Week four saw some great defenses continue to cause havoc against opposing offenses as the competition is getting more fierce in the 2024 NFL season.
Some defenses took a step back and couldn’t stop an opposing offense’s run game which will force NFL teams to return to the practice facility and fix what they screwed up in during week four and hope things can turn around in a much better week five.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ defenses after week four.
Which teams have the highest grades on defense after week 4 of NFL games?
Arizona Cardinals: D
The Cardinals’ defense showed some sparks of life but were outclassed by the Washington Commanders in their 14-42 loss. Buddha Baker had 14 tackles, Garrett Williams had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Kyzir White had seven tackles.
The Cardinals failed to sack Jayden Daniels throughout the game as he and the Commanders’ rushing attack ran through them. The Cardinals’ defense has to regroup and get prepared for their week five matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on the road.
Atlanta Falcons: B
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One of the reasons the Falcons were able to secure their 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints was thanks to their defense. The MVP of the defense goes to Troy Andersen, as he had 17 tackles, a pass deflection, an interception, and returned it for a 47-yard pick-six. Dee Alford had nine tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, and Jessie Bates III had five tackles.
A great afternoon for the Falcons’ defense, as they helped put points on the board and prevented the Saints from scoring a passing touchdown.
Baltimore Ravens: B+
The Ravens’ defense had a very nice night as they defeated the Buffalo Bills 35-10. Kyle Hamilton had seven tackles and a fumble recovery, Kyle Van Noy had two tackles and two sacks, and Odafe Oweh had two tackles and a sack.
Even though the Ravens weren’t able to secure any interceptions, they did make the Bills’ run game have a tough night, as they held James Jones to 39 rushing yards and prevented Josh Allen from throwing a touchdown pass all game.
Buffalo Bills: D
The Bills’ defense had a very rough night as they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 10-35. Dorian Williams had 12 tackles, Baylor Spector had six tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery, and Damar Hamlin had three tackles and a pass deflection.
The Bills’ defense had no answers for stopping Derrick Henry, as he ran all over them with 199 rushing yards, scored a rushing touchdown, and scored a receiving touchdown. The only thing the Bills’ defense can do is regroup and get set for week five against the Houston Texans on the road.
Carolina Panthers: B-
The Panthers’ defense played a competitive battle against the Cincinnati Bengals but came up short in their 24-34 loss. Xavier Woods had 10 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 33 yards; Jaycee Horn had eight tackles and a pass deflection, and Josey Jewel had seven tackles.
Despite not being able to sack Joe Burrow, the Panthers played well even though they had some work to do if they wanted to earn their next win of the 2024 season.
Chicago Bears: A-
The Bears’ defense played very ferociously as they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-18. Jaquan Brisker had 12 tackles, a sack, a pass deflection, and an interception; Montez Sweat had two tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection; Gervon Dexter Sr. had two tackles and a sack, and Kyler Gordon had seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
A very strong showcasing for the Bears’ defense as they made things miserable for the Rams’ offense during their NFL game.
Cincinnati Bengals: B
The Bengals’ defense played very similar to the Carolina Panthers and got the Bengals the 34-24 win. Logan Wilson had 10 tackles, Vonn Bell had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 32 yards, and Germaine Pratt had seven tackles and two pass deflections.
The Bengals’ defense wasn’t able to sack Andy Dalton, as they secured the win and have their sights set on hosting the Baltimore Ravens come week five.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses For The 2024 Season From WORST To FIRST
Cleveland Browns: D+
The Browns’ defense had a decent Sunday afternoon in Sin City despite losing a very close 16-20 game to the Las Vegas Raiders. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had nine tackles, Myles Garrett had three tackles and two sacks, Denzel Ward had two tackles and a pass deflection, and Rodney McLead Jr. had two tackles and a fumble recovery.
Even though the Browns’ defense didn’t have any interceptions, they did keep the Raiders from scoring any receiving touchdowns all game. The Browns’ defense needs to regroup and rebound in their week five matchup on the road against the Washington Commanders.
Dallas Cowboys: B
The Cowboys’ defense had a much better week four as they defeated the New York Giants in their 20-15 win on Thursday Night Football. Eric Kendricks had 13 tackles, DeMarcus Lawrence had two tackles and a sack, and Amani Oruwariye had three tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. The Cowboys’ defense also held the Giants’ rushing attack to 26 rushing yards all game, which played a key role in the victory.
However, the Cowboys lost Micah Parsons to a high ankle sprain and DeMarcus Lawrence to a foot sprain, which is going to be a massive blow moving forward. Hopefully, the Cowboys’ defense will continue to find ways to win moving forward.
Denver Broncos: B-
The Broncos’ defense came to life in their 10-9 victory against the New York Jets. P.J. Locke had 10 tackles and a sack, Justin Strnad had four tackles and a sack, John Franklin-Myers had three tackles and a sack, and Riley Moss had nine tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery.
A good afternoon for the Broncos’ defense as they prevented the Jets from entering the end zone and limited them to three field goals during their entire NFL game.
Detroit Lions: B+
The Lions’ defense had a very nice night in their impressive 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Kerby Joseph had nine tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception; Malcolm Rodriguez had five tackles and a sack; Carlton Davis III had seven tackles, three pass deflections, and a fumble recovery; and DJ Reader had a tackle and a sack.
The Lions had three sacks against Geno Smith altogether as they played a very competitive battle against a talented Seahawks team. The Lions head into a well-earned bye week and won’t see action until week six when they square off against the Dallas Cowboys on the road.
Green Bay Packers: B
Even though the Packers lost a tough 29-31 battle against the Minnesota Vikings despite a failed comeback attempt, the defense played well. Quay Walker had eight tackles and a sack, Keisean Nixon had seven tackles and a sack, Xavier McKinney had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Edgerrin Cooper had four tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Packers showed efforts on the defensive side of the ball, but it wasn’t enough, as the Vikings’ offense got the job done in the end.
Houston Texans: C
The Texans’ defense had a rebound performance as they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20. Henry To’oTo’o had seven tackles, Eric Murray had four tackles and a sack, and Calen Bullock had five tackles and a pass deflection.
Just like the Jaguars’ defense, the Texans’ defense failed to intercept any of Trevor Lawrence’s passes and couldn’t slow down the Jaguars’ rushing attack. The Texans’ defense has their eyes set on week five as they host the Buffalo Bills.
Indianapolis Colts: B
The Colts’ defense played well, as they ended the Pittsburgh Steelers’ undefeated season in their 27-24 win. E.J. Speed had 13 tackles, Julian Blackmon had six tackles and 0.5 sacks, Chris Lammons had five tackles and a sack, and Dayo Odeyingbo had three tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Colts had four sacks against Justin Fields in total, as they earned a strong statement win against a very physical opponent. The Colts’ defense now has to get focused for their week five matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C-
The Jaguars’ defense played a competitive battle with their AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans, but came up short in the 20-24 loss on the road. Roy Robertson-Harris had two tackles and a sack, Jeremiah Ledbetter had a tackle and a sack, Ventrell Miller had 11 tackles, and Daniel Thomas had two tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Jaguars’ defense couldn’t even pick off C.J. Stroud all game as the Texans got hot at the right moment and won in a very close game.
Kansas City Chiefs: B+
Even though the Chiefs’ offense wasn’t performing at its best, the defense continued to play strong in their 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, even without securing an interception. Drue Tranquill had 10 tackles, Trent McDuffie had six tackles and a pass deflection, and Chris Jones had four tackles and two sacks.
The Chiefs’ defense also made things much harder for the Chargers’ rushing attack to only 55 yards all game and prevented the Chargers from reaching the end zone after the first quarter, thanks to the coaching of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Las Vegas Raiders: B-
Even though the Raiders’ offense didn’t play their best game, the Raiders’ defense played very nicely and kept Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns from getting the win at the end of the day. Robert Spillane had 12 tackles, Isaiah Pola-Mao had six tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, Tre’Von Moehrig had five tackles, a pass deflection, and returned an interception for 16 yards, and Charles Snowden had three tackles and the game-ending sack.
Even without Maxx Crosby, who is recovering from a high-ankle sprain, the Raiders’ defense got the job done and earned a statement win, showing the entire NFL they are not to be overlooked.
Los Angeles Chargers: C
Despite the Chargers letting a 10-0 lead slip away, the Chargers’ defense tried putting up a fight against the Chiefs’ offense. Elijah Molden had eight tackles and a fumble recovery, Tarheeb Still had five tackles and 0.5 sacks, Troy Dye had three tackles and 0.5 sacks, and Bud Dupree had two tackles and two sacks.
Not the finish the Chargers’ defense wanted, yet they kept the Chiefs from scoring more points on them throughout their recent NFL clash.
Los Angeles Rams: D+
The Rams’ defense had a somewhat rough afternoon in the Mid-West as they lost a tough 18-24 matchup to the Chicago Bears. Christian Rozeboom had 11 tackles, Quentin Lake had six tackles and a sack, Brendon Fiske had four tackles and a sack, and Michael Hoecht had two tackles and a sack. The Rams’ defense had no defensive turnovers and couldn’t slow down D’Andre Swift, who rushed for 93 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown.
Thus, it was certainly an afternoon the Rams’ defense had to move on from as they got set to host the Green Bay Packers in week five.
Miami Dolphins: D
The Dolphins’ defense had a rough Monday night as they fell to the Tennessee Titans 12-31. Jordyn Brooks had 13 tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection; Emmanuel Ogbah had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception, and Calais Campbell had five tackles. It was not the best night for the Dolphins, as they had no answers on how to stop the Titans’ rushing attack.
They had 142 yards on the ground and scored two rushing touchdowns as a result. The Dolphins need to rebound quickly as they get set for their week five road trip to Foxborough, MA, and square off against the New England Patriots.
Minnesota Vikings: B+
The Vikings’ defense had a very nice game as they defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-29. Blake Cashman had 11 tackles, Pat Jones II had three tackles and a sack, Shaquill Griffin had three tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception returned for 28 yards, Kamu Grugier-Hall had two tackles, a pass deflection and an interception, Byron Murphy Jr. had seven tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception, and Camryn Bynum had seven tackles, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.
A very good afternoon for the Vikings’ defense as they picked off Jordan Love three times and recovered a fumble. Now the Vikings’ defense has their eyes set on Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets as they clash in week five across the pond in London.
New England Patriots: C-
The Patriots’ defense played a decent game even though they were beaten 13-30 against the San Francisco 49ers. Deatrich Wise Jr. had six tackles and a sack, Jabrill Peppers had seven tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception, Christian Elliss had three tackles and a fumble recovery, and Nick Leverett had a fumble recovery.
Despite the efforts from the Patriots’ defense, the team lost a tough NFL game on the road overall and needs to regroup as they return home for their week five matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
New Orleans Saints: B-
The Saints’ defense played just as competitive as the Falcons’ defense but fell short in their 24-26 loss. Paulson Adebo had 12 tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception; Marshon Lattimore had five tackles and a pass deflection, and Payton Turner had three tackles and a sack.
Despite the loss, the Saints’ defense played well, and they need to keep that competitive drive against the Kansas City Chiefs in week five.
New York Giants: D+
The Giants’ defense had a rough Thursday Night as they were defeated by their NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in a 15-20 loss. Tyler Nubin had eight tackles, Cor’Dale Flott had four tackles and two pass deflections, and Kayvon Thibodeaux had three tackles and the team’s only sack on the night.
It was a rough loss for the Giants’ defense, as they have their work cut out for them moving forward as they head into week five for a road trip against the Seattle Seahawks.
New York Jets: D-
Despite holding Bo Nix to 60 passing yards, the Jets’ defense had no answers against the Denver Broncos in their 9-10 loss. Tony Adams had 11 tackles, Quincy Williams had seven tackles, and Michael Carter II had a tackle and a fumble recovery. The Jets’ defense also had no sacks or interceptions as they fell flat in their sloppy loss at home.
The Jets need to move on and get prepared for their week five showdown across the pond against the Minnesota Vikings.
Philadelphia Eagles: D
The Eagles’ defense had a tough afternoon as they failed to avenge their 2023-24 Wildcard loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-33. Darius Slay Jr. had nine tackles and a pass deflection, Brandon Graham had two tackles and a sack, and Josh Sweat had a tackle and a sack. The Eagles’ defense didn’t secure any interceptions or fumble recoveries all game long.
The Eagles are heading into their bye week so they can regroup and get prepared for their week six matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Pittsburgh Steelers: C-
The Steelers’ defense played a tough and gritty Colts’ offense in a very close 24-27 loss. DeShon Elliot had 12 tackles, Larry Ogunjobi had six tackles and 0.5 sacks, Cameron Heyward had six tackles and a sack, and Beanie Bishop had a tackle and 0.5 sacks. However, the Steelers didn’t have any interceptions or fumble recoveries in the loss and couldn’t stop Jonathan Taylor for the majority of the game.
Despite that, the Steelers’ defense will bounce back as they get prepared for their week five primetime showdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
San Francisco 49ers: B+
The 49ers’ defense had a very good afternoon as they defeated the New England Patriots 13-30. Fred Warner had a very productive afternoon with seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for a 45-yard pick-six. Nick Bosa had five tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery, and Kevin Givens had three tackles and 2.5 sacks.
The 49ers’ defense had six sacks against Jacoby Brissett all game and kept the rest of the Patriots’ offense at bay as they made things miserable for the once-mighty AFC East bully.
Seattle Seahawks: C+
The Seahawks’ defense had a fair night as they lost an intense 29-42 battle to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. Tyrel Dodson had 10 tackles, Jarran Reed had four tackles and a sack, Derick Hall had four tackles and a sack, and Dre’Mont Jones had two tackles and a sack.
The Seahawks failed to get any pass deflections, interceptions, or fumble recoveries all night as Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense sped through them in certain moments of the game. The Seahawks’ defense returns home for a week five showdown against the New York Giants.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B
The Bucs’ defense had a good afternoon as they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16. Lavonte David had eight tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection; Anthony Nelson had four tackles and a sack; and Logan Hall had three tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. The Bucs’ defense had six sacks as well as fumble recoveries from Ben Stille and J.J. Russell.
A solid afternoon as the Bucs got prepared for their week five matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Tennessee Titans: C-
Not the greatest night for the Titans’ defense, yet they managed to earn the 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins. Kenneth Murray Jr. had nine tackles, Sebastian Joseph-Day had six tackles and a sack, Amani Hooker had six tackles and a pass deflection, Harold Landry III had five tackles and a sack, and Arden Key had a tackle and a fumble recovery.
The Titans’ defense also made things miserable for the Dolphins’ offense as the ground attack was held to a combined 106 yards, and the passing attack was held to a combined 96 yards as they earned their first win of the 2024 season and entered their week five bye week needing to regroup and focus on week six against the Indianapolis Colts.
Washington Commanders: B
The Commanders’ defense had a great afternoon as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 42-14 during their recent NFL game. Bobby Wagner had 11 tackles and 0.5 sacks, Frankie Luvu had seven tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, Dorance Armstrong had five tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Jonathan Allen had five tackles and a sack.
The Commanders had four sacks total against Kyler Murray and were ferocious against the Cardinals all afternoon, even though they mustered 14 points all game.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 3 Of The 2024 Season
