nfl defense rankings 2020 espn
Here's our new No. They ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed per game last season. 1. Special teams: 24, Carson Wentz declined dramatically in 2020, plummeting toward the bottom in most statistical categories for QBs before being replaced in the lineup by rookie Jalen Hurts. The Eagles are first in sacks (16), tied for first in takeaways (10), third in yards allowed (277.3 per game) and 10th in points allowed (17.8). "Satisfied with the effort? the coach replied to a reporters query. TrevorLawrence had a five-turnover meltdown against the Eagles in Week 4, but you could point to the wet and slippery conditions as a major factor behind his struggles. TheDolphins have cooled off after their hot start, and injuries at the games most important position help to explain why. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2020/06/18/espn-names-raiders-as-worst-defense-of-decade/, One free agent each NFL team should re-sign in 2023, Ranking the Raiders biggest need positions ahead of free agency, ESPN projects who the Week 1 starter at QB for the Las Vegas Raiders, Aaron Rodgers emerges from 'Darkness retreat' to Raiders reportedly not interested in acquiring him. With the Falcons officially eliminated from playoff contention, it's time to turn the focus to 2021 and potentially moving on at quarterback while retooling other areas of the roster. The offense has been ineffective since Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury. Tucker is 17-for-17 lifetime on attempts in the final minute of regulation. Check out the full rundown, 1-32. League rank: 29th. -- Rob Demovsky, The Bills' offense is a complete turnaround from last season's anemic unit, as Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs have combined to form one of the most potent QB-WR duos in the NFL. Seattle's special teams have been strong the whole time, led by Jason Myers going 18-for-18 on field goal tries. Frazier interviewed for head-coaching opportunities in 2020 and 2021 after being interim head coach and then head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2010 to 2013 (21-32-1 record). From injuries to defending the run, every team has something it can improve on. The Saints' jack of all trades was at his very best against a porous Seahawks defense, rushing for three scores and throwing for another in a 39-32 win. That is not a recipe to win. The biggest issue on defense is points allowed. There's respect, but little love, between the Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies since their rivalry heated up last season. Defense: 13 That Wilson underwent a procedureon his throwing shoulder on Friday onlysummons more storm clouds over Mile High. Its a start. The guy that bettors are scrambling to back for Most Valuable Player threw for an average of 149.5 yards per game in 2022. Only four teams have forced fewer turnovers, and all of them have losing records. The Cardinals' four sacks are the fewest in the NFL, and their sacks per pass attempt rate is a league-low 2.88%. Plus, the Jaguars are suddenly knocking on the door of the top 10! They do have to improve their pass rush, but they will be a deep playoff team next season. --Jake Trotter, Defensive efficiency: 51.0 It's Sean McVay's responsibility to figure out how to fix it before it's too late. CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND We try not to look at what happened the last couple of games and what's ahead. But credit the Los Angeles defense, which stood strong and forced the long field-goal attempt. That's why the Chiefs end the season as the top-ranked team in my Power Rankings and will be No. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN The special-teams coverage has been good, and punter Tress Way has been terrific. Figures indicate statistics each team allowed to their opponents. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was given the personnel he needed to be successful, and for the most part, he has been. League rank: 19th. After two straight losses, New England will probably look at this game as a chance to get right before a crucial division . Mac Jones has to be happy after what happened last season. Free agency looms Scott logged 54 carries for 217 yards and three touchdowns across 15 regular-season games with the Eagles in 2022. He was passed . Sign up for the Raiders Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He completed 13 of his 14 passes in the second half with two . Coach Kevin Stefanski said Garrett could return next Sunday following last week's single-car crash. ESPN: ESPN scoring combines PPR with unique kicker and defense scoring. The Texans have joined the ranks of the living, with their first win of the season. 9. There is a lot of young talent on the roster. All of that helps lift a struggling offense that has failed to produce a consistent running game. Opponent Fourth Down Conversion Percentage. The Dolphins have gotten a defensive player of the year-caliber season out of cornerback Xavien Howard (league-high nine interceptions) and Pro Bowl-caliber seasons from edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, returner Jakeem Grant and kicker Jason Sanders. In a recent piece by ESPN, the named the Raiders the worst defense of the decade as they allowed an average of 26.2 points per game during that period. Depth charts for every team But injuries to key players have made it difficult for the unit to develop an identity through four games. The biggest issue on defense is third-down conversions. --Michael Rothstein, Defensive efficiency: 42.4 Carolina fired the head coach on Monday, ending hisrun with the Panthers at 11-27 in two-plus seasons. FREE to play! Weno longer live in the days of endless summer in Foxborough, but you have to give the organization -- and specifically, Bill Belichick -- credit: If you come into New England and arent ready, you can still be embarrassed. They don't have an edge rusher with more than one sack and have called the third-most blitzes (57) so far this season. It is the default for leagues hosted on ESPN. We paired each response with the team's defensive efficiency rating and where that stacks up in the league. Kelce remains at the center of everything, a prodigious producer who always seems to deliver his best moments when the lights are brightest. FPts: The number of fantasy points that our model predicts a player will score this season, based on the selected scoring system. -- Lindsey Thiry, Russell Wilson was the MVP front-runner for much of the first half of the season, which the Seahawks needed, with their defense getting gashed at a historic rate. League rank: 17th. Houston gave up 36 points to the Bears on Sunday in a performance that Watt called "embarrassing." See trending; Company. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Special teams: 32, Basically, not much has gone right for the Chargers, except -- and it's a big exception -- quarterback Justin Herbert. With an unforgivingschedule ahead, Tomlin appears destined to finally endure his first losing season as head coach. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. Did the Raiders make one of the best offseason moves in 2022? Blow a team off the field? "A lot of teams in this league would have just laid down and stopped playing." The Chiefs are doing a nice job of pressuring the quarterback, so it figures the turnovers will come. They're actually getting decent pressure on the quarterback, with a 35% pressure rate (19th) on third down. Luckily, Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden have done a great job of bringing in talent over the last two seasons and the hope is that players like Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell and Trayvon Mullen can reshape the unit. When Justin Herbert's subsequent pass fell incomplete, the Browns looked like a team given an early Christmas gift by the opposing head coach. The end result? Josh McDaniels' team was once again on the wrong side of a coin-flip game, this time an excruciating 30-29 defeat to the Chiefs at Arrowhead that dropped Vegas into the AFC West cellar. Carl Lawson sealed the win with a strip sack of Dolphins third-string QB Skylar Thompson (a play that allowed Quinnen Williams to stiff-arm "disrespectful" Tyreek Hill into another time zone), while Breece Hall announced his arrival as an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate with 197 total yards and a score. League rank:12th, The Rams have their best cornerback healthy (Jalen Ramsey) but have been dealing withseveral injuries in the secondaryearly in the season. CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND The biggest issue on defense is Jamal Adams' absence. Who has the most career 200 receiving yard games? It sounds like Sam Howell will be their quarterback in 2023, although a veteran will be also in the mix. There are also 15 teams this week that have a 2-2 record. Getting Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator is a great move. They have a new offensive coordinator, which will make Justin Herbert happy and make this offense better. After Baltimore totaled 126 yards in the second half in Week 3, and Green Bay totaled 199 yards on 35 carries overall in Week 4, it has exposed a vulnerability for the Patriots. Take a look at ESPN's thoughts on . League Size: The size of your league can influence position value or scarcity, and should impact your draft strategy (read more here). The biggest issue on defense is sluggish starts. The script is beyond tired for the Raiders. --David Newton, Defensive efficiency: 47.6 The biggest issue on defense is the fourth quarter. Not only are the Packers allowing nearly 5 yards per rush, but they're having troubling bringing runners down. The biggest issue on defense is finishing the game. --Eric Woodyard, Defensive efficiency: 41.1 Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. This was an issue last year, and it continues to be one this season. 7:48 pm ET, Ranking 10 best NFL landing spots for Richardson, 2023 NFL combine: WR/TE winners and losers, Takeaways from NFL combine measurements for WR, TE, Pete Prisco's top 100 NFL free agents of 2023, NFL combine: Grading top QBs, plus winners and losers, NFL combine 2023 tracker: Top performances, highlights, NFL post-Super Bowl Power Rankings: Chiefs run it back, NFL Combine: Grading top QBs; winners and losers, NFL Draft: Top landing spots for Richardson, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Colossal Richardson sets multiple QB combine records, Pascal robbed at gunpoint, assaulted; WR 'doing fine', Bryce Young measures similar to former No. The Packers survived a scare from Bailey Zappe and the Patriots in Week 4, but Brian Daboll's Giants made them pay with a humbling loss in London. Take a look at ESPNs thoughts on the Raiders defense over the previous ten seasons: Continuity is key, and the Raiders had very little on defense in the 2010s. --Rob Demovsky, Defensive efficiency:46.2 Broncos, Rams, Packers among NFL teams under pressure after slow start to 2022 season, NFL stats and records, Week 5: Bills QB Josh Allen's first-half clinic puts him in 150-touchdown club, Cowboys QB controversy? The Niners' defense has been mostly dominant for the season's first month, but the win column doesn't reflect just how good it has been. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. --Sarah Barshop, Defensive efficiency:39.6 XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? TheLions have been a mess on defense all season, but the offense was there to keep the team competitive and afloat. TEAM SEASON GP W L T TD PTS PPG OPP PTS OPP PPG 1DWN 3DWN% 4DWN% Chicago Bears: 2021: 17: 6 But as FPI underscores, the defense has had issues outside of pass-rusher Myles Garrett, especially in the secondary, where injuries and inconsistent play have plagued Cleveland all season. Fantasy football draft strategy 2023: What changes should you consider? The Lions need to make some changes immediately, and head coach Dan Campbell knows it. That's not to oversimplify what's gone wrong for Seattle's defense, which has had all sorts of issues during another awful start. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. They will sign one -- likely Jones -- and tag the other. League rank: 21st. The offense has been nearly unstoppable, the defense has had its moments (giving up massive yardage but sometimes coming up with a timely sack or takeaway), and the special teams have been mostly a disaster, other than near-perfect kicker Mason Crosby. -- Brooke Pryor, It would have been much easier to identify the Saints' strengths if they hadn't just snapped a nine-game winning streak with Sunday's flop at Philadelphia. League rank: 20th, The Texans are allowing 5.1 yards per carry and have allowed 688 total rushing yards, the second most in the NFL. 1 . Sebastian Joseph-Day was brought in to help with rush defense. But instead it was Mahomes lighting up the Eagles' vaunted defense -- the top-ranked pass defense in the league -- in the second half. They can't ask Josh Allen to do it all. But what has helped them win four of their past five games is that the defense has forced 22 turnovers, which puts the Colts second in the league this season. Who has the most career 300 passing yard games? Even though this team has just four wins, Herbert has saved the season and given Chargers fans something to look forward to next season. Those four teams will all be relevant in 2023 because of their quarterback. 1 yr. ago. I trust the Chiefs, because of the guy on the sideline and the dude under center. Check out the full league pecking order, 1-32. But the defense is why Detroit is in a hole at the moment, getting ready for a complete regime switch in the offseason. The quarterback, who had struggled mightily through the first four weeks of his second season, caught fire in the second half, finishing 12 of 13 for 135 yards and a touchdown in the final two quarters. Through four games, Tennessee has given up five plays of 40 yards or more. League rank: 7th. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The Panthers have scored 30 or more points three times, and two of those were with Christian McCaffrey. Statistical data provided by Gracenote. An established power rises to the top spot for the first time this season in Dan Hanzus' Power Rankings. Win a shootout? The Jets aren't just bad -- they're historically bad. Tip your cap to Joe Douglas. What will define Eric Bieniemy's success. Eric Samulski breaks down all 2021 fantasy football Week 1 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit -- Courtney Cronin, Offense: 17 Opponent Punts per Offensive Score. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF The biggest issue on defense is injuries to the secondary. But when the players say they still need to get better, slowing the run is their biggest must. It ranks first in touchdowns allowed per drive and second in points allowed per drive. Turnover Differential is calculated by subtracting the total number of giveaways (interceptions & fumbles lost) from the total number of takeaways (interceptions & opponent fumble recoveries). In the second half, Baltimore has given up an NFL-worst 1,019 yards while allowing 67 points. In general, their strength lies in their depth and diversity. Defense: 16 The blowout was on! The Dolphins have been stout against the run, and the numbers they've given up are a bit skewed considering Josh Allen's 63 pass attempts in Week 3 and Lamar Jackson's prolific first half in Week 2. The Packers don't get stops on defense. Another mistake-laden loss would likely derail the Vikings' playoff hopes. --Katherine Terrell, Defensive efficiency:21.8 League rank: 22nd. The Jets closed out Sundays 40-17 win over the Dolphins like a young team thats starting to believe in itself. Atlanta's running game has been stale, averaging 98.3 yards per game while not receiving the spark it expected from Todd Gurley II, but an offense that also has Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Hayden Hurst performing at a middling level certainly points to playcalling. That mark should be obliterated on Sunday, when the Jets face the Rams. We did it to ourselves.". 2. They are last in the NFL in opponent third-down conversion percentage and touchdown percentage allowed in the red zone. The Dolphins' defense has forced 25 turnovers, tied for best in the league, while allowing the second-fewest points per game (18.8). -- Brady Henderson, Although the Titans are 9-4, their defense has been subpar. The Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill before the season and the offense evolved. The biggest issue on defense is forcing takeaways. Watt is the cog in the defense that makes everything go, and without a formidable pass rush, the rest of the defense isn't succeeding in picking up the slack. Eh, I don't know. --Turron Davenport, Defensive efficiency: 65.8 If the 49ers' defense can stay reasonably healthy, they don't need an offensive juggernaut to be a contender. While it is currently ranked one of the best in the NFL, the Bengals are trying to figure out what to do at kicker. -- Nick Wagoner, Offense: 22 San Francisco ranks near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category, but the offense has been near the bottom of the league in a number of areas, most notably points scored. A big reason for this is the absence of linebacker Shaquille Leonard, who made his short-lived season debut on Sunday, only to leave with a concussion in the second half. He completed 13 of his 14 passes in the second half with two touchdowns. The Rams do have four interceptions this season. They are allowing 5 yards per carry and have given up 20 runs of 10 yards or more in four games, including two runs of at least 33 yards in the past two games. Rally from multiple scores down? 2023 NFL combine: Top draft prospect workouts, risers, fastest 40s Visit ESPN to view the 2022 NFL Standings. Per The Athletic, Quenton Nelson had this to say after the 12-9 overtime conquest: Awins a win, but Im kinda also like how?The Colts can thank their defense for keeping the team above water during a brutal opening stretch for an offense that has averaged a league-worst 13.8 points per game. Daniel Jones hasn't made the leap as expected in Year 2, and the Giants are struggling to score points. Through five weeks, Pierce is fifth in the league in rushing, averaging aplump 4.8 yards per attempt. The offense is broken, yet the Steelers keep trying to force what worked earlier in the season. In this edition of the Power Rankings, Dan Hanzus has a brand new team in the top five. Minnesota can't afford for its kicking issues to continue after its playoff chances took a massive hit against Tampa Bay. --Tim McManus, Defensive efficiency:57.9 He remains the Jenga piece of the Saints' attack -- the whole thing topples over without the running back doing his thing. I certainly have no clue. Below, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters across the league and asked what the biggest issue faced by each team's defense is. The backup QB has played the best football of his career, but each of his three interceptions have come at crucial late junctures to seal -- or help seal -- the Browns' fate in their losses. Take Sunday, for instance: Cousins completed his first 17 passes against the Bears, leading the Vikings to touchdowns on their first three possessions while building a 21-3 lead. Philadelphia Eagles. Week 3. JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN 2022 NFL season, Week 5: What We Learned from Sunday's games, Time to panic?! The Colts' defense thrived on takeaways last season, producing 33 turnovers. Instead, hes held them back with inconsistent play and costly mistakes. They will most likely bring back Geno Smith at quarterback, which they should do. Can't say I'm totally on board with the Never Cover Travis Kelce strategy deployed by the Raiders on the goal line, but the Chiefs weren't complaining after their star tight end gobbled up all four of Patrick Mahomes' short touchdown passes in a 30-29 prime-time win at Arrowhead. It might work against the quarterbacks they faced, but life is about to get much more difficult with Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence and Geno Smith on deck. Bradley has been the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks (2009-2012), Los Angeles Chargers (2017-2020) and Las Vegas Raiders (2021). --Lindsey Thiry, Defensive efficiency: 53.6 Visit ESPN to view 2022 NFL stat leaders. But that's not what we've seen on the field this season. They're losing one-on-one matchups and committing too many penalties on the back end, where they're playing three young corners plus a backup at safety in Josh Jonesbecause of the serious knee injury Adams suffered in the opener. I believe we hit rock bottom, so now the only place to go is back up." The big offseason talk is whether they can land Aaron Rodgers. 1 spot. That was it. Veteran kicker Cairo Santos has converted 18 consecutive field goal attempts, making him the first Bears kicker to do so since Robbie Gould in 2006, and kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. But it was the way he did it that impressed. -- David Newton, Relive the NFL's greatest games, original series and more. Assessing Browns' FA needs, The Ravens are the only NFL team to rank in the top 10 on offense, defense and special teams. That also has been a factor in the team's failure to convert seven game-winning or tying drives. The biggest issue on defense is a consistent pass rush. "The NFL is crazy. Bills. At the 2012 combine, 346-pound defensive tackle Dontari Poe was clocked at 4.98 seconds in the 40-yard dash, did 44 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press, had a 29.5-inch vertical and . Since losing Dak Prescott, they have averaged 16.9 points per game. Whether you are using the NFL team defense rankings for NFL player props, betting, fantasy, or just your own personal knowledge, we have you covered. The Bills' defense is ranked in the top five of almost every . This team, because of Ryans and draft assets, is trending in the right direction. He is coming off an ACL injury and there are questions about whether he is the franchise guy. Russell Wilson and the Broncos' offense delivered another anemic performance under the prime-time lights, a 12-9 overtime loss that fully exposed to the football-viewing public how broken Denvers attack appears to be five weeks intothe season.