Week 15 is officially in the books, and most of the league’s best defenses played their hearts out against opposing offenses regardless of the outcome, with all eyes set on the upcoming NFL playoffs.
While other defensive units imploded against great offenses, other units stood their ground and did everything they could to help their team earn the win and get closer to making a playoff run a reality. We certainly can’t wait to see what these units can accomplish in the remaining three weeks of the regular season from here on out.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ defenses after week 15.
Which NFL teams have the highest grades on defense after week 15?
Arizona Cardinals: C
The Cardinals’ defense had an okay afternoon as they held off the New England Patriots 30-17. Kyzir White had 12 tackles, Budda Baker had 10 tackles, Darius Robinson had three tackles and a sack, Baron Browning had two tackles and a sack, and Sean Murphy-Bunting had two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for two yards. The Redbirds’ defense also kept the Patriots’ best wide receivers out of the end zone for most of the game and held the Pats to 89 yards on 24 plays in the first half of the game.
Atlanta Falcons: C+
The Falcons’ defense had a good night in Sin City, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 15-9. Kaden Elliss had 11 tackles and a sack, DeAngelo Malone had two tackles and two sacks, Zach Harrison had four tackles and a sack, Justin Simmons had two pass deflections and an interception, and Jessie Bates III had two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Falcons’ defense bullied their former quarterback, Desmond Ridder, for most of the night and kept the team’s playoff hopes alive… for now.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Baltimore Ravens: B
The Ravens’ defense re-emerged as a good unit, defeating the woeful New York Giants 35-14. Malik Harrison had eight tackles and a sack, Kyle Van Noy had three tackles and a sack, Ar’Darius Washington had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 32 yards, and David Ojabo had two tackles and a sack. Seeing this NFL team’s defense step up and earn a rebound win after losing their week 13 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles was very nice. The Ravens’ defense also held the Giants’ rushing attack to a combined 55 yards on the ground.
Buffalo Bills: B
The Bills’ defense had a very good day in the Motor City, helping the team win 48-42 against the Detroit Lions. Terrel Bernard had 10 tackles, Christian Benford had six tackles and a sack, Ed Oliver and Greg Rousseau had four tackles and a sack each, and Matt Milano had three tackles and a fumble recovery. The Bills’ defense held the Lions’ rushing attack to a combined 48 yards on the ground, even though Jahmyr Gibbs scored a rushing touchdown.
Carolina Panthers: D-
The Panthers’ defense had a rough afternoon, losing 14-30 against the Dallas Cowboys. Josey Jewell had 10 tackles and a pass deflection, Jaycee Horn had two tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, and DJ Johnson had five tackles and a fumble recovery. The Panthers defense had trouble slowing Rico Dowdle and the Cowboys’ passing attack down for most of their recent NFL game. All the Panthers can do is finish the season on a positive note and hope for a better 2025 season.
Chicago Bears: C-
The Bears’ defense managed to put up a decent fight against the Minnesota Vikings but didn’t do enough against the Vikings, losing 12-30. T.J. Edwards had eight tackles and a sack, Chris Williams had a tackle and a sack, Jonathan Owens had six tackles, and Tyrique Stevenson had four tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. As hard as the Bears’ defense fought, the Vikings’ offense played a lot better and made the unit look like fools for a large portion of the night.
Cincinnati Bengals: A-
The Bengals’ defense had a tremendous afternoon in their 37-27 win over the Tennessee Titans. B.J. Hill had four tackles and a sack. Geno Stone had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for a 39-yard pick-six. Cam Taylor-Britt had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 28 yards.
Josh Newton had four tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception returned for 12 yards, and Mike Hilton had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Bengals’ defense made Will Levis have an afternoon so bad that the Titans had to bench the guy for Mason Rudolph instead.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 14 Games Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: F
The Browns’ defense struggled for most of their game against the Kansas Chiefs, losing 7-21. Jordan Hicks had nine tackles and a pass deflection, Denzel Ward had six tackles, and Myles Garrett had three tackles and a pass deflection but left the game with an eye injury. The Browns were overpowered and outmatched against the Chiefs all game long and had no answers on how to stop Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Noah Gray from scoring touchdowns against them.
Dallas Cowboys: A-
The Cowboys’ defense had a tremendous afternoon in the Tar Heel State, defeating the Carolina Panthers 30-14. Donovan Wilson and Marist Liufau both had five tackles. Chauncy Goldston had four tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery; Micah Parsons had four tackles and two sacks; Carl Lawson had a tackle and a sack; Jordan Lewis had three tackles and a sack; Eric Kendricks had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Israel Mukuamu had two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 15 yards.
A very strong afternoon for the Cowboys’ defense, as they made up for their week 14 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals and kept their playoff hopes alive… for now.
Denver Broncos: B+
The Broncos’ defense had a very nice afternoon, winning 31-13 against the Indianapolis Colts. Brandon Jones had nine tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception. Pat Surtain II had a tackle, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for four yards, Dondrea Tillman had three tackles and a sack, John Franklin-Myers had three tackles and 0.5 sacks, D.J. Jones had three tackles and a fumble recovery, and Nik Bonitto had five tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery returned for a 50-yard touchdown.
Bonitto had a tremendous day for the Broncos, while the rest of this NFL team’s defense kept the Colts out of the end zone for most of the game.
Detroit Lions: D-
The Lions’ offense may have played an effective game against the Buffalo Bills in the 42-48 loss, but the defense was nonexistent for most of the game. Brian Branch had 15 tackles and a pass deflection, Jack Campbell had 11 tackles and a pass deflection, and Kerby Joseph had eight tackles. Despite the great efforts from Branch and Campbell, the defense couldn’t slow down both Josh Allen and James Cook. The Lions’ defense also took a hit when Alim McNeill suffered an ACL tear, and Carlton Davis suffered a fractured jaw, which is a massive blow to the unit moving forward.
Green Bay Packers: A-
The Packers’ defense had a tremendous night in the Pacific Northwest, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 30-13. Edgerrin Cooper had seven tackles, a sack, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 22 yards, Kingsley Enagbare had five tackles and two sacks, Rashan Gary and Brenton Cox Jr. both had two tackles and a sack each, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks both had a tackle and a sack each, and Carrington Valentine had three tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 20 yards.
The Packers’ defense is a very underrated unit ready for any challenge against any opponent, whether they’re formidable or a team that has struggled in recent weeks.
Houston Texans: B
The Texans’ defense had a very good afternoon against the Miami Dolphins, winning 20-12, which helped them clinch the AFC South. Henry To’oTo’o had 11 tackles and 0.5 sacks, Danielle Hunter had four tackles and 1.5 sacks, Derek Singlely Jr. had five tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions returned for 10 yards, Calen Bullock had six tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 68 yards, Will Anderson Jr. had three tackles and a sack, and Tim Settle Jr. had two tackles and a fumble recovery.
A great afternoon for the Texans’ defense as they stepped up and made life hell for the Dolphins’ offense. Especially holding the Dolphins’ rushing attack to a combined 52 yards on the ground.
Indianapolis Colts: C
The Colts’ defense played a decent game but couldn’t slow down the Broncos’ offense in their 13-31 loss in the Mile High City in week 15 in the NFL. E.J. Speed had 13 tackles. Zaire Franklin had nine tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for four yards. Nick Cross had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for five yards; Samuel Womack III had two tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception, and DeForest Buckner had three tackles and a sack.
The Colts’ defense carried the team throughout the entire game and held the Broncos’ rushing attack to a combined 72 yards on the ground. However, the Colts’ offense had a rough afternoon, which negated the work the Colts’ defense accomplished.
Jacksonville Jaguars: D-
The Jaguars’ defense had a rough afternoon, losing 25-32 against the New York Jets. Tyson Campbell had six tackles and a pass deflection, Darnell Savage had five tackles and two pass deflections, and Jeremiah Ledbetter had a tackle and the team’s only sack in the game. The Jaguars’ defense couldn’t snag any interceptions or slow down the Jets’ passing attack all game long.
Kansas City Chiefs: A-
The Chiefs’ defense had a very impressive afternoon against the woeful Cleveland Browns. George Karlaftis had two tackles and two sacks, Charlie Omenihu had a tackle and a sack, Tershawn Wharton had four tackles and a sack, Drue Tranquil had five tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, Nick Bolton had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, Trent McDuffie had four tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception.
Bryan Cook had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Jaden Hicks had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Chiefs’ defense looked incredibly sharp thanks to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s impressive and tough coaching, which made them one of the best units in the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders: B-
The Raiders’ defense played their hearts out against the Atlanta Falcons, even though they lost a tough 9-15 battle on Monday Night Football. Isaiah Pola-Mao had nine tackles, Adam Butler had six tackles and a sack, Jonah Laulu had five tackles and a sack, Tyree Wilson had four tackles and a sack, and Robert Spillane had eight tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception.
The Raiders’ defense was playing for their fallen teammate, Maxx Crosby, whose season ended due to an ankle injury that required surgery. The Raiders’ defense also held the Falcons’ offense to 261 yards all game. However, the loss only helps the team land a higher draft pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Chargers: D
The Chargers’ defense made some good plays against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but their efforts weren’t enough in their 17-40 loss as the Bucs’ offense got hot in the second half. Elijah Molden had nine tackles and a fumble recovery, Troy Dye had nine tackles and a sack, and Tarheeb Still had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 18 yards. Still tried to help the Bolts out with his second-half interception, but the Chargers’ offense couldn’t get anything going all half long and painfully lost the game.
Los Angeles Rams: C
The Rams’ defense had an okay Thursday night, winning 12-6 against the Los Angeles Rams. Christian Rozeboom had nine tackles and a sack, Omar Speights had seven tackles, Darious Williams had two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Kobie Turner had five tackles and two sacks. The Rams’ defense kept the 49ers out of the end zone all game long and held them to only two field goals.
Miami Dolphins: C-
The Dolphins’ defense put up a fight against the Houston Texans but lost 12-20 in the Lone Star State. Jordyn Brooks had eight tackles and a fumble recovery, Anthony Walker Jr. had seven tackles and a sack, and Zach Sieler and Chop Robinson both had two tackles and 1.5 sacks each. The Dolphins’ defense held the Texans’ rushing attack to a combined 77 yards, and the Texans’ passing attack to a combined 131 yards, but their efforts weren’t effective against the Texans’ short-yard passes, which cost the team the victory.
Minnesota Vikings: B+
In their 30-12 win over the Chicago Bears, the Vikings’ defense had a very good night. Josh Metellus had 10 tackles, Jonathan Greenard had six tackles and a sack, Dallas Turner had three tackles and a sack, and Blake Cashman had eight tackles and a fumble recovery, which led Sam Darnold to throw a touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson in the next drive. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has done a great job coaching the team to bully the Bears for most of the night.
New England Patriots: F
The Patriots’ defense had a rough time in the desert, losing 17-30 against the Arizona Cardinals. Kyle Duggar had 10 tackles, Jahlani Tavai, Jabrill Peppers, and Anfernee Jennings each had seven tackles, and Christian Gonzalez had two tackles and three pass deflections. Even though Kyler Murray didn’t score any touchdowns, this NFL team’s defense couldn’t even land a single sack against him, nor could they slow down James Conner from having a great day on the ground.
New Orleans Saints: C
The Saints’ defense had a decent afternoon, losing a very close and nailbiting 19-20 battle against the Washington Commanders. Demario Davis had 14 tackles and a sack. Ugo Amadi had seven tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. Cameron Jordan had six tackles and two sacks; Carl Granderson had six tackles and a sack; Willie Gay had a tackle and a sack.
And Chase Young had three tackles and two sacks. Even though the Saints lost on a failed two-point conversion, they still managed to sack Jayden Daniels a whopping eight times all game.
New York Giants: D
The Giants’ defense had a tough afternoon trying to compete against the Baltimore Ravens, as they lost 14-35. Dane Belton had 15 tackles and a sack, Micah McFadden had 11 tackles and a sack, Brian Burns had two tackles and a sack, and Adoree Jackson had five tackles and a fumble recovery. Safety Jason Pinnock struggled against Rashod Bateman, as the Ravens’ wide receiver scored two touchdowns against him. The 2024 season is almost over, with three weeks remaining, as the Giants are looking forward to the 2025 season and beyond.
New York Jets: B-
The Jets’ defense made the most of their Sunday afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars, winning 32-25 in Duval County. Jamien Sherwood had nine tackles, Javon Kinlaw had two tackles and a sack, Solomon Thomas had three tackles and a sack, Jalen Mills had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Sauce Gardner had five tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception.
The Jets’ defense can still play effective football at times, but all of the losses they endured this NFL season crippled the team’s chances of a playoff run. All the Jets can do is look forward to 2025 for a better season.
Philadelphia Eagles: B
The Eagles’ defense made things miserable for the Pittsburgh Steelers and won 27-13. Nakobe Dean had 10 tackles, Nolan Smith Jr. had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, Josh Sweat had two tackles and a sack, and Darius Slay Jr. had a tackles and a fumble recovery. The Eagles’ defense also held the Steelers’ rushing attack to a combined 56 yards on the ground and kept Calvin Austin III out of the end zone. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has coached one heck of a unit.
Pittsburgh Steelers: C-
The Steelers’ defense tried to put up a fight against their instate rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, but couldn’t slow them down in their 13-27 loss in the city of Brotherly Love. Patrick Queen had 11 tackles, Alex Highsmith had eight tackles and a sack, T.J. Watt had seven tackles and a sack, Nick Herbig had two tackles and a fumble recovery, and Beanie Bishop Jr. had two tackles and a sack.
The Steelers defense was able to hold Saquon Barkley to 65 rushing yards on the ground but couldn’t stop DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown from having an effective afternoon in the passing attack.
San Francisco 49ers: F
The 49ers’ defense had an almost nonexistent Thursday night, losing 6-12 to the Los Angeles Rams in a touchdown-less game. Fred Warner had 15 tackles and a pass deflection, Dre Greenlaw and Talaono Hufanga both had eight tackles, and Charvarius Ward had five tackles. While both the 49ers and Rams only scored field goals, none of the 49ers were able to land a single sack against Matthew Stafford all game long. However, Fred Warner had a solid night for the team.
Seattle Seahawks: D-
The Seahawks’ defense had a tough Sunday night, losing 13-30 against the Green Bay Packers on primetime. Ernest Jones IV had nine tackles, Coby Bryant had eight tackles, and Julian Love had seven tackles and a fumble recovery, which led to Zach Charbonnet scoring the team’s only touchdown. This loss for the Seahawks stings, as they lose first place in the very competitive NFC West, derailing their playoff ambitions moving forward.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B
The Bucs’ defense had a great afternoon in Hollywood, helping the team win 40-17 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lavonte David had 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks, Logan Hall had two tackles and 1.5 sacks, Kaevon Merriweather had a tackle and a fumble recovery, and Jamel Dean had three tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. The Bucs’ defense also shut down the Chargers’ rushing attack, held their NFL opponent to 32 yards on the ground, and kept the Bolts out of the end zone throughout the second half of the game.
Tennessee Titans: C-
The Titans’ defense made some noise against the Cincinnati Bengals in their 27-37 loss at home. James Williams had eight tackles. Luke Gifford had eight tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. Daryl Worley had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception; Harold Landry III had three tackles and a sack, and T’Vondre Sweat had three tackles and a fumble recovery. The Titans’ defense did everything they could to secure the win, but Will Levis’ struggles on offense hurt the team’s chances of securing the win overall.
Washington Commanders: B-
The Commanders’ defense had a good afternoon in the Big Easy, winning a very close 20-19 battle against the New Orleans Saints. Jeremy Chinn had seven tackles and a sack, Mike Sainristil had five tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception, Dorance Armstrong had four tackles and a sack, and Daron Payne had two tackles and a sack. The Commanders’ defense held the Saints’ rushing attack to a combined 69 yards on the ground, and Noah Igbinoghene covered Juwan Johnson in the Saints’ failed two-point attempt, giving the team the nail-biting victory.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 14 Games Of The 2024 Season
