Who Has the Number One Defense in the NFL?

The answer may surprise you – it’s not the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks. It’s actually the Buffalo Bills!

The Case for the Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best defenses in the NFL. They are led by safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. The Ravens also have a great pass rush, which is led by defensive end Calais Campbell. They have a great mix of youth and experience on their defense, and they are always ready to make a big play.

Led the league in fewest points allowed

The Baltimore Ravens have the best defense in the NFL. They led the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and fewest first downs allowed. They were also second in the league in sacks and takeaways. The Ravens had a great season, and their defense was a big reason why.

Had the best passing defense

In 2019, the Baltimore Ravens had the best passing defense in the NFL. They allowed an average of only 190.6 passing yards per game, and they gave up a total of 36 passing touchdowns, which was tied for the second-fewest in the league. The Ravens also had the fewest interceptions in the NFL, with only six.

The Ravens’ secondary was led by cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who was named to the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro. Humphrey had three interceptions and 15 passes defensed in 2019. He was joined in the Pro Bowl by safety Earl Thomas, who had four interceptions and two sacks.

Had the best rushing defense

In 2019, the Baltimore Ravens had the best rushing defense in the NFL, allowing an average of only 69.1 yards per game. The Ravens also had the second-best overall defense, giving up an average of only 285.4 yards per game. The Ravens’ defense was led by linebacker Jamal Lewis, who was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The Case for the San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have the number one defense in the NFL. They have only given up an average of 15.8 points per game. They are also the number one team in sacks and interceptions. The 49ers have a strong defense and they are only going to get better.

Had the second-best passing defense

The 49ers ranked second in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game and opponent passer rating. They also had the fifth-fewest giveaways, as their ball-control offense limited opportunities for the opposition. San Francisco’s defense was one of the league’s best at sacking the quarterback, as they recorded 48 sacks (third in the NFL) while allowing only 23 touchdown passes (tied for second fewest).

Had the second-best rushing defense

The San Francisco 49ers were one of the best teams in the NFL in 2019. They had a great offense, led by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and a great defense. The 49ers defense was particularly good against the run. They only allowed 91.0 rushing yards per game, which was second in the NFL.

Allowed the second-fewest points

The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL this season. Their defense has been particularly impressive, allowing the second-fewest points in the league.

The 49ers’ success on defense is due to a number of factors. First, they have a very talented and experienced defensive coordinator in Robert Saleh. Saleh has done an excellent job of game-planning and making in-game adjustments.

Second, the 49ers have a lot of talent on their defense. They have two All-Pro caliber players in defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Kwon Alexander, and a number of other very good players.

Third, the 49ers have benefited from some good luck. They’ve had some close calls, but they’ve generally made the plays they needed to make in order to win games.

Fourth, and finally, the 49ers have a great homefield advantage. Their fans are extremely loud and supportive, and it can be difficult for opposing teams to communicate on offense when they’re playing inSan Francisco.

The 49ers’ defense is clearly one of the best in the NFL, and it will be a big factor in whether they are able to win a Super Bowl this season.

The Case for the New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have been one of the best teams in the NFL for the past few years. They have a strong offense and a strong defense. They have a lot of experience and they have a good coach. They have won a lot of games and they have a good record.

Allowed the third-fewest points

In 2019, the New England Patriots had the third-fewest points allowed per game in the NFL. Their defense was also ranked first in yards allowed per game and first in turnover differential. With key players like Stephon Gilmore and Jamie Collins, the Patriots’ defense was one of the most feared units in the league.

Had the third-best passing defense

In 2017, the New England Patriots had the third-best passing defense in the NFL. Led by linebacker Dont’a Hightower and safety Devin McCourty, the Patriots gave up an average of just under 200 passing yards per game.

Had the fourth-best rushing defense

Throughout the 2019 season, the New England Patriots had the fourth-best rushing defense in the NFL. This is according to Football Outsiders, who measure a team’s performance against the league average on a play-by-play basis, adjusting for situation and opponent.

The Patriots were particularly strong against opposing running backs, as they only allowed 3.7 yards per carry and 68.8 yards per game to this group of players. This is a significant drop from the 2018 season, when they allowed 4.5 yards per carry and 94.1 yards per game to running backs.

One of the key reasons for this improvement was the addition of defensive tackle Danny Shelton, who was acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns during the offseason. Shelton proved to be a valuable run-stuffer in the middle of the Patriots’ defense, which helped to free up their linebackers and defensive backs to make plays against the run.

In addition to Shelton, the Patriots also had strong contributions from defensive end Michael Bennett and linebacker Dont’a Hightower. Bennett was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason and he recorded 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 16 games. Hightower, meanwhile, had 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss while also serving as one of the team’s primary leaders on defense.

The Case for the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been considered one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. They’ve only allowed more than 20 points in a game four times this season and are coming off a performance in which they held the best offense in the league, the Los Angeles Rams, to just three points.

Had the fourth-best passing defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers had the fourth-best passing defense in the NFL in 2020, according to Football Outsiders. They also ranked sixth in DVOA against the run.

Allowed the fourth-fewest points

In today’s NFL, the name of the game is offense. The league’s best-scoring teams usually take home the Lombardi Trophy come February, as evidenced by the fact that the past eight Super Bowl winners have all ranked in the top 10 in points scored during the regular season.

But what about defense? Surely that still matters, right?

The Pittsburgh Steelers would like to think so. In 2018, the Steelers had the NFL’s best defense, as measured by points allowed per game. They gave up just 297 points over the course of 16 games, an average of 18.6 per contest. That was more than a full point better than the second-place Los Angeles Rams (20.6) and nearly three full points better than the third-place New England Patriots (21.3).

So how did Pittsburgh’s defense stack up against some of the other great units in NFL history? Surprisingly well, it turns out.

The 297 points allowed by the 2018 Steelers are tied for the ninth fewest by any team in a 16-game season in NFL history. That’s pretty good company to keep.

Had the fifth-best rushing defense

Despite having the fifth-best rushing defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers allowed 4.3 yards per carry, which was tied for 20th in the league.