Power Ranking the Best Defensive Lines Remaining in the NFL Divisional Round

Having a great defensive line is crucial to a successful defense. If you can get after the passer effectively and if you can stop the run, you'll have a good chance of winning.

All of the teams in the NFL's divisional round have good defensive lines—otherwise they wouldn't be here. But which stand above the rest?

Great defensive lines are balanced and have a number of players who can assist with the pass and run. 

We'll power rank the defensive lines of the teams remaining from first to worst.

Read on to find out our rankings. 

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have an explosive defensive line led by Von Miller. Miller led the team with 18.5 sacks this season and was unblockable for most of the year.

Right behind him was Elvis Dumervil, who had 11 sacks.

Having two fearsome pass-rushers is a great luxury for the Broncos. As a team, they have 52 sacks. 

They also have a fine run defense, giving up only 91 yards per game on the ground—good for third in the league.

San Francisco 49ers

Aldon Smith was an absolute terror off the edge for the San Francisco 49ers, amassing 19.5 sacks this year. The team as a whole had 38.

The 49ers also have a terrific run defense, giving up only 94 yards a game on the ground. Justin Smith and Isaac Sopoaga make it tough for any running back to gain ground.

While Justin Smith doesn't have the sacks he did a year ago, this defensive line is still terrific and makes it very hard for opposing offenses.

Houston Texans

J.J. Watt is the undisputed leader of this defensive line. The star had 20.5 sacks this season, and he may very well win Defensive Player of the Year.

Watt is almost impossible to block, with a dynamic combination of speed and strength.

The Houston Texans also have a very good run defense, giving up only 97.5 yards per game. 

Green Bay Packers

Clay Matthews is back. After a down year, he recorded 13 sacks and put fear in the hearts of opponents.

The rest of the team isn't bad either. B.J. Raji is tough to move on the line, and there's a stable of tackles and ends that help him out. 

The Green Bay Packers' run defense isn't great—it gives up 118 yards per game. But the team has a fearsome pass rush, and Matthews is as good as any in the league. 

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have one of the best defenses in football, and the defensive line was a big reason why.

Players like Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane hold down the fort in the run game, giving up only 103.1 yards per game. 

Chris Clemons tore his ACL, which is a big loss for this team. He led the team with 11.5 sacks. Bruce Irvin, who had eight sacks on the year, will take his place.

This is a big, physical and fast defensive line, and it will be able to weather the loss of Clemons and turn in some good performances going forward. 

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots' defensive line is led by Vince Wilfork.

Wilfork, one of the best defensive tackles in the game, had another fine season this year, posting 48 tackles. He's a load to move and frees up players like Jerod Mayo to get involved.

Rob Ninkovich led the team with eight sacks, and the Patriots had 37 as a team.

It's not a ferocious pass rush, but Wilfork leads the way and makes the entire team around him better. 

Baltimore Ravens

Not having Terrell Suggs healthy for the full season has hurt. But the Baltimore Ravens can still get after the passer. Paul Kruger had nine sacks, and the team had 37 total.

Haloti Ngata is impossible to move as a defensive tackle, and Suggs is beginning to get his legs under him.

This defensive line may be peaking at the right time. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons do not do a great job of getting after the passer. They had only 29 sacks as a team, and 10 of those were by John Abraham.

Kroy Biermann is an active force, but this is by far the worst line of all teams remaining.

It also gave up 121 yards a game on the ground.