Ranking top 5 NFL defenses heading into Week 13 | NFL 2021-22 season

Denver Broncos v Buffalo Bills

Top 3 NFL defenses heading into Week 13

#3 - Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are third on our list of top NFL defenses heading into Week 13 of this NFL season. They are among only three NFL defenses that have allowed less than 200 points in total coming into Week 13. That equates to just 17.8 points per game allowed in the 11 games played by the Broncos so far.

It speaks to their ability to hold back the opposition in scoring vital points because both their rushing and passing defense have been nothing to crow about. They are allowing 106.6 yards per game in rushing. That is still respectable when comparing it to the passing yards they are allowing per game, which stands at 224.2. In total, they are allowing 330.8 yards per game, the worst among the top five NFL defenses on this list.

#2 - Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills got back to some semblance of normalcy as they won 31-6 against the New Orleans Saints. Limiting a Sean Payton team to just six points definitely speaks to the defense's ability to crucially hold their own.

But it was something they could not do the previous week when they let in 41 points against a Jonathan Taylor-inspired Indianapolis Colts. That has been the chief factor in their points per game getting inflated to 16.5 points per game. Their rushing defense has been exemplary in all games throughout the season except that, allowing only 96.6 yards per game. They have also only allowed 178.5 yards per game, both of which are the best among all the NFL defenses on this list.

#1 - New England Patriots

The Bills' AFC East compatriots, the New England Patriots, lead the standings of the best NFL defenses going into next week. They play against the Bills in Week 13, meaning something may have to give.

While the media has been raving about Mac Jones in a true Bill Belichick way, it is the Patriots defense that has been instrumental in their recent success. They have only allowed 15.8 yards per game across the 12 games they have played this season.

Their rushing defense has not been good, allowing 115.8 yards per game. But they have compensated for that in the passing game by allowing just 200.9 yards per game. They enter the coming week top of the AFC East and on top of our rankings of NFL defenses as well.