2023 NFL Team Defense Rankings: Ranking the Top Defenses in the NFL Heading Into Week 5
We are five weeks into the 2023 NFL season and it has been a wild ride so far! Jason Radowitz is here with his NFL team defensive power rankings heading into Week 5. Where does your team's defense fall on the rankings? Read on to find out.
Jason Radowitz - October 5, 2023, 10:56 AM EDT
7 min2023 NFL Team Defense Rankings: Ranking the Top Defenses in the NFL Heading Into Week 5
Defense wins championships.
Here's the Week 5 edition of the NFL Defensive Rankings.
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NFL Defensive Team Rankings Heading Into Week 5
32. Denver Broncos
The Broncos have allowed 37.5 points per game, including 461.5 yards per game. The run defense is awful, and the secondary is even worse.
31. Arizona Cardinals
After their performance against the 49ers, the Cardinals have dropped to 31. They're below average in every category defensively.
30. Chicago Bears
Chicago doesn't convert tackles and has allowed 34.2 points per game this season. After allowing the Broncos to come back from a 21-point deficit, the Bears are 30th.
29. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are weak against the run and no better in the secondary. They're so bad that they just shipped newly acquired corner J.C. Jackson back to New England.
28. New York Giants
Teams have scored 30.5 points against the Giants this season. Some of the blame is on the offense. But the defense can't get many stops, either.
27. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are dominant as a pass-rush unit. But it doesn't matter when the rest of the defense isn't clicking.
26. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have one of the worst secondaries in the league. They've also missed a high rate of tackles this season.
25. Houston Texans
Houston's probably the worst run defense in the NFL. But the secondary has looked terrific, and the pass rush is at least creating havoc.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have only allowed 17 points this season. But eventually, that number will rise. The run defense hasn't been anything special.
23. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are also weak against the run. However, the passing defense is good enough to push them to 23rd despite a 0-4 record.
22. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are strong up front. But that secondary needs some work. The Colts have allowed over 260 yards per game in the air this season.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are improving in the secondary, but the pass rush and run defense aren't making a big enough impact.
20. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are an average defense with a lot of missed tackles. They've also allowed 25.2 points per game and 337 yards per game.
19. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs might be 3-1. But they haven't looked like a championship-caliber team this year. The defense has been bad against the run despite allowing 104 yards per game.
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18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh is fantastic as a pass rush. Without that pass rush, they'd be way lower in these rankings.
17. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are about as average as you get. The defense has allowed 17.5 points per game and 311.2 yards per game. That's average.
16. Washington Commanders
Washington just played a tough Philadelphia team and did enough to force overtime. The Commanders have still given up 30 points per game despite the defense playing above average.
15. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay has a great secondary, but that run defense will need work.
14. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings get a lot of hate from their secondary and coverage. But that's been the best portion of their defense. The rest has been average. They've allowed under 350 yards per game despite giving up 23.8 points.
13. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins' defensive stats look slightly worse after allowing 48 to the Buffalo Bills. But they're still a quality defense heading into Week 5.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
Good luck running on the Eagles' frontline this season. That run defense is terrific.
11. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle made the most significant jump in the rankings after their dominant against the Giants. 11 sacks and a big 98-yard interception will do that.
10. Detroit Lions
The Lions are fourth in the NFL in yards per game defensively. They've been above average but will likely fall out of the Top 5 in yards allowed by the end of the year.
9. New England Patriots
If only the Patriots could get more pressure on the quarterback. They've got a great defense, but that's the portion that lacks.
8. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have held teams to under 14 points per game and allowed just 288 yards per game. The tackling needs work. But everything else is clicking.
7. New York Jets
New York earned two interceptions against Patrick Mahomes last weekend. The Jets probably deserved a third. They made Mahomes look silly. They allowed him to run right up the middle of the field with no QB spy. Adjustments will be made. But the Jets are a top-tier defense.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta has limited teams to 19.2 points per game and 290.8 yards per game. They've converted many tackles and continue to play well in coverage and against the run.
5. New Orleans Saints
The Saints have allowed 201 passing yards per game this season. The secondary is incredible, and the pass rush has been good enough to force some mistakes and quick drives.
4. Cleveland Browns
Only the 49ers have a better pass rush than the Browns right now.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore has allowed 14.5 points per game and only 168.2 yards per game in the air. The secondary is elite.
2. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have the best pass defense in the NFL. They've held teams to 148 yards in the air and have allowed only 10.2 points per game.
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1. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are still the most balanced defense in the league. The pass rush is dangerous, and the secondary has been extremely good to start the season.
NFL Odds
- Looking for NFL Week 5 odds? We got you covered
- Will Sauce Gardner be the regular season Defensive Player of the Year? The odds are shocking
- The Jets defense looks pretty so far in the 2023 NFL season and they play the Broncos this week. Will their Super Bowl odds changed after Week 5? Find the latest Super Bowl odds here
