With week two in the books, we saw some NFL team’s defenses take a good step forward and prevent opposing offenses from scoring any touchdowns or taking the lead in key games.
However, some team’s defenses took a step back and struggled, which led to their team losing painfully. If key defenses continue to struggle, it may be time for a change in plans moving forward while other defenses continue to flourish.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ defenses after week two.
Which teams have the highest grades on defense after week two of NFL games?
Arizona Cardinals: B+
The Cardinals’ defense put the Rams’ offense on ice in their 41-10 victory. Budda Baker had eight tackles and a pass deflection, Dennis Gardeck had six tackles and three sacks, Krys Barnes had four tackles and a sack, and Zaven Collins had two tackles and a sack.
A solid afternoon for the Cardinals’ defense, despite no interceptions on the afternoon. If the Cardinals’ defense keeps playing like they did in week two, they might cause some serious noise in the NFC West moving forward.
Atlanta Falcons: B-
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The Falcons’ defense started their game quietly until things got intense in the fourth quarter between the Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles’ offenses in a very tight and competitive 22-21 Falcons victory. Jessie Bates III had 12 tackles, two pass deflections, and caught the game-ending interception. Matthew Judon had six tackles and a sack, and Dee Alford had five tackles and a pass deflection. Bates III stepped up and became the hero for the Falcons as he prevented an Eagles comeback at the very tail end of the game, securing the team’s first win of the 2024 season.
Baltimore Ravens: C+
Despite some good performances by the Ravens’ defense, their production wasn’t enough to save them from their 23-26 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Roquan Smith had 11 tackles and a pass deflection, Marlon Humphrey had 10 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Odafe Oweh had five tackles and 2.5 sacks. It was a solid performance by the Ravens’ defense, but the offense n that needed extra push, but they didn’t get it in the end.
Buffalo Bills: B+
The Bills’ defense had a strong game, as they held the Miami Dolphins and won 31-10. Damar Hamlin had 10 tackles, Ed Oliver had three tackles and a sack, Von Miller had two tackles and a sack, Ja’Marcus Ingram had two pass deflections, two interceptions, and a pick-six, and Christian Benford had seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for six yards. A strong defensive performance by the Bills, as they continue to show they have a lot of fight to maintain control of the AFC East.
Carolina Panthers: F
It was a brutal afternoon for the Panthers’ defense, as they were crushed by the Los Angeles Chargers 3-26. Shaq Thompson had 14 tackles, Jaycee Horn had six tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception, and DJ Johnson had four tackles and 0.5 sacks. The Panthers’ defense had no answers on how to slow down J.K. Dobbins, as he ran all over them with 131 rushing yards and scored a rushing touchdown. Will the Panthers’ defense find a way to turn things around this NFL season? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Chicago Bears: D-
The Bears’ defense played a very sloppy game, as they just couldn’t stop C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans in their 13-19 loss. Tremaine Edwards had 11 tackles and a sack, Jack Sanborn had two tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, and Gervon Dexter Sr. had a tackle, a sack, and a pass deflection. Unfortunately, the Bears had no defensive turnovers, as the Texans were able to have a strong passing attack and dominated them for the majority of the game. Hopefully, the Bears’ defense will be able to turn things around in week three.
Cincinnati Bengals: C-
The Bengals’ defense almost snagged a win against the Kansas City Chiefs but fell just short by a score of 25-26. Germaine Pratt had 16 tackles, Trey Hendrickson had four tackles and two sacks, Akeem Davis-Gaither had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 12 yards, and Cam Taylor-Britt had two tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. A decent afternoon for the Bengals’ defense despite the loss, as they showed the league the Chiefs can be vulnerable and can be defeated by the right NFL team and the right circumstances.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses For The 2024 Season From WORST To FIRST
Cleveland Browns: C+
Despite a bit of a sloppy performance from the Browns’ offense, the defense played better. They were X-factor in the team’s 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jordan Hicks had three tackles, a sack, and two pass deflections; Myles Garrett had three tackles and a sack. Alex Wright had three tackles and a sack, and Quinton Jefferson had a tackle and a sack. Despite the Browns not having any interceptions or fumble recoveries, the defensive front, led by Garrett, made things miserable for the Jaguars offensively, earning them their first win of the season.
Dallas Cowboys: D-
The Cowboys’ defense had almost no answers for the New Orleans Saints, as they were trounced at home 19-44. Eric Kendricks had eight tackles, Chauncy Golston had four tackles and a sack, and Donovan Wilson had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Cowboys’ defense also couldn’t stop Alvin Kamara, as he rushed for 115 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns against them. It was a painful Sunday for the Cowboys’ defense, who need to regroup and find a way to rebound from this game in the coming weeks in the NFL.
Denver Broncos: D-
The Broncos’ defense had a rough Sunday afternoon as they fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 6-13. Alex Singleton had 11 tackles, Zach Allen had four tackles and a sack, and Jonah Ellis had three tackles and a sack. The Broncos defense had no answers for the Steelers offense, despite them playing somewhat average, searching for but not finding the elite gameplay. If the Broncos’ defense continues to play like this, serious changes are going to need to happen to get this unit back into winning games.
Detroit Lions: B-
Despite the Lions losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-20, the team’s defense played well in the close game. Brian Branch had six tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception, Aidan Hutchinson had five tackles and 4.5 sacks, and Levi Onwuzurike had four tackles and 0.5 sacks. Hutchinson is truly the leader of the Lions’ on defense, as he had an amazing game against Baker Mayfield despite their NFL team’s loss. Undoubtedly, they will rebound from this loss in no time.
Green Bay Packers: C+
The Packers’ defense played fair as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 10-16. Quay Walker had six tackles. Xavier McKinney had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 18 yards. Eric Wilson had a tackle, a pass deflection, and an interception; Devonte Wyatt had two tackles and a sack, and Evan Williams had two tackles, a pass deflection, and the game-ending interception. A decent afternoon for the Packers as they prevented the Colts from coming back and winning the game.
Houston Texans: B
The Texans’ defense played in a very low-scoring affair against the Chicago Bears, and they came out on top in a 19-13 victory. Henry To’oTo’o had 13 tackles and a sack, Azeez Al-Shaair had 10 tackles and a sack, and Danielle Hunter had five tackles and 1.5 sacks. The Texans had seven sacks in total against Caleb Williams, and both Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter had interceptions against Williams. Solid night for the Texans’ unit, thanks to head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
Indianapolis Colts: D
The Colts’ defense was hard-hitting, but they couldn’t stop the Green Bay Packers in their 10-16 loss at Lambeau Field. Nick Cross had 15 tackles, E.J. Speed had 11 tackles, Kenny Moore II had four tackles and a pass deflection, and Laiatu Latu had the only fumble recovery in the second quarter of the game before exiting with a hip injury.
However, the Colts had no sacks or interceptions in the game, as they had no answers on slowing down Josh Jacobs or Romeo Doubs, as they ran past the defenders, and they also lost key guys to injury. Losing DeForest Buckner to an ankle injury is also going to hurt, as he had 81 tackles last season, and his production is going to be missed if he misses significant time.
Jacksonville Jaguars: D
The Jaguars’ defense played a very sloppy game, as they fell to the Cleveland Browns 13-18. Montaric Brown had 11 tackles, Foyesade Oluokun had eight tackles and a sack, and Josh Hines-Allen had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. The Jags’ defense had no turnovers in the ugly loss. As Arik Armstead said to the press, no one is pointing fingers but looking within to find ways to improve.
Kansas City Chiefs: C
The Chiefs’ defense had a good afternoon as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 25-26. Nick Bolton had seven tackles and a pass deflection, Charmarri Conner had six tackles and a sack, and Mike Danna had four tackles and 0.5 sacks. The Chiefs’ defense as a whole had three sacks but no interceptions all game long. However, as long as the Chiefs have Steve Spagnuolo as their defensive coordinator, always expect them to find ways to win games- no matter what.
Las Vegas Raiders: B-
The Raiders’ defense played fair, as they helped the team earn the 26-23 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens. Maxx Crosby had six tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection; Robert Spillane had 10 tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception, and Jack Jones had three tackles and two pass deflections. The MVP of the defense goes to Crosby, with two massive sacks against Lamar Jackson and a special nod to Jones for breaking up a pass to Isaiah Likely, which would’ve been a key first down for the Ravens.
Los Angeles Chargers: B+
The Chargers’ defense played strong on the road as they crushed the woeful Carolina Panthers 26-3. Daiyan Henley had 10 tackles, Denzel Perryman had seven tackles and a sack, Elijah Molden had seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for three yards, and Joey Bosa had two tackles and a sack. It was a great afternoon for the Chargers as they got on top of the Panthers early, didn’t let go of the lead, and prevented the Panthers from ever reaching the end zone all game.
Los Angeles Rams: F
The Rams’ defense fell completely flat in their 10-41 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Quentin Lake had 11 tackles, Kobie Turner had three tackles and the team’s only sack, and Braden Fiske had three tackles and a fumble recovery. It was a very bad afternoon for the Rams. They were missing Aaron Donald’s production, as he retired in the 2024 offseason. The Rams’ defense needs to step it up, or opposing NFL offenses will continue running and passing them by in the weeks to come.
Miami Dolphins: F
It was a brutal night for the Dolphins’ defense, as they had no sacks or turnovers as they were flattened by the Buffalo Bills, thanks mainly to James Cook, in a 10-31 loss. David Long Jr. had 11 tackles, Jordyn Brooks had six tackles and a pass deflection, and Kendall Fuller had four tackles and a pass deflection. The Dolphins’ defense needs to rebound fast if they want to help the team not only try to win the AFC East but also possibly return to the NFL playoffs as well.
Minnesota Vikings: B+
The Vikings’ defense defended their home field well in their 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Blake Cashman had 13 tackles, a sack, and three pass deflections; Pat Jones II had five tackles and two sacks, and Josh Metellus had seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 12 yards. The Vikings’ defense put a lot of pressure on Brock Purdy with six sacks, which was a massive part of their victory. The Vikings also proved they can compete with some of the NFL’s best offenses, no matter the outcome.
New England Patriots: C
The Patriots’ defense kept the Seattle Seahawks’ ground attack to only 46 rushing yards but weren’t able to stop the Seahawks’ passing attack in their 20-23 overtime loss in week two. Kyle Duggar had nine tackles and a sack, Keion White had seven tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Daniel Ekuale had four tackles and 0.5 sacks. The Patriots’ defense also had no turnovers in the game and needs to get back on track if they want to play well against highly competitive NFL opponents.
New Orleans Saints: A-
The Saints defense had a massive 44-19 victory on the road against the Dallas Cowboys and showed why the league should pay more attention to them moving forward. Alontee Taylor had nine tackles, Carl Granderson had five tackles and 1.5 sacks, Chase Young had four tackles and 0.5 sacks, Bryan Bresse had two tackles and a sack, Paulson Adebo had four tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 47 yards, and Tyrann Mathieu had three tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. If the Saints’ defense keeps playing like they have, they can truly cause some havoc and chaos against opposing offense this season.
New York Giants: C-
The Giants’ defense played well, but the team ultimately lost to the Commanders, 18-21. Micah McFadden had 13 tackles and a sack, Dru Phillips had 12 tackles and a sack, Jason Pinnock had nine tackles and two sacks, and Bobby Okereke had eight tackles and a sack. The Giants’ defense didn’t have any turnovers on the afternoon, which would’ve been very helpful against the Commanders. We’ll just have to wait and see if the Giants can turn things around in week three.
New York Jets: B-
The Jets’ defense rebounded from a tough week one with a strong performance in their week two victory over the Tennessee Titans. Jamien Sherwood had 12 tackles and a pass deflection, Quincy Williams had nine tackles and a fumble recovery, Brandin Echols had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Will McDonald IV had four tackles and three sacks.
Despite the great performance on defense, the Jets defense took a hit when C.J. Mosley was carted to the locker room due to a lower back injury, Jermaine Johnson suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the rest of the NFL season, and Sauce Gardner didn’t have a good game, either. The Jets still earned the win- which is all that matters.
Philadelphia Eagles: C-
The Eagles’ defense was involved in a close and competitive battle with the Atlanta Falcons but came up short in a 21-22 loss. Reed Blankenship had 10 tackles, Quinyon Mitchell had three tackles and a pass deflection, and Milton Williams had two tackles and a sack. The Eagles’ defense needs to step it up as the Falcons succeeded in coming back after being down by six points late in the game as opposing offenses will study their weaknesses come week three.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
The Steelers’ defense played a very effective game in keeping the Denver Broncos out of the end zone all game in their 13-6 victory. DeShon Elliott had nine tackles, Alex Highsmith had four tackles and a sack, T.J. Watt had three tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, Damontae Kazee had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for five yards, and Cory Trice Jr. had two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Steelers’ defense played rough and relentless against the Broncos and will continue to strike fear against opposing offenses moving forward in the season.
San Francisco 49ers: D
Despite some good moments from Fred Warner, the 49ers struggled on defense in their 17-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Warner had nine tackles, a sack, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 25 yards. Nick Bosa had five tackles and two sacks but left the game briefly with an ankle injury before returning to action, and Kevin Givens had two tackles and a sack. The 49ers weren’t able to stop Ty Chandler, who had 82 rushing yards, and Aaron Jones, who had 32 rushing yards, as they have to rebound from their disastrous game and move on to week three.
Seattle Seahawks: B-
The Seahawks’ defense played a competitive game and was able to help their NFL team secure the 23-20 overtime win against the New England Patriots. Rayshawn Jenkins had nine tackles, Boye Mafe had five tackles and a sack, Leonard Williams had four tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Byron Murphy II had four tackles and 0.5 sacks. The Seahawks defense kept the Patriots’ passing attack at bay but needs to improve against opposing rushing attacks moving forward.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C+
Even though the Bucs secured the 20-16 win against the Detroit Lions, the defense had only an all-right performance. Jordan Whitehead had 11 tackles and a pass deflection, Christian Izien had nine tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 17 yards, and Zyon McCollum had six tackles, four pass deflections, and an interception returned for four yards.
However, the Bucs weren’t able to sack Jared Goff, thanks to the Lions having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL protecting him. The Bucs’ defense will need to have a better performance come week three in the NFL when the Denver Broncos come to town.
Tennessee Titans: D+
It was another tough week for the Titans defense, as they fell to the New York Jets 17-24. Ernest Jones II had nine tackles, Kenneth Murray Jr. had eight tackles, and Harold Landry III had three tackles, two sacks, and two pass deflections. The Titans couldn’t force a turnover on downs in their painful loss to Gang Green. The team has a lot of work to do if they want to not only earn that first win of the season but also play at an elite level.
Washington Commanders: D
The Commanders’ defense may have helped the team earn a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants, but they didn’t get the stops they were looking for. Frankie Luvu had 11 tackles, Bobby Wagner had nine tackles and a pass deflection, and Clelin Ferrell had two tackles and the Commanders’ only sack on the afternoon. The Commanders also had no turnovers, as they failed to put pressure on Daniel Jones and the rest of the Giants’ offense. Will the Commanders turn things around? We’ll just wait and see.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 1 Of The 2024 Season
