad.
But it’s worth noting that the defense has been better in recent weeks. In their last three games, the Buccaneers have allowed an average of 22 points per game, which is a significant improvement from the 37 points per game they were giving up early in the season.
Part of the reason for the defensive improvement is that the Buccaneers have been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks more effectively. In their first four games, the Buccaneers recorded just two sacks and generated very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks. But in their last three games, they have eight sacks and have been much more disruptive.
The other reason for the defensive improvement is that the team’s young cornerbacks are starting to play better. After a rough start to the season, veteran Aqib Talib has been solid in recent weeks, and rookie Johnthan Banks has shown promise. With Talib and Banks playing better, and with the pass rush starting to generate more pressure, the Buccaneers’ defense is slowly but surely starting to come together.
So while it’s fair to say that the Tampa Bay defense has been bad this season, it’s worth noting that there are some signs of improvement. If those signs continue, then perhaps we can start to think of this defense as a force to be reckoned with rather than one of the worst in the league.
The Buccaneers have allowed the fifth-most points per game in the NFL
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a tough season. They’ve lost six of their last seven games, and they currently have a 3-7 record. In those seven games, the Buccaneers have allowed an average of 30.1 points per game, which is the fifth-most in the NFL.
The Buccaneers’ struggles can be largely attributed to their defense, which has been one of the worst in the league this season. The Buccaneers are allowing an average of 28.8 points per game, which is the second-most in the NFL. In addition, they’re allowing an average of 5.4 yards per play, which is the fourth-worst in the league.
It’s clear that the Buccaneers’ defense is struggling, and it’s one of the main reasons why they’ve lost six of their last seven games. If they want to turn things around, they need to find a way to improve their defense.
The Buccaneers have the fifth-worst turnover differential in the NFL
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the fifth-worst turnover differential in the NFL. They have turned the ball over 18 times this season, while their opponents have only turned it over 11 times. That -7 turnover differential is the fifth-worst in the NFL.
The Buccaneers have also allowed their opponents to score 9 touchdowns off of those 18 turnovers, which is the second-worst in the NFL. Only the Houston Texans (10 TDs off of 18 turnovers) have been worse.
So, not only are the Buccaneers turning the ball over at a high rate, but they are also allowing their opponents to score a lot of points off of those turnovers. That is a recipe for disaster and it is one of the main reasons why the Buccaneers have the worst defense in the NFL.