NFL wild-card round defense rankings feat. Vic Fangio's Eagles

Modified Jan 07, 2025 16:13 GMT

NFL: DEC 29 Cowboys at Eagles - Source: Getty — 2024 NFL wild-card round defense rankings

The wild-card round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs is scheduled to kick off on Saturday and will span three days with six games. As with every year during the postseason, defenses will play a major factor with the games being more intense. Teams with dominant defenses will hold a potential advantage over their opponents, especially in games where weather plays a role.

When analyzing the 12 teams participating in the wild-card round, it's hard to ignore the spectacular season that the Philadelphia Eagles' defense had this year. Vic Fangio was hired during the offseason to provide them with a boost theoretically, and they responded by ranking toward the top of the NFL in many defensive categories.

The Eagles allowed the fewest total yards per game during the 2024 NFL season by a wide margin. They allowed just 278.4 yards per game this year, which is 33 yards better than any other team. For comparison, the difference between them and the second-place team this season is the same margin between the second-place and 23rd place, demonstrating their elite dominance in this category.

Philadelphia also led the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, featuring a secondary with two outstanding rookies in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. They also ranked second in points allowed per game, trailing the Los Angeles Chargers by just a tenth of a point per game. The Chargers also have the best red zone defense this season, so they are another unit to keep an eye on during the wild-card round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs.

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Joining the two of them are the Denver Broncos, who also ranked towards the top of the NFL in many defensive categories. They will have a tall task in the first round against the Buffalo Bills' high-powered offense, but this gives them an opportunity to prove their value. They consistently got the job done during the regular season, so they will try to carry their momentum into a challenging playoff matchup.

Here's where they all fall in the defense rankings this week for the 12 teams that will be in action during the wild-card round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs.