NFL Week 7: 5 Defenses That Face Stiff Challenges

The NFL is a league driven by offense. Quarterback play is at an all-time high and play-calling schemes have become complex and detailed enough to make most defenses look absolutely foolish.

Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have completely overhauled the concept of how offense in the NFL should be played, and rookies Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck continue to write their own chapters.

But while scoring is higher in 2012 than it was in a record-setting 2011, defenses seem to be catching up a little bit. The Seattle Seahawks held the Green Bay Packers to 12 points in a Monday Night matchup. The 49ers shut out the Jets 34-0 a few weeks back. And it's not like the high scoring is a product of offense all the time. There have been 46 touchdowns scored on defense and special teams.

But don't get too excited. Defense is still trying to catch offense, and there are teams in Week 7 that will have a bigger challenge than everyone else. Be it injuries or simply bad matchups, these five face a very difficult task stopping the offenses they will face.

Washington Redskins

This should be fun. The winner of the Redskins-Giants game will take sole possession of first place in the NFC East and control its destiny. 

But it won't be easy for Washington, not by a long shot. The Redskins do only one thing well on defense, and that's stop the run. When it comes to stopping the pass, the Redskins are awful. They give up an average of 328 passing yards per game, the most in the NFL.

Eli Manning ranks third in the NFL in passing yards and should have a field day against a depleted Redskins secondary. The Giants have too many weapons for the Redskins to cover, so it shouldn't be too tough for the defending champs.

The Redskins can score with anyone, but it all comes down to defense. If Washington can force a few turnovers and get some third-down stops, it could come away with a victory. The Redskins have also scored four defensive touchdowns, which also could come into play.

If Washington wants to announce its arrival on the scene as one of the NFL's better teams, a great defensive performance against New York would be a great way to start.

New York Jets

The New York Jets have been synonymous with great defense for the last couple of seasons. But things changed when cornerback Darrelle Revis was lost for the season to an injury a few weeks ago.

The Jets still have plenty of ability on defense, but they aren't the same team. Things could get dicey when they play the New England Patriots this week.

The Pats have the league's No. 1 offense behind Tom Brady and his talented stable of receivers. The Patriots can run the ball and throw the ball. They have one of the most multi-dimensional offenses in the league and are nearly impossible to stop.

Even with Revis, the Jets would face a massive challenge. Without him, the Patriots could be impossible to overcome.

The Jets have a pretty good pass defense, but they can't stop the run. And if you can't stop the run against a team led by Brady, you won't be able to stop the play-action pass later in the game.

The Jets will have to bring everything they have to move to 4-3. The winner moves to the top of the AFC East.

St. Louis Rams

Perhaps no team has improved as much defensively as the St. Louis Rams. There is talent all over the field, and the addition of Cortland Finnegan to the defensive backfield has paid huge dividends. 

Unfortunately for the Rams, their opponent in Week 7 has arguably the league's best QB. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are coming off a dominant offensive performance against the previously undefeated Houston Texans, and the Rams will have a tough time defending Green Bay's air attack.

But if any team can stop the Packers, it's St. Louis. The Rams can play man-to-man as well as any team in the league, and they can generate pressure without blitzing too often. Those are the keys to halting a dominant passing game, and we all know the Packers can't run the ball.

The Rams face a challenge. But in their minds, you can be sure that they believe it's Green Bay that should be worried. This team has swagger, and the Rams will be playing at home where they are as good as any team in the league. This should be a great game.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have a very average defense. The biggest problem is consistency.

This defense can look great one week and just terrible the next. After a solid performance in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, can the Lions keep it up this week against the Chicago Bears?

Probably not, since Detroit has to travel to Chicago and face a new-look Bears offense. The Lions have been very hit or miss in the secondary, and it will be tough to stop Brandon Marshall and the balanced Bears.

The Lions must be wary of play-action passes. Chicago is adept at running the ball and a single play-action fake could spring Marshall or Alshon Jeffery for a big play. The Bears have few weaknesses on offense, so Detroit will need a sterling performance from everyone.

If the Lions can stop the run, they may have a chance. The Bears struggle sometimes when Jay Cutler is forced to throw the ball downfield. Still, it's going to be an uphill battle. Detroit's defense simply looks lost at times. 

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have had a weird season. The Baltimore franchise has been defined by great defense since its NFL debut more than a decade ago. Now, the tables have turned.

In 2012, no team has regressed defensively more than Baltimore. The Ravens rank 22nd against the pass and 26th against the run. Remember when it was impossible to run for 100 yards on the Ravens? Now they give up 135 yards per game on the ground.

There are many reasons for this. First, there are injuries. Ray Lewis and LaDarius Webb are out for the year. Haloti Ngata is playing on a sprained MCL. The list goes on and on. Second, the Ravens are aging. And third, there simply is not as much talent as there used to be.

In Week 7, Baltimore travels to Houston to take on the 5-1 Texans. Houston is arguably the most balanced  offensive team in the league, and the Ravens will have plenty of problems defending Arian Foster and Andre Johnson.

The Ravens are still a great team, but the defense is no longer reliable. This below-average unit is on its last legs and will struggle for the rest of the season.