Defense: 18 Dennis Daley (starting at left tackle after Taylor Lewan's season-ending knee injury) was bullied by Montez Sweat, while the interior line struggled on a day Ryan Tannehill absorbed five sacks. The biggest issue on defense is no T.J. Watt. In an NFL bereft of consistent playmaking at tight end, Kelce is a cheat-code outlier. With Darnold still shelved by his own high ankle sprain (this team, man), P.J. The biggest issue on defense is forcing turnovers. --DJ Bien-Aime, Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights. With five first-round picks along the defensive line and the No. But Sunday? 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The Cowboys have not allowed 20 points in a game yet and have allowed just one touchdown in each game. For a variety of reasons (beginning with the Saquon Barkley injury), it's not, and it's at the top of the list of reasons they have a losing record. Bill Belichick made a smart decision to bring in Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator. The Panthers are allowing 10.5 points a game in the final quarter to rank among the worst in the league. 2023 NFL combine: Top draft prospect workouts, risers, fastest 40s It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Special teams: 12, While the Texans overhauled their offense -- minus quarterback Deshaun Watson -- this season, they didn't make many changes on defense. It's the truth -- and it gives the Ravens a huge advantage in every close contest they're a part of. 1 yr. ago. Get updated NFL defense rankings for the 2022 season. On special teams, they might not do a whole lot in the return game, but Ryan Succop has quietly been among the league's more consistent kickers. The defense bounced back from Week 4's humbling prime-time loss to the Chiefs, but a fourth-quarter letdown was halted by an absurdly generous roughing-the-passer call that kept Tom Brady on the field and allowed the home team to run out the clock in a 21-15 win over Atlanta. I certainly have no clue. ", You can flip the calendar and reboot the coaching staff, but some things will never change with a Kirk Cousins-led offense. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The Bills' defense is ranked in the top five of almost every major category -- with third-down defense (41.3%, 19th) being one of a few concerns. In the fourth quarter, opposing quarterbacks have posted an NFL-best 88.6 QBR against the Ravens, throwing five touchdowns and getting sacked twice. Dallas' struggling offense managed three pass plays of at least that length. The following are the 2020 NFL team overall defense statistics, including team rushing yardage, team passing yardage and total team yardage. ThePanthers were non-competitive yet again on Sunday against the 49ers. It is the default for leagues hosted on ESPN. They head to the offseason with quarterback worries. -- Paul Gutierrez, Offense: 13 If the Raiders want to get back to being a playoff contender in the AFC, they have to improve their defense. Sunday's 20-17 triumph at Arizona came with a dollop of good fortune: Kyler Murray's premature slide short of the first-down marker set up an ugly miss by a temporary kicker to close the game. Plus, the Jaguars hit the top 10 for the first time this season. More NFL coverage , The Dolphins have been great on defense and special teams, scoring a combined three touchdowns with those units this season. New coach Sean Payton is one of the best offensive minds in the game. Eh, I don't know. They look really solid from front to back, even with safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, formerly of the New Orleans Saints, acclimating to a new position and team. --Tim McManus, Defensive efficiency:57.9 Unfortunately, that hasn't helped the team win. League rank: 6th. It's always that way with franchise quarterbacks. NFL defense rankings: Offseason outlook for all 32 teams. Where Wisconsin is right now: Much of this Badgers defense, which ranked No. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Getting Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator is a great move. Since the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year tore his pectoral at the end of regulation in Week 1, the Steelers have given up an average of 23 points per game and recorded just three total sacks. They don't have an edge rusher with more than one sack and have called the third-most blitzes (57) so far this season. Deshaun Watson will have a full season with the Browns in 2023, which makes them a better team. It might work against the quarterbacks they faced, but life is about to get much more difficult with Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence and Geno Smith on deck. Kupp's score represents the team's only touchdown in the past nine quarters. At the 2012 combine, 346-pound defensive tackle Dontari Poe was clocked at 4.98 seconds in the 40-yard dash, did 44 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press, had a 29.5-inch vertical and . Opponent Punts per Offensive Score. Free agency looms Scott logged 54 carries for 217 yards and three touchdowns across 15 regular-season games with the Eagles in 2022. Depth charts for every team at kicker." -- Cameron Wolfe, The Cardinals' defense has been underrated all season, as is evident by its FPI ranking. Josh McDaniels' team was once again on the wrong side of a coin-flip game, this time an excruciating 30-29 defeat to the Chiefs at Arrowhead that dropped Vegas into the AFC West cellar. Tagovailoa already has been ruled out for Week 5. Week 1. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Check. Did Jalen Hurts and Co. just run the Eagles back to the top of the NFL Power Rankings? -- Shelley Smith, Offense: 31 They converted each into a touchdown. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was given the personnel he needed to be successful, and for the most part, he has been. With explosive offenses coming up, the D-line better healthy fast. League rank: 21st. Of the 97 pass completions against them, 69 have come by receivers who have at least three yards of separation at the time of the throw, the fourth-highest total in the league. The biggest issue on defense is the nickel package. Chicago's special teams are better than the rankings indicate. They did it with a strong defensive effort against the Jaguars, harassing Trevor Lawrence into two interceptions in a 13-6 victory. Check out the full order, 1-32. But as FPI underscores, the defense has had issues outside of pass-rusher Myles Garrett, especially in the secondary, where injuries and inconsistent play have plagued Cleveland all season. The Rams rank second in efficiency and takeaways and have allowed an average of 18.9 points per game, which ranks third and has covered for some inconsistencies on offense and special teams. Opponent First Downs per Play. -- Mike Reiss, This is what everyone anticipated entering the season: The defense would have to lead this franchise, and it has. The script is beyond tired for the Raiders. There was more good news for the rookie class on the other side of the ball: Dameon Pierce rushed for 99 yards and his third touchdown of the season. Wasn't that supposed to be their best unit? The big offseason talk is whether they can land Aaron Rodgers. The problem is the AFC is loaded with those guys. It ranks first in touchdowns allowed per drive and second in points allowed per drive. FPts: The number of fantasy points that our model predicts a player will score this season, based on the selected scoring system. Check out the full league pecking order, 1-32. Now they have to grow the offense around him as they push to be a playoff team. Its fair to wonder if Pittsburgh ends this rebuilding campaign with one of the worst records in football. Cleveland was missing three of its four starters along the defensive line in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, including star pass-rusher Myles Garrett. The Rams managed just one long Cooper Kupp touchdown and 323 yards of total offense in a 22-10 loss to the Cowboys at SoFi. Geno will be without a key piece going forward: Rashaad Penny is done for the year after fracturing his fibula on Sunday. A healthy Adams would be making a difference as a run defender and a pass-rusher. 1 after a dominating Super Bowl victory. Can't say I'm totally on board with the Never Cover Travis Kelce strategy deployed by the Raiders on the goal line, but the Chiefs weren't complaining after their star tight end gobbled up all four of Patrick Mahomes' short touchdown passes in a 30-29 prime-time win at Arrowhead. On the offensive side of the ball, the Chiefs have been a top-five unit in terms of third-down efficiency, ranking second-best in the NFL by putting up a 48.7% third-down percentage. They got both on return-motion plays that had guys wide open. Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit But it was the way he did it that impressed. Wentzs deciding turnover overshadowed a 359-yard passing day that included two long touchdown tosses to Dyami Brown. That mark should be obliterated on Sunday, when the Jets face the Rams. Blow a team off the field? League rank: 8th. There is a lot of young talent on the roster. Defense: 13 -- Alaina Getzenberg, Defensive efficiency: 85.7 The Giants are 19th in the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 41.2%. 4-1. Watch on ESPN+, The Jaguars have started three quarterbacks at least three games each, which contributes to their having five games with fewer than 300 yards of offense. Find the most recent updates each day . Check out the full league pecking order, 1-32. Bradley has been the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks (2009-2012), Los Angeles Chargers (2017-2020) and Las Vegas Raiders (2021). -- Nick Wagoner, Offense: 22 They're currently sixth in the league in that category. A scrambling Kyler Murray went into a protection slide just short of the first-down marker, setting in motion a chain of events that ended with fill-in kicker Matt Ammendola badly pushing a 43-yard field goal attempt wide right. The biggest issue on defense is Jamal Adams' absence. From 2010-2019, the team never finished higher than 20th in points per game allowed and often finished in the bottom five in the league in scoring defense. Buffalo Bills (3-1) Week 4 ranking: 2. I believe we hit rock bottom, so now the only place to go is back up." The Broncos are last in the league in turnover margin, at minus-18, and their quarterbacks have thrown the most interceptions, with 21. Defense: 31 NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! -- Courtney Cronin, The passing offense has been a disappointment, which highlights myriad issues: Cam Newton's inaccuracy on short passes, a major void at tight end (the Patriots rank last in the NFL in production from that spot) and a receiving corps that hasn't been respected by opposing defenses and thus allows foes to load up against the run. New Orleans Saints (10-3). Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offense seemed well set up to shred a Ravens defense that entered Sunday Night Football allowing more passing yardage than any team in football. How high can the Lions fly? But the unit ranks among the worst in the league this season in this regard, forcing just three turnovers through four games. We got smashed. Special teams: 24, Carson Wentz declined dramatically in 2020, plummeting toward the bottom in most statistical categories for QBs before being replaced in the lineup by rookie Jalen Hurts. Thats how Bears fans could optimistically look at a 29-22 setback to the Vikings that also served as a hopeful jumping-off point for Justin Fields. The Broncos had surrendered only six points in the second half of their first three games combined, so they were rolling. It's one of the many reasons they're winless, and it has made them vulnerable in the play-action game, too. Cleveland has played five games, won two and allowed victory to slip away in brutal fashion in three defeats. Seven days later, they can't even call the No. 1 pick, Ex-Patriots star McGinest facing eight years in prison, Commanders rip 'blatantly false' team sale report. Washington's defense ranks in the top 10 in both yards and points allowed; it hasn't finished a season that way since 2008. Tucker is 17-for-17 lifetime on attempts in the final minute of regulation. Defense: 27 The Rams were without cornerbacksTroy Hill(IR),David Long Jr. andCobie Duranton Monday night against the 49ers, although they did get safetyJordan Fullerback. The defense showed signs of life in back-to-back wins over the Colts and Ravens and, most recently, in a 31-10 victory over the Jaguars. They still have a lot of top-level talent. -- Mike DiRocco, Nothing has gone right. Defense: 14 The winds of change continue to howl on the NFL Power Rankings as we near the midpoint of the 2022 season. -- Courtney Cronin, Offense: 17 Baltimore went from being the only offense averaging more than 30 points per game last season to being in the middle of the league in scoring. Presumably, they'll return to form once Byron Jones returns from the physically unable to perform list -- which he's eligible to do this week. The biggest issue on defense is . He completed 13 of his 14 passes in the second half with two . League rank: 19th. When Adams and Hunter Renfrow collided on the subsequent fourth-and-1 pass attempt, it was a fitting end to an infuriating night -- another chapter in an infuriating season -- for the team from the desert. Not a dynasty in the 1950s Cleveland Browns way, but a dynasty of the modern game, where free agency and a salary cap can eat a team alive. The Bills, Eagles and . In the second half, Baltimore has given up an NFL-worst 1,019 yards while allowing 67 points. League rank: 23rd. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 1 team: Jump to a team: 1 spot. How we rank in our Power Rankings: Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluates how teams stack up throughout the season. An established power rises to the top spot for the first time this season in Dan Hanzus' Power Rankings. 2022 NFL season, Week 5: What We Learned from Sunday's games, Time to panic?! Special teams: 19, The Giants' worst unit is their offense? They just missed out on the playoffs last season with rookie Kenny Pickett at quarterback. Rankings for the week will be published every Tuesday and weigh the defensive unit's fantasy potential and the quality of that week's matchup, and are updated throughout the week for news and emerging analysis. Minutes earlier -- in a decision that was gutsy at best and reckless at worst -- Staley opted to keep his offense on the field on fourth-and-2 at his own 45-yard line with just over a minute to play. In this edition of the Power Rankings, Dan Hanzus has a brand new team in the top five. --David Newton, Defensive efficiency: 47.6 Bills, Titans, Bengals, and Ravens this week all have a claim for the best team in the AFC. They've allowed 415 yards off play-action, which is the fourth most in the NFL. 1 . New England Patriots (vs. Jaguars) The Patriots have routinely destroyed rookie quarterbacks under Bill Belichick and Trevor Lawrence has been a turnover machine this season. The lone bright spot on offense is running back James Robinson, who became the fourth undrafted rookie in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Since losing Dak Prescott, they have averaged 16.9 points per game. They are well-rounded enough to win games based on their passing game, running game, defense or special teams when needed. The biggest issue on defense is getting home. The Lions need to make some changes immediately, and head coach Dan Campbell knows it. On the Cowboys' opening drive, one pass went for 31 yards while the other five plays managed a combined 9 yards. The Vikings are, well, the Vikings. --Michael Rothstein, Defensive efficiency: 42.4 2d NFL Nation Predicting the 2023 starting QB for all 32 NFL teams, from the locks to the . Ugly wins count just as much as pretty ones, but Matt Ryan and Co. will need to be far better to move Indy out of the pretender category. He completed 13 of his 14 passes in the second half with two touchdowns. Assessing Browns' FA needs, The Ravens are the only NFL team to rank in the top 10 on offense, defense and special teams. The defense has been much improved from a season ago, but this is the next step toward being the type of unit that defensive coordinator Dean Pees wants to have in Atlanta. The biggest issue on defense is getting pass rush from someone other than Maxx Crosby. "I'm not talking today," Jarrett said after the game. 7. Connelly's numbers indicate that while bringing a high number of transfers on offense wasn't exactly a winning proposition in 2022 (programs that brought in nine or more newcomers finished 3.2 . He was passed . Wilks will begin his run without Mayfield, out indefinitely after suffering a high anklesprain against the Niners. On paper, the Eagles were the better team, but Mahomes was the great equalizer. Although defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's unit has improved in recent weeks, there are questions about its long-term outlook. But there's little to pick apart. In a recent piece by ESPN, the named the Raiders the worst defense of the decade as they allowed an average of 26.2 points per game during that period. Brandon Staley owes Cade York a beer. Sunday's 26-16 loss to Arizona was a prime example as the Cardinals had the ball for just over 38 minutes to 21:25 for Carolina. --Todd Archer, Defensive efficiency:74.5 But he didn't look great when he played last season. "Five games in, and we've got a lot of work to do," Brady said. The biggest issue on defense is run defense. If there's one thing Cincinnati could improve, it's the pass rush. More McCaffrey likely equals more points, more wins and less stress on an undermanned defense. Welcome to Week 5 of the NFL regular season. That was it. Rankings change: Up 1. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN "I love Matthew Stafford. The biggest issue on defense is getting gouged on the ground, again. Check out the full pecking order, 1-32. The Niners have Jimmy G. The Bucs have yet to put together four impressive quarters in a row. From injuries to defending the run, every team has something it can improve on. Dan Hanzus updates his Power Rankings, with a notable boost for the surging Green Bay Packers. DE Jadeveon Clowney has missed the past two games with an ankle injury. I mean, really trust. "Every win isn't easy," Jalen Hurts said. Four of them came through the air, which has sparked questions about the secondary. Below, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters across the league and asked what the biggest issue faced by each team's defense is. They had a pile of big gains against the nickel, including a 43-yard run by Josh Jacobs in the third quarter. New Orleans Saints (vs. Seahawks) 10. Aaron Rodgers leads list of players on the fantasy football hot seat for 2023, Fantasy football season recap, key stats and look ahead to 2023, Fantasy football 2023 offensive depth charts, Fantasy football 2023 defensive depth charts, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The end result? Jones has occupied double-teams and affected the passer, but for Crosby to remain effective, the Raiders would love for Jones, who signed a three-year, $51 million free agent deal with Las Vegas this spring, to start getting home, too. Crosby has four of the Raiders' five sacks -- cornerback Nate Hobbs has the other -- and while that's a good early return on Las Vegas' four-year, $98.98 million investment via the extension Crosby got this offseason, the Raiders need more from the defensive line in general, Chandler Jones in particular. Although their defense began the season hemorrhaging yards, it has regained its 2018 and 2019 form over the past few weeks. League rank:12th, The Rams have their best cornerback healthy (Jalen Ramsey) but have been dealing withseveral injuries in the secondaryearly in the season. While it is currently ranked one of the best in the NFL, the Bengals are trying to figure out what to do at kicker. Even that's a reach, as corners Darius Slay (forearm) and Avonte Maddox (right ankle) are expected back soon. Another mistake-laden loss would likely derail the Vikings' playoff hopes. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage . It's scary to imagine what the Chiefs might be if they were playing well in the other phases. --Josh Weinfuss, Defensive efficiency: 29.6 They can't ask Josh Allen to do it all. In five seasons, Mahomes now has five division titles, two regular-season MVPs, two Super Bowl MVPs and the two rings. They are last in the NFL in opponent third-down conversion percentage and touchdown percentage allowed in the red zone. This might be a minor quibble given how well the unit is playing as a whole. --Kevin Seifert, Defensive efficiency: 76.1 But they do need much more than what they've gotten thus far. They won't say it, so I will: The Chiefs are a dynasty. It has probably been even better than FPI ranks it. League rank: 16th. The Seahawks are getting gashed against the run, in part because they're struggling in their transition to a 3-4 but also because they're missing tackles. Rams top Bengals after OBJ exits --Eric Woodyard, Defensive efficiency: 41.1 The cracks are showing for a DanCampbell regime that is high on charisma and likability, but still dangerously low on tangible success. It also reflects the Miami Dolphins' loss on Thursday night to the Cincinnati Bengals after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) left the game on a stretcher. Win a shootout? Pass-rushing is the key to great defense in the NFL. Visit ESPN to view 2022 NFL stat leaders. The results were as . Or will it be Trey Lance? Week 3. But this team's fortunes have fallen the hardest because of an offense that has turned the ball over far too often and scored touchdowns too few times. Carl Lawson sealed the win with a strip sack of Dolphins third-string QB Skylar Thompson (a play that allowed Quinnen Williams to stiff-arm "disrespectful" Tyreek Hill into another time zone), while Breece Hall announced his arrival as an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate with 197 total yards and a score. --Ben Baby, Defensive efficiency: 60.8 1 going into next season. Through four games, Tennessee has given up five plays of 40 yards or more. Thankfully, the defense has kept them in and won them some games. Defense: 16 Losing sturdy DT Lawrence Guy to a shoulder injury is a contributing factor, but that alone doesn't fully explain the alarming past six quarters the defense has played against the run. The Raiders have rebuilt their linebacker corps and secondary to enter the 20s. 2021 NFL defense rankings espn. --Stephen Holder, Defensive efficiency: 46.0 There are twists, there are turns, theres joy, theres terror. KEY: Gms = Games Played, Tot Pts = Total Points Scored, Pts/G = Points Per Game, RushYds = Rushing Yards, RYds/G = Rushing Yards Per Game . Who has the most career 200 receiving yard games? The biggest issue on defense is the pass rush. Dan Hanzus takes stock of the Power Rankings hierarchy. Unfortunately for Atlanta, a flag (for unnecessary roughness) was thrown on Grady Jarrett's pivotal fourth-quarter sack, and the opportunity to complete a stirring comeback was taken from Arthur Smith's bunch. Special teams: 26, Let's simplify this.