Week eight was very exciting and wild as NFL team defenses duked it out on the biggest stage to enter the midway point of the season.
Some defenses came out on top, steering their teams in the right direction, while other units continued to make wrong turns, dealing with the injury bug and struggling against the run-and-pass attack.
Time is running out for underperforming defenses to turn things around, but if there’s a will, there’s a way to perform hard and potentially win out.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams’ defenses after week eight.
Which NFL teams have the highest grades on defense after week 8?
Arizona Cardinals: C+
The Cardinals’ defense had a nice day, as they helped the team secure the 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins in South Beach. Budda Baker had 12 tackles and a pass deflection. Dante Stills had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection; Jalen Thompson had 11 tackles, and Kyzir White had seven tackles and a pass deflection. Even though the Redbirds’ defense wasn’t able to snag any interceptions, they did help the team earn their fourth win of the season and secure first place in the NFC West… for now.
Atlanta Falcons: B+
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
The Falcons’ defense had a nice afternoon in Central Florida and defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26. Jessie Bates III had five tackles, a pass deflection, an interception, and a fumble recovery. A.J. Terrell had seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. However, the Falcons’ defense had no sacks all game long as the Falcons look to maintain control of the NFC South… for now.
Baltimore Ravens: B-
The Ravens’ defense played well against the Browns but couldn’t get the job done, as they shockingly lost 24-29. Kyle Hamilton had 10 tackles, a sack, and two pass deflections. Tavius Robinson had three tackles and 0.5 sacks, Yannick Ngakoue had a tackle and 0.5 sacks, and Trenton Simpson had four tackles and a fumble recovery. Despite all of the Ravens’ best efforts, Jameis Winston and the Browns’ offense had a better afternoon as they shocked and stunned the elite defense. The Ravens’ defense returns home and will get prepared to host the Denver Broncos for week nine.
Buffalo Bills: B+
The Bills’ defense had a very nice Sunday afternoon as they smacked the Seattle Seahawks 31-10. Taron Johnson had eight tackles, Javon Soloman had a tackle and a sack, and Austin Johnson had a tackle, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for five yards. The Bills’ defense also held the Seahawks’ rushing attack to 32 yards all game and made things for Geno Smith and company a living nightmare.
Carolina Panthers: C-
The Panthers’ defense continues to struggle and deal with injuries as they fell to the Denver Broncos 14-28. Demani Richardson had 11 tackles, A’Shawn Robinson had five tackles and two sacks, and Shy Tuttle had seven tackles and two fumble recoveries. Despite some good moments from the unit, they were torched by Bo Nix, who had a very nice afternoon in the passing attack for the Broncos. The Panthers’ defense returns home as they get prepared for a week nine divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints coming to town.
Chicago Bears: D+
The Bears’ defense started the game off with a competitive until the very end when Jayden Daniels threw his game-winning walk-off hail Mary, defeating the Bears 15-18. Tremaine Edmunds had 10 tackles, T.J. Edwards had six tackles and a sack, and Montez Sweat had four tackles and a sack. However, the one guy who earned the spotlight for all the wrong reasons was Tyrique Stevenson, who taunted the Washington Commanders’ fans during the Hail Mary attempt by Daniels, then jumped up and tipped the ball, which fell into the hands of Noah Brown when he should’ve been covering him. A lesson to be learned from this is never smack talk during the game. A very painful gut punch for the Bears’ defense as they continue their road trip west when they square off against the Arizona Cardinals in week nine.
Cincinnati Bengals: D
The Bengals’ defense had no answers on how to stop Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in their 17-37 meltdown at home. Cam Taylor-Britt had nine tackles and a pass deflection, Logan Wilson had seven tackles and a pass deflection, and Germaine Pratt had nine tackles. The Bengals’ defense fizzled out as Hurts’ and Saquon Barkley’s running was too much for them, and they couldn’t stop DeVonta Smith from having a nice afternoon as well. Time for the Bengals’ defense to regroup and get prepared for their week nine home game against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 7 Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: B+
The Browns’ defense had a very stellar afternoon as they stunned the Baltimore Ravens 29-24 at home. Grant Delpit had nine tackles, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had seven tackles and a sack, Ogbo Okoronkwo had five tackles and a sack, and Za’Darius Smith had four tackles and a sack. A great afternoon for the Browns’ defense as they were relentless against the Ravens on third down and stopped them from attempting a come-from-behind win in the final seconds of the game.
Dallas Cowboys: D+
The Cowboys’ defense, coached by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, started the first half of the game against the San Francisco 49ers well but couldn’t keep up with the 49ers’ offense in the second half, as they fell 24-30 on Sunday Night Football. Erik Kendricks had nine tackles, DeMarvion Overshown had eight tackles and a sack, and Trevon Diggs had five tackles and a pass deflection. The Cowboys’ defense is still hurting as Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Demarcus Lawrence, Caelen Carson, and Sam Williams are still on injured reserve, and getting burned by George Kittle is never fun. This NFL team’s defense continues their road trip as they travel east for a week nine match-up against the Atlanta Falcons.
Denver Broncos: B+
The Broncos’ defense continues to be a formidable unit, as they defeated the Carolina Panthers 28-14. Brandon Jones had 12 tackles, Jonathan Cooper had five tackles and a sack, Nik Bonitto had three tackles and a sack, Patrick Surtain II had a tackle, pass deflection, and an interception returned for 28 yards, and Ja’Quinn McMillian had three tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Broncos’ defense made quick work of the Panthers, as they took advantage of the woeful Panthers’ offense in exciting fashion. A great job by head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph for the victory. The Broncos’ defense will be tested when they travel east and square off against the Baltimore Ravens on the road in week nine.
Detroit Lions: A-
The Lions’ defense had a great afternoon as they dominated the Tennessee Titans 52-14. Trevor Nowaske had a pass deflection and an interception returned for eight yards. Kerby Joseph had six tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for 33 yards. Alex Azalone had six tackles and a sack, Carlton Davis III had two tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery, and Isaiah Thomas had three tackles and a fumble recovery. A very strong afternoon for the Lions, as they also kept the Titans from scoring a touchdown in the second half of the game.
Green Bay Packers: C+
The Packers’ defense started well but started to allow two scoring drives. Luckily, Brandon McManus saved the Packers in their 30-27 last-second win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Edgerrin Cooper had nine tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection; Isaiah McDuffie had eight tackles, and Xavier McKinney had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. Despite a good start, the Packers’ defense cannot allow opposing offenses to make comebacks. This NFL team’s defense returns home for a tough divisional test as they welcome the Detroit Lions to Lambeau Field in week nine.
Houston Texans: B+
The Texans’ defense had a very nice afternoon in their 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Danielle Hunter had two tackles and two sacks; Will Anderson Jr. had seven tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Tim Settle Jr. had three tackles and a sack; Jake Hansen had a tackle and a sack, and Jalen Pitre had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 10 yards. The Texans’ defense had one blunder as they missed a wide-open Josh Downs, who scored a very easy touchdown against them in the first quarter, but the five sacks, fumble recovery, and interception against Anthony Richarson make up for it.
Indianapolis Colts: C
The Colts’ defense did a good job against the Houston Texans, even though the team lost a tough 20-23 divisional battle. Zaire Franklin had 11 tackles, Dayo Odeyingbo had four tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery, DeForest Buckner had three tackles and a sack, and E.J. Speed had 10 tackles and a pass deflection. The Colts may not have had any interceptions, but they played well as they pressured C.J. Stroud on 46 percent of his drop-backs and helped keep their offensive counterpart in the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B-
The Jaguars’ defense may not have been able to help the team out in their 27-30 loss to the Green Bay Packers, but they did put up a fight against one of the better teams in the NFL. Foyesade Oluokun had nine tackles, Josh Hines-Allen had four tackles and 0.5 sacks, Travon Walker had four tackles and 0.5 sacks, and Jarrian Jones had a tackle, pass deflection, and an interception. A decent afternoon for the Jaguars’ defense, who have to regroup and get prepared for an intense road match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles in week nine.
Kansas City Chiefs: A-
The Chiefs’ defense, led by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, continues to be the heart and soul of the team, as they defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20. Nick Bolton had nine tackles, Mike Pennel Jr. had a tackle and a sack, Drue Tranquill had six tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery, Leo Chenal had four tackles and a sack, George Karlaftis had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, and Tershawn Wharton had two tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. Spagnuolo’s unit may not have had any interceptions, but they managed to pressure Gardner Minshew and sack him five times and held the Raiders’ rushing attack to 33 yards all game long. The Chiefs’ defense returns home for a Monday night showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming to town in week nine.
Las Vegas Raiders: C
The Raiders’ defense had some good moments against the Kansas City Chiefs but couldn’t get the job done, as they lost 20-27 in the end. Tre’Von Moehrig had nine tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception returned for 12 yards, Tyree Wilson had three tackles and a sack, and Jack Jones had five tackles and a pass deflection. Maxx Crosby had a rough afternoon as he had a holding penalty while the rest of the Raiders’ defense did what they could against the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The Raiders travel east for a match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in week nine.
Los Angeles Chargers: B+
The Chargers’ defense had a very nice afternoon in their 26-8 dominating victory over the New Orleans Saints. Daiyan Henley had 11 tackles and a pass deflection, Bud Dupree had four tackles and a sack, Tuli Tuipulotu had two tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection, Khalil Mack and Poona Ford both had two tackles and a sack each, and Scott Matlock had a tackle and a sack. The Chargers defense was also very effective against the Saints’ passing attack and the pass rush in their statement victory.
Los Angeles Rams: C+
The Rams’ defense played despite some late-game controversy in their 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Kobie Turner had six tackles, Michael Hoecht had four tackles and 0.5 sacks, Jared Verse had three tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Byron Young had two tackles and a sack, which should’ve been nullified by the referees. Young grabbed Darnold by the facemask and brought him down in the Vikings’ end zone, resulting in a safety for the Rams when the refs should’ve thrown the penalty flag and penalized the Rams with a 15-yard personal foul penalty. Despite that horrific missed call, the Rams’ defense played well, and they will now get ready for their week nine match-up against the Seattle Seahawks on the road.
Miami Dolphins: D-
The Dolphins’ defense had a brutal afternoon, as they fell to the Arizona Cardinals 27-28 in a thriller in South Beach. David Long Jr. and Jordyn Brooks both had nine tackles, Jordan Poyer had eight tackles and a pass deflection, and Calais Campbell had five tackles and a pass deflection. The Dolphins’ pass rush failed to sack Kyler Murray, Long Jr. failed to stop tight end Trey McBride, and the team’s red-zone defense failed to stop the Redbirds from getting into the end zone for large portions of the game. The Dolphins’ defense needs to regroup and get prepared for their road trip up north to Western New York for a week nine divisional rematch against the Buffalo Bills.
Minnesota Vikings: D
The Vikings’ defense had a somewhat rough night in Hollywood, as they lost 20-30 against the Los Angeles Rams. Ivan Pace Jr. had 13 tackles, Byron Murphy Jr. had four tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for six yards, and Harrison Smith had eight tackles. The Vikings failed to sack Stafford all game and couldn’t recover any fumbles, but Murphy Jr. had the team’s only interception. The Vikings’ defense returns home, where they’ll get prepared to host the Indianapolis Colts in week nine.
New England Patriots: C-
The Patriots’ defense may not be the best unit in all of football, but they can play gritty and tough, as they helped the team secure a nice 25-22 upset victory over the New York Jets. Christian Elliss had nine tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection; Christian Gonzalez had six tackles, a pass deflection, and very nice coverage against Davante Adams for the majority of the game. Marcus Jones had six tackles and a pass deflection. It was a decent afternoon for this NFL team’s defense, as the only thing that matters is the win, which snapped their six-game losing streak.
New Orleans Saints: F
The Saints’ defense looked like a mess, as they lost 8-26 against the Los Angeles Chargers in Hollywood. Chase Young had two tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a pass deflection. Alontae Taylor had three tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a pass deflection, Ugo Amadi had three tackles and a sack, and Khalen Saunders had four tackles and a sack. The Saints’ secondary had a brutal time trying to stop Ladd McConkey, who had 111 receiving yards on the day and scored two touchdowns against them. The Saints’ road trip continues east as they square off against the Carolina Panthers in week nine.
New York Giants: C
The other saving grace for the Giants is their defense, as they played well despite losing 18-26 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bobby Okereke had 14 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery; Brian Burns had five tackles and a sack. Micah McFadden had five tackles and 0.5 sacks; Azeez Ojulari had seven tackles and a sack, and Dexter Lawrence II had four tackles. The Giants weren’t able to stop Russell Wilson from cooking, nor could they slow down Najee Harris, as he rushed for 114 yards on the night. The Giants’ defense returns to MetLife Stadium as they get set to host the Washington Commanders in a divisional matchup in week nine.
New York Jets: C
The Jets’ defense had a decent afternoon in Foxborough, MA, but looked undisciplined at times as they lost 22-25 against the New England Patriots. Jamien Sherwood had 11 tackles, Quinnen Williams had three tackles and 1.5 sacks, Javon Kinlaw had two tackles and 0.5 sacks, and Jalen Mills had three tackles and two pass deflections. The Jets’ defense had too many missed tackles and racked up four defensive penalties, which sunk this NFL team’s chances in the end. The Jets return home and get prepared for week nine as they host the Houston Texans for a Halloween match-up, where they are hoping for more treats and fewer tricks.
Philadelphia Eagles: B
The Eagles’ defense had a nice afternoon as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 37-17. Zach Baun had 12 tackles, Nakobe Dean had nine tackles and a fumble recovery, C.J. Gardner-Johnson had a tackle, a pass deflection, and an interception, Nolan Smith had two tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a pass deflection, and Milton Williams had a tackle and 0.5 sacks. The Eagles’ defense also held the Bengals’ rushing attack to 58 yards on the ground and made things very difficult for the Bengals’ offense for the majority of the game.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B+
The Steelers fearsome defense had a very good night as they defeated the New York Giants 26-18. T.J. Watt had seven tackles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery; Alex Highsmith had four tackles and two sacks; Joey Porter Jr. and Patrick Queen both had eight tackles, and Beanie Bishop Jr. had five tackles, a pass deflection, and the game-ending interception. This Steelers defense continues to be a force to be reckoned with among NFL teams as they head into their week nine bye week and will resume action in week 10 when they travel to the nation’s capital and square off against the Washington Commanders.
San Francisco 49ers: A-
The 49ers’ defense played very strong as they defeated the Dallas Cowboys 30-24. Fred Warner had eight tackles and a pass deflection. Deommodore Lenoir had six tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception; Nick Bosa had three tackles and a sack, and Ji’Ayir Brown had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The 49ers’ defense also kept the Cowboys’ rushing attack in check, as they held them to 56 yards all game, even though Ezekiel Elliot scored a rushing touchdown. The 49ers head into a bye week for week nine to get some rest and regroup for their week 10 match-up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.
Seattle Seahawks: F
The Seahawks’ defense had a very brutal afternoon, as they failed to stop the Buffalo Bills from defeating them 10-31. Ernest Jones IV had 15 tackles, Coby Bryant had six tackles and a pass deflection, and Josh Jobe had seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The Seahawks’ defense couldn’t slow down James Cook, as he served up the Seahawks for 111 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns against them, nor could they stop Josh Allen from having a great game apart from Jobe’s interception. The Seahawks’ defense continues their home stand as they welcome the Los Angeles Rams to town in week nine.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: D+
The Bucs’ defense has been a bit of a train wreck as they couldn’t stop the Atlanta Falcons in their 26-31 loss at home. K.J. Britt had 10 tackles, C.J. Brewer had three tackles and two sacks, and Lavonte David had eight tackles. The Bucs’ defense may not be the best in the league, but they weren’t able to slow down the Falcons’ passing attack as Kyle Pitts and Darnell Mooney went off against the Bucs.
Tennessee Titans: D+
The Titans’ defense put up a decent fight against the Detroit Lions, but they weren’t able to stop the Lions’ rushing attack, as they lost 14-52. Arden Key had six tackles and two sacks, Jeffrey Simmons had four tackles and a sack, Roger McCreary had three tackles and a sack, and Darrell Baker Jr. had a tackle and a pass deflection. As talented as this NFL team’s defense is, they ultimately were no match for the aggressive speed of Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and the rest of the Lions’ rushing attack all afternoon.
Washington Commanders: B
The Commanders’ defense had a good afternoon, as they defeated the Chicago Bears 18-15 in a wild game. Quan Martin had 11 tackles, Daron Payne had four tackles and a sack, Jayln Holmes had a tackle and a sack, and Jer’Zhan Newton had three tackles and a fumble recovery. The Commanders’ defense may not have had an interception, but they made Caleb Williams have a tough afternoon for the majority of the game, as he wasn’t able to throw a touchdown pass. The Commanders’ defense takes their talents on the road as they travel north for a week nine divisional match-up against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NHL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST For The 2024 Season
