NFL Defensive Power Rankings
Published by Shaun Leistikow on November 16, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The AFC is getting all the love. Almost every power ranking I’ve seen has way more AFC teams in the top 10 than the NFC teams.
You have the Steelers, Ravens, and Jets all noted for their defense. Well, what happens when we remove the points allowed and yards per game? Points allowed isn’t purely a defensive stat and neither are yards per game.
Let’s take a look at how the teams rank by adjusted yards allowed per play. The adjusted is there because every take-a-way is close to about 40 yards. So here are the top defenses in the NFL.
| POS | Team | Plays | Yds/Game | Yards | INT | FUMB | Adj. Yds/Play |
| 1 | Chicago Bears | 571 | 301.9 | 2717.1 | 14 | 10 | 3.08 |
| 2 | New York Giants | 510 | 270.2 | 2431.8 | 10 | 10 | 3.20 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 569 | 315.4 | 2838.6 | 11 | 10 | 3.51 |
| 4 | Philadelphia Eagles | 575 | 325 | 2925 | 16 | 5 | 3.63 |
| 5 | New York Jets | 570 | 306.7 | 2760.3 | 5 | 11 | 3.72 |
| 6 | New Orleans Saints | 523 | 277 | 2493 | 6 | 7 | 3.77 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 576 | 326 | 2934 | 14 | 5 | 3.77 |
| 8 | San Diego Chargers | 532 | 274.7 | 2472.3 | 8 | 3 | 3.82 |
| 9 | Tennessee Titans | 617 | 350.8 | 3157.2 | 14 | 6 | 3.82 |
| 10 | Carolina Panthers | 594 | 326.8 | 2941.2 | 11 | 5 | 3.87 |
| 11 | Cincinnati Bengals | 557 | 329.3 | 2963.7 | 10 | 8 | 4.03 |
| 12 | Oakland Raiders | 544 | 309.6 | 2786.4 | 5 | 9 | 4.09 |
| 13 | Detroit Lions | 571 | 353.2 | 3178.8 | 9 | 11 | 4.17 |
| 14 | St. Louis Rams | 559 | 325.8 | 2932.2 | 8 | 7 | 4.17 |
| 15 | Miami Dolphins | 558 | 314.1 | 2826.9 | 6 | 5 | 4.28 |
| 16 | Minnesota Vikings | 549 | 310.8 | 2797.2 | 8 | 3 | 4.29 |
| 17 | Baltimore Ravens | 548 | 316.4 | 2847.6 | 8 | 4 | 4.32 |
| 18 | Cleveland Browns | 596 | 358.6 | 3227.4 | 10 | 6 | 4.34 |
| 19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 558 | 353.8 | 3184.2 | 14 | 5 | 4.34 |
| 20 | Indianapolis Colts | 563 | 344.2 | 3097.8 | 9 | 7 | 4.37 |
| 21 | San Francisco 49ers | 573 | 331.4 | 2982.6 | 8 | 4 | 4.37 |
| 22 | Atlanta Falcons | 531 | 343.4 | 3090.6 | 14 | 5 | 4.39 |
| 23 | Kansas City Chiefs | 595 | 344.7 | 3102.3 | 7 | 5 | 4.41 |
| 24 | Seattle Seahawks | 616 | 376.9 | 3392.1 | 7 | 9 | 4.47 |
| 25 | Arizona Cardinals | 630 | 401.8 | 3616.2 | 10 | 8 | 4.60 |
| 26 | Washington Redskins | 628 | 415.3 | 3737.7 | 9 | 10 | 4.74 |
| 27 | New England Patriots | 604 | 390.8 | 3517.2 | 10 | 5 | 4.83 |
| 28 | Dallas Cowboys | 546 | 354 | 3186 | 7 | 6 | 4.88 |
| 29 | Buffalo Bills | 607 | 373.7 | 3363.3 | 2 | 6 | 5.01 |
| 30 | Denver Broncos | 578 | 372.9 | 3356.1 | 5 | 5 | 5.11 |
| 31 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 543 | 387.2 | 3484.8 | 8 | 4 | 5.53 |
| 32 | Houston Texans | 587 | 409.7 | 3687.3 | 5 | 3 |
5.74 |
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