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NFL defenses don't often receive much love and are outshined by their offensive counterparts. Hearing Tom Brady say it, you would think that NFL defenses are just a bunch of guys not good enough to play offense.
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But if Brady does want to remember how important NFL defenses can be, he can cast his memory back on last year's NFC Championship game and how the Bucs defense carried the day. In honor of the best NFL defenses, we present our list of top 5 NFL defenses heading into Week 9.
#5 - Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers endured a miserable run of form having lost four straight games, but they climbed into the top five NFL defenses by virtue of their win in Week 8. They defeated the Atlanta Falcons 19-13 to end up with a 4-4 record. Central to their win was their defense.
They have now given up 19.9 points per game, joining the other teams on the list as the only ones that have given up less than 20 points on average per game. They have allowed only 295.6 yards per game. Their run defense has allowed over 100 yards per game, but it is their passing defense that has really carried the workload allowing just 188.9 yards per game. If the Carolina Panthers are not to slump to a losing record, their defense will have to carry the weight again.
#4 - New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints feature in our top five NFL defenses by virtue of having the fourth-lowest points allowed per game. They have only allowed 18.3 points per game. Of all the NFL defenses on this list, they have allowed the most yards per game for 344.3 yards. Much of that comes from allowing 264.9 yards per game in passing.
But where the New Orleans Saints are tight as a drum is in their rushing defense. They have allowed only 79.4 yards per game. By removing one component of the offense from their opposition, they have been able to limit opposing offenses. Their defense certainly played its part in their win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who suffered only their second loss of the season. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints improved to a 5-2 record and are definitely in contention to go deep into the postseason.
The Top 3 NFL Defenses heading into Week 9
#3 - Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are third in our top NFL defenses heading into next week. While they lost their first game of the season against the Green Bay Packers 24-21, it was not so much an indictment on their defense as it was on their communication on offense.
The Cardinals remain in the top three by allowing only 17.3 points per game. They have allowed 319 yards per game and they have a glaring weakness against the run game. They have allowed more than 120 yards of rushing offense, closer to the bottom of the NFL defenses than the top. Where their defense has really shone is in stopping by the pass, allowing only 198.9 yards per game. That component of their defense alone has been enough to elevate them into the top tier.
#2 - Denver Broncos
That the Denver Broncos have a 4-4 record and not a losing one is majorly due to having one of the best NFL defenses in the league. They have only allowed 17.1 points per game.
They have allowed 224.9 yards in the passing game on average and 100.9 yards on average in the rushing game for a total of 325.8 yards per game. None of them are league-leading figures. But where they have shone is in shutting down the opposition from scoring points, which is the ultimate currency to measure efficiency. Whether that has been due to offensive ineptitude or not is another matter, but it is good enough to rank the Broncos as second among all NFL defenses.
#1 - Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills held the Miami Dolphins to just 11 points last time around and remain the best among NFL defenses. Their numbers in all categories can give hope to their fans that it can finally be the year they lift the Super Bowl. After all, it is the defense that wins you the rings.
They have only allowed 15.6 points per game on average. Their rushing defense is as stingy as it gets, allowing only 86.6 yards per game. That is complemented by a passing defense that allows only 182.4 yards per game on average. Taken together, they make the most complete unit in the league at the moment and rightfully lead our rankings of NFL defenses going into Week 9.
