Who Is The Best Defense In The NFL Right Now?
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It’s a debate as old as time itself: who is the best defense in the NFL right now? Is it the Los Angeles Rams? The Chicago Bears? The New England Patriots?
The Case For The Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have the best defense in the NFL right now. They are number one in points allowed per game and yards allowed per game. They have a great pass rush and they can stop the run. They have a good mix of veteran players and young players.
The Rams Have The League’s Top-Ranked Defense
The Rams have the league’s top-ranked defense, and it’s not even close. Los Angeles is allowing an NFL-low 17.7 points per game, and their +149 point differential is also the best in the league. The next closest team is the Chicago Bears, who are allowing 19.8 points per game and have a +120 point differential.
The Rams Have A Top-10 Pass Defense
Assuming you’re referring to the 2019 season, the Rams currently have the 8th best pass defense in the NFL, allowing an average of 233.6 passing yards per game.
Ram’s opponents have completed 58.8 percent of their passes this season, which is the fourth lowest completion rate in the NFL. The Rams also have 21 sacks this season, which is tied for ninth most in the NFL.
Rams cornerback Marcus Peters leads the NFL with four interceptions, and safety John Johnson III is tied for second in the league with three interceptions. Overall, the Rams have eight interceptions this season, which is tied for fourth most in the NFL.
The Rams’ pass defense will be put to the test this week against Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who leads the NFL with 2,169 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes this season.
The Rams Have A Top-10 Run Defense
While the Rams might not be the best overall defense in the NFL right now, they do have one of the best run defenses in the league. So far this season, Los Angeles has only allowed an average of 79.8 rushing yards per game, which is good for seventh best in the NFL.
The Rams are also stingy when it comes to giving up rushing touchdowns, as they have only allowed two all season long. Additionally, Los Angeles has only allowed opposing teams to convert on 37.5 percent of their third down attempts, which is the fourth best rate in the NFL.
The Case For The Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have the best defense in the NFL right now. They are number one in points allowed per game, number one in takeaways, and number one in yards allowed per game. They have a dominant front seven that can stop the run and get to the quarterback. They also have a lockdown secondary that can take away the deep ball. The Bears are a complete team and they have shown it on the field.
The Bears Have The League’s Second-Ranked Defense
This season, the Bears have the league’s second-ranked defense, behind only the Baltimore Ravens. Chicago is allowing just 17.7 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the NFL. The Bears are also second in the league in yards allowed per game (300.6), behind only the New England Patriots.
The Bears Have A Top-10 Pass Defense
The Bears have a top-10 pass defense according to DVOA. They are allowing the 8th fewest yards per attempt and have the 4th best sack percentage. They have also been very good at forcing turnovers with a 7% interception rate which is the 3rd best in the NFL.
The Bears Have A Top-10 Run Defense
In the Bears’ four wins this season, they’ve allowed an average of 83.5 rushing yards per game and 3.38 yards per carry. In their three losses, those numbers have jumped to 131.3 and 4.77, respectively. So it’s no surprise that stopping the run has been a point of emphasis for the coaching staff this week.
“We put a big emphasis on it this week in practice, just getting back to the basics and the fundamentals of our run fits, our get-offs,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “It was a good week of work and we have to carry it over into the game.”
Against the Jets, the Bears were victimized by big plays — something that can happen when defenders get out of their gaps in an attempt to make a stop.
“You see it happen sometimes where all 11 guys are doing what they’re supposed to do and one guy misses a tackle or misses a gap, and they pop one,” Fangio said. “That can kind of ruin your day right there in terms of your run defense numbers. But if you play good team defense against the run and everybody does their job, tackles well and fills their gaps, you usually do OK.”
The Case For The Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have the best defense in the NFL right now. They are number one in points allowed per game, yards allowed per game, and turnovers. The have a great mix of young and experienced talent, and they are coached well. Let’s take a look at why the Ravens are the best defense in the NFL.
The Ravens Have The League’s Third-Ranked Defense
The Baltimore Ravens have the league’s third-ranked defense, behind only the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens are allowing an average of just 18.5 points per game, and they have given up more than 24 points in a game just once all season.
The Ravens’ defense is led by linebacker C.J. Mosley, who has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in the NFL. Mosley is one of the best defensive players in the league, and he is flanked by fellow Pro Bowlers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith.
The secondary is also very strong, with safety Eric Weddle leading the way. Weddle is a five-time Pro Bowler and he was named first-team All-Pro in 2016. Cornerback Jimmy Smith is also a very good player, and he has helped the Ravens’ defense become one of the best in the NFL.
The Ravens Have A Top-10 Pass Defense
The Baltimore Ravens have a top-10 passing defense, according to Football Outsiders. The Ravens are seventh in the NFL in passing defense, allowing opponents to complete just 59.9 percent of their passes. They’re also 10th in the NFL in interception rate, picking off opponents on 2.4 percent of their pass attempts.
The Ravens Have A Top-10 Run Defense
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best run defenses in the NFL right now. They are currently ranked 10th in the league in terms of fewest yards allowed per game, and they have only given up four rushing touchdowns all season.
Part of the reason why the Ravens have been so successful against the run is because of their defensive line. They have a very talented group of defensive linemen, led by nose tackle Brandon Williams. Williams is one of the best run-stoppers in the NFL, and he does a great job of clogging up running lanes.
The Ravens also have a very good linebacker group. Their two starting inside linebackers, C.J. Mosley and Patrick Onwuasor, are both very good at stopping the run. And their outside linebackers, Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith, are also very good at setting the edge against opposing runners.
The Ravens’ success against the run has helped them become one of the best defenses in the NFL overall. They are currently ranked fifth in the league in total defense, and they are only giving up 18 points per game, which is second-best in the NFL.
The Case For The Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have the best defense in the NFL right now. They are number one in points allowed per game, yards allowed per game, and sacks. They have a great mix of youth and experience on their defense, and they are led by Von Miller.
The Broncos Have The League’s Fourth-Ranked Defense
The Denver Broncos have the league’s fourth-ranked defense, according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. The team is allowing just 4.6 yards per play, which is the second-lowest mark in the NFL. Denver has been especially stout against the run, giving up just 3.3 yards per carry, which is the best mark in the league.
The Broncos’ defense has been so good that it has carried the team to a 3-1 record despite some struggles from the offense. Quarterback Trevor Siemian has been turnover-prone, and the team’s running game has been inconsistent. But with a defense that is playing this well, the Broncos have a chance to be a serious contender in the AFC this season.
The Broncos Have A Top-10 Pass Defense
The Denver Broncos currently have the 10th best pass defense in the NFL. They are allowing an average of 234.2 passing yards per game, which is just under 20 yards per game more than the league-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite this, the Broncos have still managed to win nine of their 11 games so far this season.
One of the main reasons for the Broncos’ success this season has been their ability to take the ball away from opponents. They have forced 18 turnovers so far this season, which is tied for third in the NFL. The Bronco’s +8 turnover differential is also tied for third in the NFL.
Another reason for the Broncos’ success is their ability to sack the quarterback. They are currently tied for fifth in the NFL with 33 sacks. This puts them on pace to finish the season with 53 sacks, which would be a franchise record.
The Broncos Have A Top-10 Run Defense
The Denver Broncos have quietly been one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. They currently rank seventh in points allowed per game and have the 10th best run defense in the league.
Most of the credit for the Broncos’ success on defense has to go to their front seven. Defensive end Derek Wolfe has been a force against both the run and the pass, while linebacker Von Miller is one of the best edge rushers in the NFL.
In the secondary, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. is having another excellent season. He’s been a shutdown corner for the Broncos and has helped them limit opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 77.5 when targeting him in coverage.
All signs point to the Broncos being one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. If they can continue to play at a high level, they will be a tough team to beat come playoff time.
The Case For The New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have been one of the best defenses in the NFL for the past few years. They have a great mix of experience and young talent. They are led by defensive mastermind Bill Belichick. The Patriots have a lot of depth and they can play multiple types of defenses.
The Patriots Have The League’s Fifth-Ranked Defense
The New England Patriots’ defense is not one to be taken lightly. They are currently ranked fifth in the NFL for total defense, allowing an average of only 316.8 yards per game. They are also tied for sixth in the league in points allowed, giving up only 19.7 points per game on average.
What makes the Patriots’ defense so strong is their ability to shut down both the run and the pass. They are currently ranked third in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing an average of only 88.6 yards per game on the ground. And they are ranked sixth in the NFL in passing defense, giving up an average of only 228.2 yards through the air per game.
The Patriots have been able to maintain such a strong defense despite losing some key players to injury this season. Starting linebacker Dont’a Hightower was lost for the year after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in October, while starting cornerback Eric Rowe missed four games with a groin injury suffered in November.
Despite these injuries, the Patriots have been able to field a top-ranked defense thanks to their depth and ability to adapt to whatever situation they find themselves in. Backup linebacker Kyle Van Noy has stepped up in Hightower’s absence and become one of the team’s leading tacklers, while Rowe’s replacement, Jonathan Jones, has been solid in coverage.
The Patriots’ defense will be put to the test this weekend when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship game. The Jaguars boast one of the league’s best offenses, led by quarterback Blake Bortles and running back Leonard Fournette. But if anyone is up to the challenge of stopping them, it’s the Patriots’ defense.
The Patriots Have A Top-10 Pass Defense
The Patriots have a top-10 pass defense according to Football Outsiders. They are ranked seventh in DVOA and have only given up 200 passing yards in two games this season. The team’s defense is led by safety Devin McCourty, who has three interceptions this season.
The Patriots also have a good run defense, which is important in the playoffs. They are ranked 12th in DVOA and have only given up more than 100 rushing yards in one game this season. The team’s leading tackler is linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who has 93 tackles this season.
The Patriots Have A Top-10 Run Defense
The New England Patriots have the best defense in the NFL. They are first in points allowed per game, first in yards allowed per game, and first in sacks. They have the best run defense in the NFL, allowing just 71.8 yards per game. They are also second in the NFL in interceptions, with 15.
