Ranking top 5 NFL defenses heading into Week 9 | NFL 2021-22 season

Denver Broncos v Buffalo Bills

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.