We saw some great showings from some elite NFL defenses fighting to secure a playoff berth for their respective teams while other defenses who are out of playoff contention look to play spoiler against opposing offenses on the hunt for a playoff spot with only three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Here is where all 32 NFL Teams’ defenses look after week 15 games:
Arizona Cardinals: F (Last week Bye Week)
The Cardinals’ defense had no answers on how to stop the San Francisco 49ers, as they lost 29-45 in week 15. Jalen Thompson had six tackles, Buddha Baker had five tackles, and Zaven Collins had four tackles. The Red Birds also didn’t have any sacks or interceptions in their loss, which makes things a lot more painful, as they look to finish the 2023 season on a positive note with three games left on the schedule.
Atlanta Falcons: D (Last week D+)
The Falcons’ defense did everything they could to help the team out but fell short in a very rainy and miserable week 15 7-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Jessie Bates III had 10 tackles, Calais Campbell had five tackles and a sack, Zach Harrison had four tackles and a sack, and Ta’Quon Graham had two tackles and a sack. The Falcons didn’t have any interceptions or fumble recoveries, as they fell to a 6-8 record and their hopes for capturing the NFC South are on a thin piece of dangling thread.
Baltimore Ravens: B- (Last week B-)
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The Ravens’ defense played very well on the road in Duval County as they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-7. Kyle Hamilton had seven tackles and a pass deflection, Roquan Smith had six tackles, Patrick Queen had four tackles and a fumble recovery, Justin Madubuike had a tackle and the team’s only sack, and Arthur Maulet had four tackles and a fumble recovery. The Ravens may not have had any interceptions or pick-sixes, but they did keep the Jaguars out of the end-zone for a large portion of the game- except in the third quarter.
Buffalo Bills: B- (Last week C)
The Bills’ defense played a decent game in their week 15 31-10 upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Taylor Rapp had eight tackles, Tyrel Dodson had eight tackles and 0.5 sacks, Greg Rousseau had two tackles and 0.5 sacks, Jordan Phillips and Leonard Floyd both had a tackle and a sack each, and Christain Benford had a tackle and an interception on the evening. The Bills’ defense had a statement win over a true title contender. If they make the playoffs, they can go on a run with this vicious defense of theirs, against very competitive opposing offenses.
Carolina Panthers: C- (Last week D-)
The Panthers’ defense isn’t the best unit in the NFL but they did help the team get the 9-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Frankie Luvu had 10 tackles, Xavier Woods had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Brian Burns had three tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery. The Panthers did not have any sacks in the win, but need to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks in the team’s last three weeks, if they want to finish the 2023 season on a positive note.
Chicago Bears: B- (Last week B)
Even though the Bears lost 17-20 in a heartbreaking Hail Mary fail, the Bears’ defense truly was the team’s MVP for the afternoon. Montez Sweat had seven tackles and 2.5 sacks, T.J. Edwards had six tackles, 0.5 sacks, and two pass deflections, DeMarcus Walker had four tackles and 0.5 sacks, and Gervon Dexter Sr. had two tackles and 0.5 sacks. Tyrique Stevenson had one interception returned for 34 yards, Eddie Jackson had an interception returned for 27 yards, and Tremaine Edmunds had an interception returned for 45 yards and scored a pick-six touchdown. The Bears’ defense improved once Montez Sweat was traded to the team, and he has helped this unit drastically improve- possibly for seasons to come.
Cincinnati Bengals: B (Last week B-)
The Bengals’ defense held their own against the Minnesota Vikings’ offense in the team’s 27-24 overtime victory. Germaine Pratt had 12 tackles and 0.5 sacks, Jordan Battle had 10 tackles, Myles Murphy had four tackles and a sack, and Trey Hendrickson had three tackles and 1.5 sacks. Mike Hilton and BJ Hill both had interceptions against Nick Mullens as the Bengals’ defense secured the jungle with their overtime victory, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Cleveland Browns: B- (Last week B)
The Browns’ defense played very well against the Chicago Bears in a 20-17 last-second victory. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had six tackles, a sack, two pass deflections, and an interception, Alex Wright had four tackles and a sack, Cameron Mitchell had a tackle and a sack, and D’Anthony Bell had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception that sealed the deal for the Browns as they stopped a Justin Herbert Hail marry attempt that would’ve been a game-winning touchdown for Chicago. If the Browns continue playing very fiercely on defense, they can cause some serious noise against opposing offenses in the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys: D (Last week B)
The Cowboys’ defense took a huge step back as they fell to the Buffalo Bills 10-31 in a stunning upset loss. Demone Clark had 11 tackles, DeMarcus Lawrence had eight tackles, and Mazi Smith had two tackles and the team’s only sack in the evening. The Cowboys also had no interceptions or fumble recoveries as they were stunned on the road, but still have control of the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles losing on the road to the Seattle Seahawks.
Denver Broncos: D (Last week B)
The Broncos defense had a tough time trying to slow down the hot Detroit Lions’ offense in their week 15 17-42 loss. Josey Jewell had nine tackles, Jonathan Cooper had five tackles and a sack, and D.J. Jones had four tackles and a sack. The Broncos had three pass deflections, but no interceptions or fumble recoveries in the loss. They must turn things around quickly, if they want to stay in the playoff hunt.
Detroit Lions: B- (Last week C-)
The Lions’ defense had a decent night against the Denver Broncos in their 42-17 win. Alex Azalone had 12 tackles and a pass deflection, Ifeatu Melifonwu had nine tackles, a sack, and two pass deflections, Josh Paschal had three tackles and a sack, and Isaiah Buggs had two tackles and a fumble recovery. The Lions’ defense kept the Broncos out of the end-zone for the first half of the game, as the offense went to work and brought the hammer down!
Green Bay Packers: C+ (Last week D-)
The Packers may have lost 20-34 at home to a hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense but their defense made some good noise at home as they pressured Baker Mayfield even without drawing any interceptions. Jonathan Owens had 12 tackles, Kenny Clark had four tackles and two sacks, Lukas Van Ness had four tackles and a sack, Devonte Wyatt had three tackles and a sack, Kinsley Enagbare had two tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. The Packers’ defense played well, but needs to play more aggressively and get interceptions, if they want to sneak into the playoffs.
Houston Texans: B- (Last week C-)
The Texans’ defense truly shined in their 19-16 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans on the road. Desmond King II had 11 tackles and a sack, Jonathan Greenard had six tackles and 2.5 sacks, Maliek Collins had five tackles and 1.5 sacks, Derek Barnett had four tackles and a sack, Khalil Davis had a tackle and a sack, and Steven Nelson had two tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. The Texans’ defense under head coach DeMeco Ryans and Matt Burke continued to do work, as the team continued their hunt for a playoff spot with only three weeks left in the regular season.
Indianapolis Colts: B+ (Last week D)
The Colts’ defense had a strong showing against the struggling Pittsburgh Steelers as they defeated the latter 13-30. E.J. Speed had 10 tackles, DeForest Buckner had four tackles and 0.5 sacks, Dayo Odeyingbo had four tackles and 1.5 sacks, Grover Steward had four tackles and 0.5 sacks, and Samson Ebukam had three tackles and 1.5 sacks. Julian Blackmon had an interception returned for 18 yards and a fumble recovery while Nick Cross had an interception returned for 18 yards as the Colts made quick work of the Steelers by keeping them out of the end-zone in the second half of the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C (Last week D+)
The Jaguars’ defense played well but ultimately couldn’t stop the Baltimore Ravens in their 7-23 loss. Andrew Wingard had 11 tackles, Rayshawn Jenkins had six tackles, a sack, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 18 yards, Travon Walker had four tackles and a sack, and Adam Gotsis had a tackle and a sack. Not a bad night for the Jaguars’ defense, but the offense should’ve scored more points, but couldn’t, as they were outshined by the Ravens’ defense- all night.
Kansas City Chiefs: C (Last week C-)
The Chiefs’ defense had a decent performance on the road against the struggling New England Patriots and helped the team win 27-17. L’Jarius Sneed had nine tackles, Derrick Nnadi had two tackles and a sack, Jaylen Watson had two tackles and a sack, Drue Tranquill had two tackles and a sack, Willie Gay had two tackles and an interception returned for 24 yards, and Charles Omenihu had two tackles and a sack. A decent performance by the Chiefs’ defense as they look to secure more wins and the AFC West crown, with three weeks left in the regular season and the playoffs approach ever closer.
Las Vegas Raiders: A- (Last week C-)
It was a field day for the Raiders’ defense as they crushed the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21. Divine Deablo had 12 tackles, Malcolm Koonce had three tackles and two sacks, Jerry Tillery had three tackles and a sack, Jack Jones had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for a 16-yard pick-six, and John Jenkins had a tackle, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. The Raiders may be struggling from time to time, but this was a well-deserved win for a franchise looking to be a playoff spoiler against opposing offenses.
Los Angeles Chargers: F (Last week C)
It was a rough night for the Chargers’ defense as they were blown out 21-63 in a lopsided loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Eric Kendricks had 12 tackles, a pass deflection, and the team’s only sack, Khalil Mack had three tackles and two pass deflections, and Austin Johnson had eight tackles. The Chargers didn’t have any interceptions or defensive fumble recoveries as they fell apart in Sin City and fired head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco, immediately after the loss.
Los Angeles Rams: C+ (Last week B)
The Rams’ defense played a decent game as they defeated the Washington Commanders 28-20 at home. Ernest Jones had seven tackles and the team’s only sack, Christian Rozeboom had five tackles, Aaron Donald had three tackles, and John Johnson III had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for two yards. It was a decent performance by the Rams’ defense, as they kept their playoff hopes alive and look to potentially win out their last three games of the season.
Miami Dolphins: A- (Last week C-)
The Dolphins’ defense had a strong and productive Sunday afternoon by shutting out the struggling New York Jets in a 30-0 victory. Bradley Chubb had seven tackles, three sacks, and a fumble recovery, Duke Riley had five tackles and 0.5 sacks, Andrew Van Ginkel had four tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a pass deflection, Christian Wilkins had three tackles and 0.5 sacks, and Brandon had Jones had five tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions returned for 40 yards. It was a strong showcase for Miami as they prepare for the remainder of the season and a potentially strong run in the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings: C+ (Last week C-)
The Vikings’ defense played well despite losing 24-27 in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals. Camryn Bynum had nine tackles, D.J. Wnnum had six tackles and a sack, Josh Metellus had five tackles and a sack, Danielle Hunter had five tackles and two sacks, and Jonathan Bullard had a tackle and a sack. Akayleb Evans also had four tackles and an interception which added to the Vikings’ valiant efforts on the field, despite the loss on the road.
New England Patriots: C- (Last week C)
Despite losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-27, the Patriots’ defense did put up a fight against KC. Jabrill Peppers had seven tackles, Christian Barmore had six tackles and a sack, Mark Wilson Sr. had two tackles and a sack, Deatrich Wise Jr. had two tackles and a sack, Jahlani Tavani had three tackles and an interception, and Marte Mapu had an interception returned for 20 yards. A good showcasing for the Patriots’ defense, but they ended up falling to the Chiefs in a tough and painful fashion. They need to put this loss behind them for their final three games.
New Orleans Saints: B (Last week C+)
The Saints’ defense played very well against the New York Giants as they kept them out of the endzone and beat them 24-6. Demario Davis had 10 tackles and a sack, Tanoh Kpassagnon had six tackles and three sacks, Byran Bresee had three tackles and two sacks, and Carl Granderson had three tackles and a sack. The Saints did not have any turnovers, but sacking Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito made up for it and also kept any Giants’ running backs, receivers, and tight ends out of the endzone making this win very satisfying.
New York Giants: D- (Last week C+)
The Giants’ defense took a massive step back in their road trip against the New Orleans Saints in a 6-24 loss. Jason Pinnock had eight tackles and the team’s only sack on the afternoon, A’Shawn Robinson had eight tackles, and Micha McFadden had six tackles. The Giants also did not have any turnovers against the Saints, which drastically hurts, when the season is pretty much over and they have nothing to play for except being a potential playoff spoiler against their three remaining opponents.
New York Jets: D- (Last week B-)
The Jets’ defense did whatever they could to slow down the Miami Dolphins but to no avail as they fell in shutout fashion 0-30. Jordan Whitehead had eight tackles, Solomon Thomas had three tackles and a sack, Quineen Williams had three tackles and 0.5 sacks, Bryce Huff had two tackles and a sack, and Will McDonald IV had a tackle and 0.5 sacks. The Jets’ defense also had no interceptions or fumble recoveries as they lost and were eliminated from playoff contention.
Philadelphia Eagles: D (Last week C-)
The Eagles’ defense did what they could to stop the Seattle Seahawks but ultimately lost 17-20. Nicholas Morrow had eight tackles, both Fletcher Cox and Jalen Carter had a tackle and a sack, and Reed Blankenship had six tackles on the night. The Eagles however had no fumble recoveries or interceptions they have some work to do if they want to retake the NFC East crown from their rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, and snap their three-game losing streak with the playoffs coming up.
Pittsburgh Steelers: D+ (Last week C-)
The Steelers’ defense had a tough time in Indianapolis as they fell to the Indianapolis Colts 13-30. Elandon Roberts had nine tackles, Larry Ogunjobi had four tackles and a sack, and T.J. Watt had three tackles and two sacks. As fierce as T.J. Watt is, the Steelers’ defense couldn’t stop the Colts from running and catching passes all over them as they fell on the road. It also didn’t help that Damontae Kazee was ejected from the game after a ruthless hit on Michael Pittman Jr. in the loss. Their playoff hopes are currently being held by a thread.
San Francisco 49ers: A- (Last week A-)
The 49ers’ defense played a strong game as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 45-29. Fred Warner had nine tackles and 0.5 sacks, Javon Kinlaw had two tackles and a sack, Chase Young had two tackles and 0.5 sacks, Nick Bosa had a tackle and a sack, Charvarius Ward had three tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions (one of them returned for a 66-yard pick-six). A solid performance by the 49ers as they have their eyes set on securing the one-seed for the NFC side of the playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks: B- (Last week C+)
The Seahawks’ defense played fair in their week 15 20-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Bobby Wagner had 11 tackles, Julian Love had nine tackles, and two interceptions (one of them being the game-ending interception), and Quandre Diggs had seven tackles. The Seahawks didn’t have any fumble recoveries, but defeated a very tough opponent in the Eagles as well as kept their playoff ambitions alive in the process.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C+ (Last week B-)
The Buccaneers’ defense played well on the road as they helped the team get a 34-20 win over the Green Bay Packers. Antonie Winfield Jr. had 10 tackles, Lavonte David had nine tackles and 0.5 sacks, Anthony Nelson had four tackles and a sack, Shaquil Barrett had two tackles and 0.5 sacks, and Logan Hall had a fumble recovery. A good performance by the Bucs on the road, but they need to force more turnovers if they want to be successful in the upcoming playoffs- if they win out and secure the NFC South crown.
Tennessee Titans: B- (Last week C+)
The Titans’ defense played fairly well as they did everything they could to stop the Houston Texans only to fall short in their 16-19 overtime loss. Azeez Al-Shaair had 12 tackles, Denico Autry had four tackles and two sacks, Terrell Edmunds had two tackles and a sack, Marlon Davidson had two tackles and a sack, and Elijah Molden had three tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for a 44-yard pick-six touchdown in the second quarter. A valiant effort nonetheless, but the Titans fell short and were eliminated from playoff contention in the end.
Washington Commanders: D+ (Last week Bye Week)
The Commanders’ defense played an alright-to-average game in their 20-28 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Khaleke Hudson had 14 tackles, and Jartavius Martin had 10 tackles and a sack, Daron Payne had three tackles and two sacks. Kendall Fuller and Karmen Curl both had fumble recoveries on the afternoon, but it wasn’t enough, as the Commanders not only lost, but were eliminated from playoff contention as well.
