We’re deep into the grind of the NFL season, and by Week 15, defenses have either solidified their identities or completely fallen apart.
Let’s take a look around the league and rank every defense from 32 to 1!
Which NFL teams have the best grades on defense after week 15?
32. Miami Dolphins: (Last Week #25)
Miami gave up two TDs to Nico Collins and allowed a back-breaking fake punt that set up another score. It wasn’t a collapse, but it wasn’t enough.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: (Last Week #30)
Six turnovers, including a Geno Stone pick-six that slammed the door shut, marked one of the best defensive showings we’ve seen from Cinci this year, albeit against the lowly Titans.
30. Atlanta Falcons: (Last Week #32)
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Atlanta’s defense bounced back nicely in week 15 in the NFL, admittedly, against a rather unimpressive Raiders offense, though.
29. Las Vegas Raiders: (Last Week #29)
The Raiders’ defense was decent on Monday Night but didn’t make enough game-changing plays to completely mitigate the blunders they had on offense.
28. New York Jets: (Last Week #31)
Sauce Gardner finally snatched his first pick of the year to seal the deal, and the secondary did just enough to keep Jacksonville’s comeback attempt in check as the Jets got off the mat and secured a win.
27. New England Patriots: (Last Week #24)
The Patriots’ defense started flat and finished flatter. They got bulldozed by James Conner, diced up by Kyler Murray, and couldn’t get off the field on third downs. Tough showing across the board.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 14 Games Of The 2024 Season
26. Tennessee Titans: (Last Week #19)
Tennessee’s defense had no answer for Joe Burrow and co. on Sunday, as they racked up 37 points on them with relative ease.
25. Cleveland Browns: (Last Week #27)
The effort was strong, but they couldn’t salvage a game where the defense was gassed, battered, and put in impossible positions thanks to the offense’s six turnovers.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: (Last Week #21)
The Jaguars defense had no answers for Rodgers and Adams once the second half rolled around, as the NFL veteran duo absolutely shredded their secondary.
23. Chicago Bears: (Last Week #26)
Chicago’s defense had its work cut out for them on Monday, traveling to Minnesota to try and slow down J.J. and co. Minnesota moved the ball with ease on them as they cruised to an easy victory.
22. Arizona Cardinals: (Last Week #28)
Arizona’s defense tightened up nicely against an admittedly weak Pats offense. They limited New England to just three points in the first three quarters, then a couple of garbage time tudders.
21. New York Giants: (Last Week #17)
The Giants defense unsurprisingly had no answers for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense, as Baltimore ran up 35 points on them with ease in week 15 in the NFL.
20. New Orleans Saints: (Last Week #18)
New Orleans notched eight sacks, and guys like Khalen Saunders and Bryan Bresee were breathing down Jayden’s neck, but they couldn’t quite piece together the level they needed to with their pedestrian offense.
19. Detroit Lions: (Last Week #5)
Josh Allen put the Lions’ defense in a blender, dropping 48 points on them in the most cartoonish of fashions.
18. Carolina Panthers: (Last Week #15)
This Panthers’ defense started with a little swagger, but by the end, they looked like an NFL team that knew they were outmatched. The front seven couldn’t stop Rico Dowdle, and the secondary was out of their rank against CeeDee Lamb.
17. Dallas Cowboys: (Last Week #22)
Six sacks, two picks, and two forced fumbles? That’s a defensive clinic. Micah Parsons was in Young’s grill all afternoon, delivering two of the sacks, and essentially lived rent-free in the Panthers backfield.
16. Indianapolis Colts: (Last Week #16)
For a while, the Colts’ defense did its job, making life tough for Bo Nix and holding Denver’s offense in check. But when Jonathan Taylor’s blunder turned momentum, the wheels fell off.
15. San Francisco 49ers: (Last Week #23)
This NFL team’s defense did their part in the rain-soaked slugfest, holding the Rams to field goals and giving their offense a chance after chance. Fred Warner continues to be the heartbeat of this unit and has really impressed the team during an otherwise challenging season.
14. Washington Commanders: (Last Week #13)
Washington has struggled to find consistency defensively this season but held off just enough against an admittedly weak Saints offense, holding them to 19 points in the win.
13. Buffalo Bills: (Last Week #10)
Buffalo’s defense didn’t have many answers for the Detroit attack on Sunday. They gave up 42 points, letting Jared Goff toss five touchdowns, but buckled down at the last possible minute to get the job done.
12. Seattle Seahawks: (Last Week #8)
This was a rough outing for Seattle’s defense, plain and simple, in week 15 in the NFL. They got burned by Jordan Love, gashed by Josh Jacobs, and couldn’t string together any level of consistency.
11. Los Angeles Rams: (Last Week #20)
This Rams defense played like they were on a mission, especially in crunch time. They didn’t just bend without breaking—they hardly bent at all, allowing just six points.
10. Baltimore Ravens: (Last Week #14)
The Ravens’ defense didn’t have to sweat much, thanks to Lamar Jackson putting the Giants out of their misery early, but they still delivered a rock-solid performance in week 15 in the NFL.
9. Los Angeles Chargers: (Last Week #3)
For a unit that came in allowing a league-low 15.9 points per game, this was an absolute disaster. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs hung 40 on them, racked up over 500 yards, and ran for 223 in what was a complete mollywopping.
8. Green Bay Packers: (Last Week #11)
Green Bay’s defense bullied the Seattle offense on their home field, limiting them to 13 points and bruising them all game.
7. Houston Texans: (Last Week #12)
This NFL team’s defense answered the bell in a big way this week. This defense was relentless, forcing four turnovers and closing the door when it mattered against Miami.
6. Minnesota Vikings: (Last Week #7)
Minnesota’s defense rallied well this week against a scrappy Bears offense led by Caleb Williams. The Vikes shut them out in the first half and really only allowed Chicago to get on the board once the game was well in hand.
5. Denver Broncos: (Last Week #9)
Five takeaways, including Bonitto’s heroics and a Patrick Surtain II interception, kept the Broncos afloat when their offense sputtered. This was another big-time showing from the Denver D.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: (Last Week #1)
Week 15 was the worst we’ve seen the Steelers’ defense in some time in the NFL. The Eagles racked up 27 points with relative ease as they up-ended the AFC North leader.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (Last Week #6)
Jamel Dean’s pick was a momentum killer, and the front seven smothered the run like it was second nature. When your defense forces six straight empty possessions in the second half, you know you’re cooking.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: (Last Week #4)
A strong showing from the Birds this week defensively. They held the Steelers to just 128 passing yards, forced a crucial fumble, and smothered everything Pittsburgh tried to do.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: (Last Week #2)
The Chiefs’ defense shut down a Browns offense that did everything possible to self-destruct, but credit where it’s due: they pounced on every opportunity and did what they had to get the win.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams’ Defenses After Week 14 Games Of The 2024 Season
