Final NFL Report Card Grades for Every Team's Defense in 2011

It's official—2011 is a wrap and now it's time to start breaking down what exactly happened this past NFL season. 

In this piece we'll be taking a look at how each team's defense performed in 2011. We'll see what each defense did well and didn't do so well. 

In that spirit, let's jump right into the grade-book!

Here is the final NFL report card grades for every team's defense in 2011. 

Baltimore Ravens

Final Grade: A

You cannot get much better than the Baltimore Ravens' defense—it's the main reason why they finished 2011 with a 12-4 record and in the No. 2 seed in the AFC. 

Baltimore finished the season allowing only an average of 16.6 points per-game while leading the AFC in sacks. 

Cincinnati Bengals

Final Grade: B+

If it weren't for their defense, the Cincinnati Bengals would likely have missed out on the playoffs in 2011.

The Bengals' did a whole lot of work this season as they had to ultimately protect a rookie quarterback, who was vulnerable to mistakes—which is expected. 

Cincinnati finished the season ranking in as the seventh best defense in the NFL. 

Cleveland Browns

Final Grade: C+

Surprisingly, the Cleveland Browns finished 2011 as the NFL's 10th best defense, despite being the third worst run defense. 

So what does that mean? Their pass defense was phenomenal, as they finished at No. 2 as they averaged only 184.9 passing yards per-game. 

If Cleveland can beef up on their defensive front seven, then they should have an elite defense in the upcoming seasons. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Final Grade: A

What is there to say about the Pittsburgh Steelers defense? I mean, they're simply just one of the best, if not the best, in the entire NFL.

Pittsburgh finished 2011 as the top rated defense as they averaged only 271.8 yards per-game while leading the league in points per-game, holding teams to an average of 14.2.

All in all, Pittsburgh's defense is just suffocating—they will find a way to beat you. 

Chicago Bears

Final Grade: C+

2011 wasn't that great of a season for the Chicago Bears' defense—there certainly have been better years.

The Bears were pretty damn good at stopping the run but proved to be very vulnerable against the pass, as they allowed an average of 254.1 passing yards per-game. 

This was just an above average season for this group. 

Detroit Lions

Final Grade: C-

On paper, you may think that the Detroit Lions' defense would be one of the NFL's best—well, that's wrong. But with the Lions finishing 2011 with the 23rd best defense, that's far from being one of the best. 

The Lions weren't great at stopping the run or the pass and they were only effective at putting pressure on the quarterback as they ranked 10th in total sacks. 

Green Bay Packers

Final Grade: D-

Believe it or not, the Green Bay Packers actually finished 2011 with the worst defense—not the New England Patriots.

The Packers finished season as No. 32 in total defense, as they allowed a pitiful 411.6 yards per-game.

The lone strength to this team's defense is their ability to stop the run, as they were the 14th best run defense—but that's still pretty mediocre. 

Minnesota Vikings

Final Grade: D+

2011 was not a great season for the Minnesota Vikings' defense, as Jared Allen was practically the only player that was actually trying to stop opposing offenses from scoring points. 

Minnesota finished the season sitting at No. 21 in terms of total defense, as they allowed an average of 358.2 yards per-game. 

Houston Texans

Final Grade: A+

This is probably the greatest turnaround for a team's defense in a matter of a season and all the credit goes towards defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips.

The Houston Texans switched to the 3-4 defense at the start of the season, and Phillips literally turned this team upside down as they finished with the second best defense, that is in terms of total defense.

Houston finished the season ranking in as the third best pass defense and the fourth best run defense—definitely not too bad after being one of the worst defenses a year ago. 

Indianapolis Colts

Final Grade: D+

Wait, Peyton Manning doesn't play defense—so there's no excuse here. 

The Indianapolis Colts finished 2011 as the seventh worst defense in the NFL as they allowed an average of 370.9 yards per-game. 

Well, I guess there is somewhat of an excuse: Without Manning, the offense was so ineffective that the defense was ultimately on the field for the majority of the game. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Final Grade: B+

It's hard to believe that the 5-11 Jacksonville Jaguars had one of the NFL's better defenses, but they did.

The Jags finished the season with the eighth best pass defense as well as the ninth best run defense—not to shabby. 

Tennessee Titans

Final Grade: C

The Tennessee Titans definitely have a lot of room for improvement entering 2012, as the loss of Jason Babin really hurt this past season.

The Titans had the 24th best defense in the NFL and need to turn it around next season if they want to have a better shot at making a run for the postseason. 

Atlanta Falcons

Final Grade: C+

2011 wasn't anything special for the Atlanta Falcons' defense—they were shaky in the secondary but very strong at stopping the run.

It all evened out as they finished the season with the 12th ranked defense—that could have definitely been a bit better. 

Carolina Panthers

 Final Grade: D+

It doesn't help when you lose your best player at the start of the season just as the Carolina Panthers lost Jon Beason back in Week 1—but he wouldn't have made that much of a difference, as the Panthers finished 2011 with the fifth worst defense.

Ron Rivera is a defensive minded head coach and he's going to have a lot of work to do if he wants to improve in 2012. 

New Orleans Saints

Final Grade: C-

2011 could have definitely been better for the New Orleans Saints, but when you have a top rated offense, then you can certainly get away with having a below average defense.

The Saints are actually pretty effective against the run but are absolutely dreadful against the pass.They finished the season with the third worst pass defense. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Final Grade: F

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense was so pathetic in 2011 that it resulted in the firing of head coach Raheem Morris.

The Bucs were dead last in terms in stopping the run and were overall the third worst defense in the entire league. 

Buffalo Bills

Final Grade: D-

The Buffalo Bills defense was so bad in 2011 that it resulted in the firing of defensive coordinator George Edwards.

The Bills were pathetic against the rush and were just mediocre against the pass. All in all, they ranked in as the 26th best defense in the NFL. 

Miami Dolphins

Final Grade: C

It's hard to believe, but the Miami Dolphins weren't all that bad in 2011—they were just average.

The Miami Dolphins were the third best run defense in the entire league however their downfall was against the pass, as they ranked only 25th best. 

If Miami can improve their pass defense, then they'll be an elite defense in 2012. 

New England Patriots

Final Grade: F

The New England Patriots defense was absolutely pathetic in 2011.

They were the worst defense throughout the entire season until the final week as the Green Bay Packers surpassed them as the absolute worst.

New England finished the season being the second worst overall defense but found a way to hold teams to 21.4 points per-game. 

New York Jets

Final Grade: B

The 2011 season wasn't anything special for Rex Ryan and the New York Jets, as the unit ranked in as the fifth best defense in the entire league.

If the Jets want to return to being an elite defense in 2012, then they're going to have to improve their run defense, as they're certainly lacking some beef upfront as they were allowing an average of 111.1 rushing yards per-game. 

Dallas Cowboys

Final Grade: C

I was not impressed with Rob Ryan in his first season as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator.

I was expecting big things out of Ryan in Big D this season but his defensive unit finished the season ranking as the 14th best defense—I'm sorry, but that's just average. 

New York Giants

Final Grade: D+

The New York Giants weren't that strong on the defensive side of the ball this season as they finished with the 27th best defense.

The lone strength to New York's game was their ability to get after the quarterback as they recorded the third most amount of sacks in 2011. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Final Grade: C-

Poor Juan Castillo—he was an offensive coach that Andy Reid decided to make his defensive coordinator in 2011, and it was an epic fail.

The Philadelphia Eagles have so much talent on the defensive side of the ball but they managed to only rank as the eighth best defense in the league—they should have been top five. 

Washington Redskins

Final Grade: C

The Washington Redskins weren't that strong on the defensive side of the ball in 2011, as they finished the season as the 13th best defense.

The Redskins are definitely a young group on defense and showed a lot of potential this past season—perhaps they'll make it to the top 10 in 2012. 

Denver Broncos

Final Grade: C

I was pretty impressed with the incredible play out of Von Miller, but the Denver Broncos didn't have that great of a season, despite what many believe.

The Broncos finished as the 20th best overall defense, the 12th best pass defense and the 22nd best run defense—those are all average or below average in my book. 

Kansas City Chiefs

Final Grade: B

Only if the Kansas City Chiefs could improve their pass defense then they would be a top tier defense—but I do realize that the team did lose safety Eric Berry for the remainder of the season. 

KC were incredibly effective against the run as they finished as the sixth best defense however their 26th ranked pass defense was the downfall in 2011. 

Oakland Raiders

Final Grade: D

The Oakland Raiders have so much talent and upside on the defensive side of the ball but they never were able to put it together in 2011.

This season was a huge disappointment for this group as they finished the year as the fourth worst overall defense.  

San Diego Chargers

Final Grade: C

After being top rated defense a year ago, the San Diego Chargers took a major dip in 2011 as they finished the season sitting at No. 16.

Don't get me wrong, the Chargers were pretty productive this season as they were stout against the pass but were very vulnerable against the run. 

Arizona Cardinals

Final Grade: D+

The Arizona Cardinals were just slightly below average this season as they finished the year sitting at No. 18 for overall defense.

The Cardinals were actually pretty well-rounded this season, in terms of just being average. They were just mediocre against the run and the pass.

All in all, the Cards have a lot of room for improvement in 2012. 

San Francisco 49ers

Final Grade: A+

What the San Francisco 49ers did in 2011 was nothing short of magnificent. 

The 49ers were pretty effective against the pass but were absolutely dominant against the run. In fact, the 49ers allowed only one 100 yard rusher this season and gave up only three rushing touchdowns all season—how impressive is that? 

Seattle Seahawks

Final Grade: B

The Seattle Seahawks weren't all that bad in 2011—their defense definitely shocked me.

The Seahawks were the ninth best defense by the end of the season and actually held teams to an average of under 20 points per-game—which is rather impressive in this brand of football that we're witnessing. 

St. Louis Rams

Final Grade: D

If the St. Louis Rams defense wasn't so bad in 2011 then perhaps Steve Spagnuolo would still have a job.

His defense finished as the 22nd best in the NFL as they averaged a pitiful 25.4 points per-game while being the second worst run defense in all of the league.