Week 10 certainly didn’t disappoint as we saw some talented NFL defenses take it up to the next level against opposing offenses.
Other defenses struggled and couldn’t muster a comeback against opposing offenses which resulted in some tough losses.
However, one defensive unit did everything they could to win the game with five interceptions but fell just short in the very end. There’s still some time to improve or turn things around, but the clock is ticking towards the end of the season.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ defenses after week 10.
Which NFL teams have the highest grades on defense after week 10?
Arizona Cardinals: A-
The Cardinals’ defense emerged as a menacing unit as they dismantled the New York Jets 31-6. Budda Baker had nine tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. Kyzir White had five tackles and a fumble recovery; Jesse Luketa had two tackles and a sack, and Xavier Thomas had a tackle and a sack. The Redbirds had a great second half, as they kept the Jets out of the end zone and held the Jets’ rushing attack to a combined 79 yards all game long. Take home message: don’t sleep on the Cardinals’ defense.
Atlanta Falcons: D
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The Falcons’ defense took a bit of a step back as they were stunned 17-20 against the New Orleans Saints. Kaden Elliss had 10 tackles, Nate Landman had eight tackles, and Clark Phillips III had seven tackles. The Falcons’ defense managed to hold the Saints’ rushing attack to a combined 96 yards and prevented them from reaching the end zone, but they couldn’t intercept any of Derek Carr’s passes nor prevent the Saints from winning in the end.
Baltimore Ravens: B+
The Ravens’ defense played well as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 35-34 in a very intense Thursday night thriller. Roquan Smith had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery, Marlon Humphrey had five tackles and a pass deflection, Kyle Hamilton had four tackles and two pass deflections, and Nnamdi Madubuike had five tackles and three sacks. The Ravens’ defense wasn’t able to intercept any of NFL star QB Joe Burrow’s passes, but they held their own and defeated the Bengals at the very end of the game, even though there were a couple of missed penalties that weren’t called against the Ravens.
Buffalo Bills: B+
The Bills’ defense had a very nice afternoon on the road, as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 30-20. Damar Hamlin had four tackles and a fumble recovery. Tarron Johnson had three tackles, a sack, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for a 23-yard pick-six; Austin Johnson had a pass deflection and an interception returned for four yards, and Taylor Rapp had seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Bills’ defense also had four sacks against Joe Flacco, making things tough for the veteran signal-caller. The Bills’ defense returns home for one of their biggest tests of the regular season, a showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs coming to town in week 11.
Carolina Panthers: B
The Panthers’ defense played well and were able to hold off the New York Giants in their 20-17 overtime win in Munich, Germany. A’Shawn Robinson had seven tackles and a sack. D.J. Wonnum had six tackles and a sack. Xavier Woods had eight tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for four yards; Jaycee Horn had eight tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception; and Josey Jewell had six tackles, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in overtime leading to the Panthers’ game-winning kick to win the game. The Panthers’ defense was aggressive against the Giants’ woeful offense and showed some promise for the team’s future.
Chicago Bears: D-
The Bears’ defense had a rough afternoon at home, as they fell 3-19 to the New England Patriots. T.J. Edward had 13 tackles, a pass deflection, and the team’s lone interception, Kevin Byrad III had 11 tackles and a pass deflection, and Jacob Martin had three tackles and the team’s only sack. A rough afternoon for the Bears’ defense as Tyrique Stevenson had trouble covering Kayshon Polk and allowed Ja’Lynn Polk to score a touchdown. The Bears’ defense has a tough test ahead of them in week 11 of the NFL games when they welcome the Green Bay Packers to town for a divisional showdown.
Cincinnati Bengals: C
The Bengals’ defense played decently against the Baltimore Ravens but fell very short in their 34-35 loss on Thursday Night Football. Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson both had eight tackles, Cam Taylor-Britt had four tackles and two pass deflections, and Jordan Battle had seven tackles. The team failed to land any sacks, nor could they intercept any of Lamar Jackson’s passes. The Bengals’ defense travels out west for a week 11 showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Defenses After Week 9 Games Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: Bye Week
The Browns’ defense continues to have a good season in the NFL, thanks to the leadership of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The Browns may have lost Za’Darius Smith via trade to the Detroit Lions, but the team still has great talent like Myles Garrett, Jordan Hicks, and Denzel Ward. The Browns travel south to the Big Easy for a week 11 showdown against the New Orleans Saints.
Dallas Cowboys: D+
The Cowboys’ defense played slightly better than the offense did in their 6-34 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. DeMarvion Overshown had 11 tackles and two sacks, Marist Liufau had five tackles and a fumble recovery, Micah Parsons had two tackles and two sacks, Carl Lawson and Osa Odighizuwa both had a tackle and 0.5 sacks each, and Trevon Diggs had a pass deflection and an interception. Unfortunately for the Cowboys’ defense, their play was overshadowed by the struggling offense, as they couldn’t get anything going for most of the game.
Denver Broncos: C
The Broncos’ defense had an okay afternoon in Arrowhead Stadium, even as they fell 14-16 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brandon Jones and Cody Barton both had nine tackles each, Jonathan Cooper had six tackles and a sack, Zach Allen had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, and Nik Bonnito and John Franklin-Myers both had three tackles and a sack each. The Broncos’ defense came very close to stopping the Chiefs as they held the Chiefs’ rushing attack to a combined 57 yards on the ground, but the Chiefs’ defense answered by blocking Will Lutz’s potential game-winning field goal in the end.
Detroit Lions: B
The Lions’ defense held their own and helped the team bounce back from a 16-point hole and win 26-23 against the Houston Texans. Carlton Davis III had four tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions. Alim McNeil had six tackles and a sack. Josh Paschal had five tackles and a sack; Pat O’Connor had two tackles and a sack, and James Houston had a tackle and a sack. A nice night for the Lions’ defense, as Davis III came through with two interceptions against C.J. Stroud, while the pass rush had four sacks against him. This NFL team’s defense returns home and will welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars town in week 11.
Green Bay Packers: Bye Week
The Packers’ defense has had a good first half of the 2024 season so far. Even though they lost to the Detroit Lions in week nine, they still have great veteran playmakers like Jaire Alexander leading the secondary. The Packers’ defense travels to the Windy City for a week 11 divisional showdown against the Chicago Bears.
Houston Texans: B-
The Texans’ defense played a very nice game, even though they lost 23-26 against the Detroit Lions. Kamari Lassiter had a tackle, two pass deflections, and two interceptions. Jimmie Ward had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for two yards. Henry To’oTo’o had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception; Calen Bullock had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Azeez Al-Shaair had eight tackles. Surprisingly enough, the Texans didn’t land any sacks against Jared Goff, but five interceptions against him is a wild night, even though they let a 16-point lead slip away. The Texans’ defense heads to AT&T Stadium for a Monday night showdown against the Dallas Cowboys in week 11.
Indianapolis Colts: C
The Colts’ defense had an alright afternoon, but their efforts weren’t enough, as the team lost 20-30. Grover Stewart had eight tackles and a sack. Kenny Moore II had seven tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 12 yards; E.J. Speed had six tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 12 yards, and Kwity Paye had three tackles and a sack. The Colts’ defense kept the Bills’ star NFL receivers and tight ends out of the end zone, but they had a hard time trying to stop the Bills’ rushing attack, which had a combined 135 yards against them all game. The Colts’ defense travels east for a wild week 11 showdown against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C
The Jaguars’ defense played an okay game and took advantage of Sam Darnold’s struggles, even though they lost 7-12 against the Minnesota Vikings. Devin Lloyd had 16 tackles, Travon Walker had four tackles and a sack, Foyesade Oluokun had 11 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, Darnell Savage had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 16 yards, and Montaric Brown had two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. A good performance by the Jaguars’ defense, as defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen deserves credit for having his unit play aggressively and take advantage of the Vikings’ missteps on offense.
Kansas City Chiefs: B
The Chiefs’ defense had a nice afternoon, as they defeated the Denver Broncos 16-14 thanks to Leo Chenal blocking Will Lutz’s potential game-winning kick. Nazeeh Johnson had 10 tackles and a sack, Nick Bolton had six tackles and a sack, and Justin Reid had seven tackles. The Chiefs’ defense also held the Broncos’ rushing attack to 78 yards on the ground, as defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo continues to impress as possibly the league’s best defensive coordinator.
Las Vegas Raiders: Bye Week
Outside of Maxx Crosby and Jack Jones, the Raiders’ defense has struggled for most of the 2024 season. Something needs to change when they return to action in week 11 in their matchup against the Miami Dolphins in South Beach.
Los Angeles Chargers: B
The Chargers’ defense had a very nice afternoon as they defeated the Tennessee Titans 27-17. Daiyan Henley had 14 tackles and a sack, Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu both had five tackles and two sacks each, Poona Ford had two tackles and a sack, and Joey Bosa had a tackle and a sack. The Chargers had seven sacks in total against Will Levis but didn’t have any interceptions against him. The Chargers’ defense also held the Titans’ rushing attack to a combined 132 yards on the ground. The Chargers will remain home for week 11 and will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals for a Week 11 Sunday night showdown.
Los Angeles Rams: C+
Even though the Rams were stunned 15-23 against the Miami Dolphins, the team’s bright spot came in the form of their defense during their recent clash in the NFL. Omar Speights had eight tackles. Kobie Turner had six tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. Jared Verse had four tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery; Byron Young had four tackles and a sack. Christian Rozeboom had three tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception returned for 16 yards. The Rams’ defense played well, but their efforts weren’t enough to stop the Dolphins’ offense from defeating them.
Miami Dolphins: B-
The Dolphins’ defense had a very good Monday night as they stunned the Los Angeles Rams 23-15. Jordyn Brooks had 11 tackles. Calais Campbell had three tackles, a sack, and two pass deflections. Anthony Walker Jr. had nine tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for five yards; Jevon Holland had three tackles and a sack. Quinton Bell and Chop Robinson both had two tackles and a sack each, and Kendall Fuller had five tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery. A good night for the Dolphins’ defense as defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver made this unit menacing against the Rams’ offense.
Minnesota Vikings: C+
The Vikings’ defense had a nice afternoon in Duval County as they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 12-7. Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. both had five tackles and a sack each. Andrew Van Ginkel had three tackles and a sack. Camryn Bynum had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception; Harrison Phillips had two tackles and a fumble recovery. And Byron Murphy Jr. had a tackle, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for two yards. As nonexistent as the Vikings’ offense was in week 10, the Vikings’ defense deserves the crown for keeping the team in the game and making things miserable for the Jaguars, as they held the Jags’ rushing attack to a combined 56 yards on the ground. The Vikings travel to the Music City for a week 11 showdown against the Tennessee Titans.
New England Patriots: A-
The Patriots’ defense had themselves a field day, as they dismantled the Chicago Bears 19-3 in dominating fashion. Anfernee Jennings had four tackles and two sacks. Deatrich Wise Jr. had two tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection. Jahlani Tavai had nine tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. Jeremiah Pharms Jr. had five tackles and a sack. Keion White had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, and Dell Pettus had two tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. And Brandon Schooler had a tackle and a sack. A very nice afternoon for the Patriots’ defense as they made Caleb Williams’ afternoon miserable, thanks to the Bears’ imploding offensively.
New Orleans Saints: B-
The Saints’ defense finally reemerged and helped the team snap their seven-game losing streak in the NFL with a 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Demario Davis had 10 tackles and a pass deflection, Payton Turner had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. Cameron Jordan had three tackles and a sack, Chase Young had a tackle and a sack, and Tyrann Mathieu had three tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception returned for six yards. The Saints’ defense, along with defensive coordinator Joe Woods, deserve a lot of credit for slowing down Kirk Cousins’ play as they snagged a nice upset win. The Saints will remain home in week 11 as they get set to welcome the Cleveland Browns to town.
New York Giants: D-
The Giants’ defense fell flat and lost 17-20 in overtime against the Carolina Panthers. Tyler Nubin had 12 tackles, Brian Burns had nine tackles and a sack, D.J. Davidson had a tackle and a fumble recovery, and Bobby Okerkee had 11 tackles. The Giants’ defense was unable to slow down Chuba Hubbard nor intercept any of Bryce Young’s passes throughout the game. The Giants’ defense returns home and will have a well-needed bye week in week 11.
New York Jets: F
The Jets’ defense completely unraveled as they were dismantled by the Arizona Cardinals 31-6. Jamien Sherwood had 17 tackles, Tony Adams had 10 tackles, and Quincy Williams had 10 tackles and the team’s only sack. The Jets’ defense failed to intercept any of Kyler Murray’s passes, nor could they stop the Cardinals rushing attack from reaching the end zone. The Jets’ defense returns home and will host the Indianapolis Colts in week 11.
Philadelphia Eagles: A-
The Eagles’ defense soared as they decimated the Dallas Cowboys 34-6. Zach Baun had eight tackles and a fumble recovery. C.J. Gardner-Johnson had seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. Milton Williams had two tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and a fumble recovery; Reed Blankenship had four tackles and a fumble recovery, and Cooper DeJean had three tackles and a fumble recovery. The Eagles’ defense had three sacks, held the Cowboys’ rushing attack to a combined 97 yards on the ground, and was a relentless unit that should startle other opposing offenses. The Eagles return home for another NFC East showdown when the Washington Commanders come to town.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
The Steelers’ defense continued to be a formidable unit, as they narrowly defeated the Washington Commanders 28-27. Patrick Queen had seven tackles and a pass deflection, Cameron Heyward had two tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection, and Preston Smith had three tackles and a sack. The Steelers did not snag any interceptions or defensive fumble recoveries in the game, but they put some pressure on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and prevented him from throwing a touchdown pass. The Steelers’ defense returns home and will get prepared for their week 11 divisional match-up against the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.
San Francisco 49ers: B-
The 49ers’ defense had a nice afternoon, as they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a very close 23-20 victory. Fred Warner had nine tackles, Nick Bosa had four tackles and a sack, Maliek Collins had two tackles and a sack, and Renardo Green had five tackles and two pass deflections. The 49ers’ defense wasn’t able to snag any interceptions, but they did hold the Bucs’ passing attack to a combined 116 yards in the air. The 49ers return home for week 11 and will get ready to host the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC West showdown.
Seattle Seahawks: Bye Week
The Seahawks defense may have struggled at times so far this season, but the pass rush has done a good job this season despite their opponents running the ball more frequently against them. The Seahawks will return to action in week 11 when they square off against the San Francisco 49ers on the road.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-
The Bucs’ defense had a good afternoon at home, even though they lost 20-23 against the San Francisco 49ers in last-second fashion. Jordan Whitehead had 12 tackles, Anthony Nelson had a tackle and a fumble recovery, Greg Gaines had a tackle and a sack, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka had two tackles and a sack, and Calijah Kancey had five tackles and a sack. The Bucs’ defense also held the Bucs’ rushing attack to a combined 75 yards on the ground, but that effort wasn’t enough as 49ers kicker Jake Moody kicked the game-winning field goal to win the game. The Bucs luckily enter a bye week for week 11.
Tennessee Titans: D+
The Titans’ defense had an alright afternoon on the West Coast, even though they lost 17-27 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jack Gibbens had 15 tackles, Jeffrey Simmons had five tackles and a pass deflection, and Roger McCreary had three tackles and a pass deflection. The Titans’ defense couldn’t even land a sack or snag an interception against NFL QB Justin Herbert. Keondre Coleman had a face-mask penalty, which cost the Titans 15 yards in the first quarter of the game, and had almost no impact on the field as he recorded one tackle. The Titans return home and will welcome the Minnesota Vikings to town in week 11.
Washington Commanders: B
The Commanders’ defense played well against the Pittsburgh Steelers but fell short in their 27-28 loss. Jeremy Chinn had 13 tackles, a pass deflection, an interception, and a fumble recovery, Frankie Luvu had seven tackles and a sack, and Dante Fowler Jr. had five tackles and two sacks. Fowler Jr. and Chinn shined for the Commanders, as they did everything they could to help the team earn the win, but their efforts weren’t enough in the end.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 9 Of The 2024 Season
