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. League rank: 23rd. They must also find a way to create more turnovers. Here's our new No. This is another club chock full of young talent with seasoned vets in the mix. 2. Jones has occupied double-teams and affected the passer, but for Crosby to remain effective, the Raiders would love for Jones, who signed a three-year, $51 million free agent deal with Las Vegas this spring, to start getting home, too. Depth charts for every team What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? However, a tight salary cap means losing at least two impact defenders and that will have significant ramifications on the Bills defense. Once Brock Purdy went out and San Francisco trailed by two scores with a fourth-string quarterback, that was a wrap for this defense. Supercharging the Vikings Defense for Just $15 Million in 2023 Ive been watching since around 1995 and cant recall any season that was definitively better. The Jets are allowing opponents to convert 51% of the time on third down, which ranks 31st out of 32 teams. UCLA hires D'Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator, moves Bill McGovern Cap issues might push either linebacker Lavonte David or corner Jamel Dean out. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Find the most recent updates each day . This is another spot where I could have slotted other teams. 2023 NFL Draft Mock: Mel Kiper's First Round Picks, Predictions -. Where Chiefs' offense, defense rank through the first quarter of 2021 Jets GM Joe Douglas has also hit on a few key free-agent acquisitions, including D.J. While they are a bottom-four team in sacks, they are the fourth-best team in getting off the field on third down. Vikings NFC South Buccaneers Falcons Panthers Saints NFC West Cardinals Niners Rams Seahawks Colleges Pac-12 Colorado Oregon USC SEC Alabama Arkansas Auburn Florida Georgia LSU Tennessee Texas. Let's overreact to NFL Week 4: Cooper Rush as Cowboys starter? The looming Jalen Ramsey trade was a long time coming. And although they can contain the run, they are a bottom-five unit in most passing categories, as well as plays. However, when it comes to the Broncos defense, they have done their part to keep this team in games. The Los Angeles Chargers ended the regular season averaging 2.7 sacks per game with a 77.1 QB rating and 55.7% completion rate allowed to opponents in their past seven contests. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, Defensive efficiency: 58.2 The defensive line was gassed after dominating all year and the Eagles RPO took full advantage. However, the Vikings are one of the best teams in the NFC because they find a way to get the job done, making plays when they need to. DVOA is a percentage, so a team with a DVOA of 10.0% is 10 percent better than the average team, and a quarterback with a DVOA of -20.0% is 20 percent worse than the average quarterback. The Saints need Marcus Davenport and Cam Jordan to consistently step up, while getting production out of 2021 first-round pick Payton Turner, to have success moving forward. 8. Losing Chandler Jones this offseason while not addressing their needs in the secondary, most notably, at cornerback, we expected the Cardinals defense to be among the leagues worst. Green Bays defense is ranked 31st in rushing yards, 30th in attempts, and 25th in rushing touchdowns allowed. The biggest issue on defense is no T.J. Watt. If the Jets can figure it out on offense, this team could do some damage. They were just ahead of the Buffalo Bills who had a grade of 65.0. 2023 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings: D/ST Tiers - Scott Fujita Cant imagine 98 or 09 were better (although both were solid). 2022 Minnesota Vikings Team Stats - Lineups Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluated how teams are stacking up through four weeks and named a new No. Johnson only managed nine. . Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) hands the ball off to running back Dalvin Cook (4) against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Bengals are 26th in sacks per dropback, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, and are tied for 22nd in total sacks. The Washington Commanders became the first team in the NFL to deploy the franchise tag this offseason. Plus they had NFL 1980s All Decade safety Joey Browner and Carl Lee as the best cover CB the Vikings had outside of maybe Rhodes. That has helped stabilize the Vikings pass defense. The Saints didn't have much of a pass rush to speak of to start the season, but they did get after Kirk Cousins on Sunday, finishing with three sacks. Wonky (for example last year it had the Jets as having the best run defense of all time). League rank: 3rd. When youre not getting pressure, opposing signal-callers will pick you apart. League rank: 16th. The defense was still an NFL unit with Kendricks leading them. The Vikings defense is fourth in interceptions and turnovers forced,, showing those all-important opportunistic tendencies that will come in handy come playoff time. Performance is also adjusted for the quality of the opponent. But what has also stood out is how many injuries the Bills have accumulated, especially in the secondary. The Broncos allow the fewest touchdowns in the NFL and are a force in the red zone. However, Arden Key is a free-agent Jacksonville must keep and its evident the Jags need help at corner. If the Buccaneers are going to turn it on and make any type of noise in the playoffs, this defense must continue playing at a high level. Yea they are looking at the stats like its a good bad light switch, when it's really a slow decline as more and more players were injured. All 32 NFL defenses, ranked | Yardbarker Rushing Leader: Derrick Henry, 2027 Yds. Give Martindale more talent to work with and this can be a top-12 defense. The Vikings ranked fifth in the NFL in overall offensive grade with a grade of 81.6. Defense 2021 Stats - Minnesota Vikings However, defensively, it hasnt been that bad. As if getting gashed by Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon wasn't enough to have the Bears licking their wounds after a Week 2 loss at Green Bay, Giants running back Saquon Barkley totaled 145 yards on 31 carries and earned 94 of his rushing yards after first contact in Week 4. Ranking 25th in third-down percentage, 28th in rushing yards, and 26th in passing touchdowns allowed, this team has a lot of work to do in the offseason. Minnesota Vikings: Ranking the Top 10 Vikings Defensive Linemen Dallas must re-sign linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who proved to be an integral piece this year. View the number of fantasy points each NFL team allows to each position, based on default NFL-Managed scoring. 2020 Team DVOA Ratings: Defense | Football Outsiders Jim Schwartz has plenty to work with, but Schwartzs approach doesnt work without a strong defensive interior and improved play on the boundary. This would be a bottom-feeding team in the NFC if Smith didnt bail out this defense as much as he has. The biggest issue on defense is getting gouged on the ground, again. The Vikings ranked top-five again at fourth with a grade of 82.0. With both Patrick Peterson and Dalvin Tomlinson free agents, Minnesota needs to re-sign its starters and overhaul the cornerback room. This could be troublesome, however, in the playoffs. Theyve allowed the second-fewest touchdowns while remaining stout in the red zone. Im struggling to think of any other seasons that stand out. New Orleans Saints @ ATL 6. The biggest issue on defense is the pass rush. -- Courtney Cronin, Defensive efficiency: 54.3 Vikings opponents are catching 75% of their targeted passes, the second-highest rate in the NFL. League rank: 26th. So, let's get to it. They also allow the most pass attempts and completions. They've allowed 415 yards off play-action, which is the fourth most in the NFL. Welcome to Week 5 of the NFL regular season. The Minnesota Vikings ended their disappointing 2021 campaign with an 8-9 record, missing the postseason altogether and firing their general manager and head coach. Chase Young will be more than a year removed from his ACL tear and that bodes well for the Washington Commanders defense. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Garrett could return next Sunday following last week's single-car crash. This was especially so when Denver was forced into its nickel package on defense and the Raiders then pounded away at it. The biggest hole in the Jaguars defense is on the back end as they allow the fifth-most passing yards. The Game Day is a TGD Operations Limited endeavor. -- Rob Demovsky, Defensive efficiency: 46.2 Moving off as many draft picks as the Rams have through the years is catching up to them, as is a mismanaged salary cap. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a staple of our NFL defense rankings for years. The biggest issue on defense is forcing turnovers. -- Turron Davenport, Defensive efficiency: 65.8 League rank: 6th, Everything you need this week: If they can get these areas right, they will be a vastly improved defense in 2023. The Indianapolis Colts can no longer count on Shaquille Leonard to stay healthy for a full season. Choose from seasonal averages or review past weekly performance to help optimize your lineup. 2020 Team DVOA Ratings: Defense Updated 02/22/2023 10:17 AM EST Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 Fantasy Defense Tiers 2022: D/ST rankings, sleepers, fantasy - NFL Labeled as a top-five defense heading into the 2022 season, the Green Bay Packers didnt play like it until late in the year. It's time to project how each team's defense will fare in 2021. The Bears are the NFL's worst team against the run, having allowed 733 rushing yards through four games (183.3 yards per game), and are on pace to reach historically low marks. The Bucs have given up 27 total points in the first quarter through four weeks -- fourth most in the league -- yet their 68 total points given up would be fifth fewest. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. Heading into the offseason, especially with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero likely gone, wed love to see Denver upgrade its pass rush. -- Brady Henderson, Defensive efficiency: 37.6 Los Angeles' defense, which ranked second in Football Outsiders' rush DVOA going into the Week 4 matchup, ranks significantly worse against the pass (23rd in the NFL). If there's one thing Cincinnati could improve, it's the pass rush. With the right defensive coordinator and the addition of a No. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports, 240.7 YPG-7th Minnesota also ranked between 25th and 29th in the following. The Washington defense is a big reason why this team is in the postseason conversation in December. The Giants field one of the more surprising defenses in the NFL, thanks to new defensive coordinator Don Wink" Martindale. Despite having a great season from punter Ryan Wright and PFFs number one long snapper in Andrew DePaola, the Vikings finished a paltry 21st in special teams with a grade of 76.0. -- Brooke Pryor, Defensive efficiency: 36.3 It wasnt a clean performance, but this is also a young defense. The Denver Broncos defense played extremely well given the circumstances of the 2022 season. There is a lot of inexperience in the secondary, but now those young, talented defensive backs have a seasons worth of lessons to learn from. League rank: 11th. The Vikings passing offense has been less consistent than in previous years, but way more opportunistic. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New Orleans Saints) Regarding those last two: The Saints D is good, the . They have found a way to score 23+ points in each of their wins this season. 21+ and present in OH. -- Ben Baby, Defensive efficiency: 60.8 The Jaguars had allowed just 55 yards per game on the ground through the first three games, but gave up 210 yards and four touchdowns rushing to the Eagles on Sunday. -- Michael DiRocco, Defensive efficiency: 47.3 Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. -- 2022's consensus defensive player of the year after winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Vince Lombardi Award -- has battled some of the NCAA's toughest linemen across his three-year collegiate career. Ok so this is where we need to say again that DVOA still needs context. However, Houston doesnt have much standout talent on the defensive side right now with Derek Stingley Jr. a work in progress and Jalen Pitre still needs to iron out a lot of issues. Sometimes inexperience has led to the big plays, but other times it's just corners getting beat, whether outright or because they anticipated help that didn't arrive. They need to find a way to turn those drives into field goals to right the ship. The Eagles are allowing the 16th-most rushing yards along with the 13th-most scores on the ground. They are the third-worst unit in that category. They have figured it out in critical stretches and have played well against top-tier quarterbacks and offenses. Crosby has four of the Raiders' five sacks -- cornerback Nate Hobbs has the other -- and while that's a good early return on Las Vegas' four-year, $98.98 million investment via the extension Crosby got this offseason, the Raiders need more from the defensive line in general, Chandler Jones in particular. League rank: 18th, The Chargers' defense appeared dominant -- on paper -- entering the season. Football Power Index rankings DeMeco Ryans coming in is the first small step toward fixing the Houston Texans defense. We rank the 2023 draft prospects at DT ahead of the Combine. All 2022 NFL futures odds are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook unless otherwise noted and are current as of Thursday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m. The Dallas defense may not be as polished as the 49ers since they do give up yards, but they step up when it counts. The Pittsburgh Steelers defense ended the regular season with a dominant stretch, allowing just 151.1 pass ypg with 21 sacks and eight interceptions in the final seven contests. The defense struggles in yards per rush, red zone efficiency and third-down conversions -- ranking last in all categories. With Jamin Davis added in the 2021 NFL Draft, things are only looking up for this young defense. Check out the 2020 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics including AFC and NFC results and standings on Pro-football-reference.com. The Cowboys have not allowed 20 points in a game yet and have allowed just one touchdown in each game. The biggest issue on defense is forcing takeaways. With Bill OBrien running the offense next season, Belichick can work with Jerod Mayo to make this one of the best defenses in the NFL. Anthony has made appearances on SiriusXM, amongst other publications. Here's the weird part: It's not because of the pass rush. Our weekly NFL defense rankings examine every unit across the league on a weekly basis to determine the best defenses in the NFL. Discover NFL team overall stats and rankings throughout the season. Related: Realistic veteran QB options for the Las Vegas Raiders. However, the all-around play of the Cowboys defense is hard to ignore. League rank: 27th. Preceding the Smith trade, the team also moved Robert Quinn, another veteran contract. Viking year by year defensive ranking (DVOA) under Zimmer The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. I have no clue myself. This calls for an updated set of rankings. Ultimately, the Eagles got Mahomesd in the Super Bowl and the San Francisco 49ers, along with so many other NFL teams, know what thats like. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Danielle Hunter and Za'Darius Smith both finished in the top 15 of the PFF rankings for edge rushers. While he will be missed, Steve Wilks is a fantastic fit for San Francisco. New England Patriots @ MIA 5. Minnesota Vikings Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks | Pro Please check your email for a confirmation. Id be curious to know which three were better. Will the Dolphins get a veteran QB? Miami currently has the second-worst pass defense in the NFL through its first four games, although that hasn't translated to the scoreboard. The Chiefs are much better against the run, but they employ one of the most vulnerable secondaries in the NFL. The Vikings are allowing the 11th-most points per game. We have seen some good with some bad, which is to be expected from a team that is rebuilding. Fantasy Football Defense Rankings 2022 - TeamRankings.com But not anywhere near the level of '17. Indianapolis Colts @ JAX 7. Buffalos defense was a strength of the team early in the year. Once No. 1 of 11. Fans might not like Brandon Staley as a head coach, but he is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports, 114.6 YPG-13th The Chiefs are doing a nice job of pressuring the quarterback, so it figures the turnovers will come. Plus, edge rusher George Karlaftis showed improvement and defensive tackle Chris Jones played like the Defensive Player of the Year. With studs like Brian Burns, Shaq Thompson, and Jaycee Horn on all three levels of the defense, this unit could emerge in 2023, especially if they end this season on a high note. The Colts' defense thrived on takeaways last season, producing 33 turnovers. The Vikings rank in the bottom eight of almost every defensive category. The biggest issue on defense is sluggish starts. Related: Latest on Washington Commanders sale. League rank: 31st. Look for the defense to be addressed. Fantasy Football Defense Rankings (2022) The Patriots tend to be one of the more reliable units from season to season - top-12 DST since 2018 - and 2022 is no different. Tennessees pass rush should also improve in 2023 with the return of Harold Landry. 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. They're actually getting decent pressure on the quarterback, with a 35% pressure rate (19th) on third down. -- Alaina Getzenberg, Defensive efficiency: 85.7 Mel Kiper takes another shot predicting the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, with elite QBs and defensive players highlighting the latest mock. A defense that led the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate (52%), allowed the third-lowest average QB rating (81.6) and ceded the lowest adjusted net yards per pass attempt (4.4) in the NFL.. Full schedule | Standings He'll need to work on his route-running and consistency in the NFL. TreDavious White will also be at 100% with a full offseason and Kaiir Elam should elevate his game in his second year. With David Onyemata and Marcus Davenport both set to hit the open market, salary cap restrictions will likely force New Orleans to lose at least one of them. In 2020, Pittsburgh led the way and were being drafted 4th. Losing sturdy DT Lawrence Guy to a shoulder injury is a contributing factor, but that alone doesn't fully explain the alarming past six quarters the defense has played against the run. SRS -- Simple Rating System: Team quality relative to average (0.0) as measured by SRS (Simple Rating System), SRS = Margin of Victory + Strength of Schedule = OSRS + DSRS, OSRS: Offensive SRS Team offense quality relative to average (0.0) as measured by SRS (Simple Rating System), DSRS: Defensive SRS Team defense quality relative to average (0.0) as measured by SRS (Simple Rating System), I definitely agree with the spirit of the post, but all I can think of when I recall the '98 season is, offense on field for 2 minutes: touchdown, defense on field for 10 minutes: exhausted, 4th quarter: No such thing as a 4-minute offense with Carter, Moss, Reed, and Smith, And intense stress when playing anyone that could finish off those 10 minute drives, There werent three better, I dont know the intricacies of defensive DVOA, but from a just pure output perspective Im questioning the value tbh. But the unit ranks among the worst in the league this season in this regard, forcing just three turnovers through four games. The Falcons are allowing opponents to convert 44% of third-down chances, ranking 24th out of the 32 teams. PFF: 80.3-16th PIT He is also a lifelong NFL savant and self-proclaimed league historian. We love the front of this group, especially if DaRon Payne returns. 5. Stroud: No. A star-studded unit with menacing players that include Fred Warner and Nick Bosa in the front seven, we have also seen the emergence of Talanoa Hufanga, who is already one of the leagues best safeties. Stat to know: The Rams defensive line ranked tied for first in the NFL in time to pressure generated with a mark of 2.48. Bet Tip: Cowboys to Win Super Bowl 57 (+800) at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Vikings have a very balanced offense because of their star players. They have been better as of late as well, allowing only 45 yards on the ground this past Thursday against the New England Patriots. The Vikings defense overall has had stretches of brilliance and others where you question literally everything. The Baltimore Ravens are set at safety and linebacker, but it will be losing No. Who has the best NFL defense in 2023? Fantasy Points Against | NFL Fantasy - Fantasy Football - NFL Fantasy -- Jamison Hensley, Defensive efficiency: 68.2 They open up against Miami and . The biggest issue on defense is defending the run. The Vikings put the NFL on notice following three consecutive years of defensive domination. A lot of analysts believe that the Vikings are not what their record says they are. He brings a brilliant defensive mind and his philosophies should get even more out of this unit. Which is false (cue Dwight face). -- Jeff Legwold, Defensive efficiency: 39.5 Team Att Cmp Cmp % Yds/Att Yds TD INT 1st 1st% Sck; Buccaneers . 1 wideouts. Therefore, selecting just five team defenses from a 59-year pool was not elementary. QB Power Rankings: Williams leads trio of Pac-12 stars . They've allowed 34 first downs on the ground, the third most in the NFL. The linebacker play has struggled too, leading to veteran Jamie Collins' return to the team on Monday. They did a better job of it in 2019 but still came up short when it mattered. 2022 Minnesota Vikings: How each unit ranked by PFF grades Schedule Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC. Learn More > That's exactly when it mattered. Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson missed Weeks 1 and 3 after undergoing ankle surgery in August, and when he did give it a go in Week 2, he said he was playing at less than 100 percent. Why is the Minnesota Vikings defense so bad this season? - The Viking Age NFL combine 2023: Will Anderson Jr. reveals toughest player he faced in Cornerback A.J. DE Jadeveon Clowney has missed the past two games with an ankle injury. Power Ranking Every Minnesota Vikings Team of the Past Decade The Vikings have been good at defending the run and PFF thinks they are among the best in doing so. The biggest issue on defense is allowing big plays. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee (6-0, 18 pounds) Hyatt has great speed as a dynamic field-stretching big-play threat. Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit League rank: 24th. Tagovailoa already has been ruled out for Week 5. Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE 9. Putting the Vikings in the No. I can make the case for another team or two, but the Lions dont have a lot to build off of aside from Aidan Hutchinson. If the right additions are made at cornerback, this could be a top-5 unit. Reed and Carl Lawson. 1 team for the second week in a row. They are allowing the second-most passing yards and the fourth-most touchdowns through the air. Top 12 Defense (D/ST) Rankings, Tiers & Notes (2022 - FantasyPros Otherwise, their defense is not as bad as the numbers might suggest (25th in points per game allowed). While injuries have played a role, notably to T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, a decline that began in last season has continued, with no signs of improvement. Advanced research data including targets, touches and red zone opportunities are also available. While the Lions are 12th in the NFL with 15 takeaways, they are a bottom-seven unit in most statistical categories, including points, totals yards, passing yards, rushing yards, and touchdowns conceded.