After seven weeks of thrilling NFL action, we’ve seen a number of defenses across the league either rise to the occasion or crumble under pressure.
As we head into the heart of the 2024 season, it’s time to rank all 32 NFL defenses from worst to first, taking into account their performances so far, key players, and how they stack up against the competition.
Which teams had the best defense in the entire NFL after week 7?
32. Dallas Cowboys (bye) (Last Week #32)
Few teams needed a bye like the Dallas Cowboys did after the shellacking they took at the hands of the Lions last week. They will need to regroup in a major way if they want to contend in the NFC East, let alone for a Super Bowl.
31. Carolina Panthers (Last Week #30)
The Carolina Panthers defense is just about as bad as it gets. The only unit that is really comparable is their own offense! Week 7 was another rough one defensively, as the Commanders’ boat raced them for 421 total yards and 40 points.
30. New Orleans Saints (Last Week #28)
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Tough showing from the Saints’ defense on Thursday, as the Broncos racked up 33 points with relative ease against them.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last Week #31)
Jacksonville’s defense came up with timely plays to halt New England’s momentum early and ended up holding them to only 16 points.
28. New England Patriots (Last Week #26)
New England struggled to stop the Jaguars’ ground game, allowing Tank Bigsby to rush for 118 yards and two touchdowns en route to a blowout loss in London.
27. Tennessee Titans (Last Week #18)
After forcing a sluggish start from Josh Allen, the Titans’ defense struggled to contain him and the rest of the Bills’ offense in the second half, as they were gouged for 34 points.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NHL Teams’ Defenses From WORST To FIRST For The 2024 Season
26. Las Vegas Raiders (Last Week #27)
The Raiders defense did all that it could on Sunday, considering the offense turned the ball over four times! They held the Rams to 20 points and 259 yards, albeit in a losing effort.
25. New York Giants (Last Week #16)
After a decent start to the game, the Giants’ defense absolutely fell apart, as the Eagles racked up 28 points in a thorough victory over the G-Men.
24. Atlanta Falcons (Last Week #14)
Though they were in many ways victims of the offense’s inadequacy this week, the Falcons’ defense simply couldn’t get off the field when they needed to.
23. New York Jets (Last Week #13)
The Jets defense struggled to contain Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense in the second half, ultimately surrendering 37 points.
22. Cleveland Browns (Last Week #23)
The Browns defense played alright for most of the game, but Burrow connected for two second-half touchdowns, exposing weaknesses in Cleveland’s coverage and securing the win for their in-state rival.
21. Seattle Seahawks (Last Week #25)
Seattle’s defense came into this game needing a statement performance, and they delivered in a big way against a strong Falcons offense.
20. Arizona Cardinals (Last Week #29)
The Cardinals’ defense hasn’t exactly been their calling card this season, but they were playing inspired football on Monday night, particularly out of the gates against the Chargers’ run-heavy offense, and held on nicely to get the win.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (Last Week #24)
Cincinnati’s defense capitalized on Cleveland’s quarterback chaos. After Deshaun Watson’s injury, the Bengals’ defense dialed up the pressure on Dorian Thompson-Robinson, forcing two interceptions that helped shift the game in their favor.
18. Indianapolis Colts (Last Week #20)
The Colts’ defense didn’t have too tall of an order on Sunday, but they delivered, limiting a neutered Miami attack to 10 points.
17. Miami Dolphins (Last Week #19)
Miami’s defense held its own on Sunday against Indy, limiting them to 16 points, though they weren’t able to get over the hump and secure the win.
16. Minnesota Vikings (Last Week #10)
Minnesota’s defense has been its bread and butter this year, but they came up short on Sunday, bending and then breaking against a potent Lions offense.
15. Los Angeles Rams (Last Week #22)
The Rams defense dominated the Raiders by forcing four turnovers, which set the tone for the game with Kam Curl’s 33-yard fumble return for a touchdown. They held Las Vegas to 15 points and just 3 of 15 third-down efficiency.
14. Baltimore Ravens (Last Week #11)
Things looked like they might get ugly for the Ravens defense on Monday Night when the Buccaneers jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but they did a nice job of tightening things up. Tampa made a late run, but the Ravens’ defense was able to hold them off.
13. San Francisco 49ers (Last Week #12)
The San Francisco defense did all that they could on Sunday against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but Mahomes was just too much of a magician, and the 49ers defense eventually folded under the pressure.
12. Buffalo Bills (Last Week #15)
They had a favorable match-up this week but did well to deliver in Week 7 against a struggling Titans offense.
11. Detroit Lions (Last Week #8)
Detroit’s defense did just enough on Sunday to get the job done against their division rival, holding them to 29 points in a road victory.
10. Washington Commanders (Last Week #17)
Washington’s defense dominated the Panthers, setting the tone early with Dante Fowler’s 67-yard pick-6 off Andy Dalton on Carolina’s opening possession. The Commanders’ defense consistently pressured Dalton, recording two sacks and forcing two interceptions.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week #21)
Granted, it was against a largely discombobulated Giants side, but the Eagles’ defense came to play on Sunday, holding Danny Dimes and the boys to three points in a beatdown of their division rivals on the road.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last Week #3)
The Buccaneers’ defense has been playing impressive football for most of this season under Todd Bowles, but slowing down Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens offense is a tough task, and they got obliterated by Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson, and company.
7. Denver Broncos (Last Week #9)
The Denver Broncos’ defense in the 2024 NFL season has been an absolute force, and their showing in Week 6 against New Orleans was a testament to that, as they put the clamps on a Spencer Rattler-led Saints side.
6. Houston Texans (Last Week #4)
The Texans defense managed fairly well on Sunday in Green Bay, holding Jordan Love and the Packers to 24 points despite a disappointing showing from their offense.
5. Chicago Bears (bye) (Last Week #6)
All of the chatter heading into 2024 was around the Bears’ offense, but it has actually been their defense that has carried the team thus far. This group is starting to look special.
4. Green Bay Packers (Last Week #7)
Green Bay’s defense came into play this week, as it held C.J. Stroud to just 86 passing yards and sacked him four times, consistently disrupting Houston’s normally high-flying offense.
3. Los Angeles Chargers (Last Week #5)
The Chargers’ defense is starting to get up to speed in Jim Harbaugh’s system, and it could be troubled down the back half of the NFL season if they continue to progress. They had a strong showing this week against an explosive Cardinals offense, albeit in a losing effort.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Week #2)
Rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop was the star, picking off Rodgers twice, including a near pick-six that set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Russell Wilson. The defense kept Rodgers in check despite the reunion with Davante Adams, holding the Jets to just 15 points and shutting them out entirely in the second half.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Last Week #1)
Kansas City’s defense was unbelievable on Sunday, forcing 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy into three interceptions as they bum-rushed the 49ers on their home turf.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Defenses After Week 6 Games Of The 2024 Season
