Ranking the NFL's 10 Best Defensive Units Down the Stretch

As you know, we are big when it comes to equality here.

On Monday, we ranked the NFL’s 10 best offensive units heading into the final weeks of the regular season.

Like on offense, it’s time to look at the defenses. We have selected our top 10, but it’s not the top 10 teams in the league in terms of yards and points allowed. We take other factors into consideration as well, such as forcing turnovers and red-zone efficiency.

And like our other list, we will be looking at how current injuries could affect these units the remainder of the season and into the playoffs.

Once again, this topic is highly subjective. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts.

10. Houston Texans

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

They certainly haven’t looked the part the last two weeks, and that’s why the Houston Texans defensive unit finds itself a few rungs lower on our ladder.

While Romeo Crennel’s unit has had its moments and also went through a stretch in which it allowed a total of two touchdowns in 18 quarters, the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots have combined to put 57 points on the board the past two weeks.

While defensive end J.J. Watt is among the NFL sack leaders (13.5) and Jadeveon Clowney looks like he is finally coming on, the Texans need to be a little more consistent against the run to earn a higher ranking.

9. St. Louis Rams

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

At 5-8, the St. Louis Rams will once again finish the season without a winning record. The last time this club finished above .500 was in 2003.

One can only wonder where this team would be with a capable offense. The Rams defensive unit has allowed only 23 touchdowns in 13 games. The pass rush has produced 36 sacks (11 by defensive tackle Aaron Donald) and Jeff Fisher’s team has totaled 20 takeaways.

Back to Donald, who had three sacks in Sunday’s 21-14 win over the Detroit Lions. In his second NFL season, he has emerged as arguably the league’s best play at his position.

"He was certainly disruptive—the tackles for losses and the sacks and the hurries and things,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said on Sunday, via Fox Sports. “You take into consideration, there’s nothing against them, but they’ve had 10 days to prepare for Aaron Donald, and that just shows you the type of player he is.”

It’s a shame that the St. Louis offense hasn’t lived up to its end of the bargain.

8. New York Jets

Peter Morgan/Associated Press

While the New York Jets secondary has been a little up and down as of late, head coach Todd Bowles still has one of the best defenses at the league at his disposal.

No team in the NFL has given up fewer rushing yards per game and only four clubs have surrendered more total yards. The Jets have allowed 25 offensive touchdowns this season, 23 of those through the air.

But that’s a good thing in many ways considering one year ago this team allowed 31 touchdown passes and managed a mere six interceptions.

This season, New York defenders have picked off 13 passes and the team has 24 takeaways. Last season, the Jets forced an NFL-low 13 turnovers. But it’s also worth noting that 22 of the team’s 24 takeaways have come in the club’s eight wins. That means Bowles’ team has forced only two turnovers in five setbacks.

And when it comes to red-zone defense, no one has been better in terms of touchdown efficiency as New York has allowed only 10 touchdowns in 30 situations.

7. New England Patriots

George Bridges/Associated Press

Lost with all of the various injuries on the offensive side of the ball for the New England Patriots has been the play of a defense that has slowly evolved into a very solid unit.

Only five teams in the league have given up more total yards than this club, which also ranks in the NFL’s top 10 in both rushing and passing defense. Over the last two weeks, the Pats have given up 248 and 189 total yards against the Eagles and Texans, respectively, and allowed only two offensive touchdowns in those two contests.

Led by defensive end Chandler Jones (10.5), New England has amassed 42 sacks. And while the team made massive changes at cornerback this offseason, this club has allowed only 17 touchdown passes in 13 contests.

This has not been a unit devoid of injuries itself. The absences of linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins and now the loss of safety Devin McCourty, who injured his ankle on Sunday but is expected back for the playoffs, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, certainly don't help. But as usual, the Patriots find ways to get their jobs done.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

Gary Landers/Associated Press

With quarterback Andy Dalton now sidelined with a broken right thumb, the Cincinnati Bengals defense may have to up its game the next few weeks.

This is already one of the better units in the league and much of that has to do with a healthy Geno Atkins on the defensive line. This season, he’s once again looked like his dominant self after injuries had cut short his 2013 season and he spent 2014 trying to regain his Pro Bowl form.

This season, the Bengals have already totaled 34 sacks, 14 more than a year ago when they managed an NFL-low 20 sacks. More than half of those quarterback traps have come via defensive end Carlos Dunlap (10.5) and Atkins (8.0).

Safety Reggie Nelson leads the NFL with eight interceptions, while linebacker Vincent Rey and cornerbacks Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick (team-high 14 passes defensed) have enjoyed solid seasons as well.

5. Arizona Cardinals

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

It’s a defensive unit that has been overshadowed by its offensive teammates. But don’t forget the Arizona Cardinals, who currently rank fourth in the league in total defense and have allowed the seventh-fewest points in the NFL in 2015.

Led by safety Tyrann Mathieu, linebacker Deone Bucannon and defensive end Calais Campbell, among others, this is a club that stifles the run and simply makes plays all over the field. The Cardinals have picked off 16 passes and totaled 25 takeaways overall. The pass rush doesn’t overwhelm you statistically (24 sacks), but it gets the job done.

Kudos to defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who had the unenviable task of replacing 2014 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Todd Bowles.

4. Seattle Seahawks

Gail Burton/Associated Press

It appears that those early-season issues of blowing fourth-quarter leads for the Seattle Seahawks are a thing of the past…for now.

While quarterback Russell Wilson has been red-hot as of late, Pete Carroll’s defense has also started to get its act together.

After watching Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger riddle the Seattle secondary for 458 yards in Week 12, the Seahawks have allowed a combined 13 points and zero offensive touchdowns the past two weeks.

Only the Denver Broncos have allowed fewer total yards per game this season and only the New York Jets have given up fewer yards on the ground. This is a team that has allowed only 20 offensive touchdown in 13 games. In their eight victories in 2015, Carroll’s squad has given up a mere 81 points and only four offensive touchdowns.

Defensive ends Michael Bennett (8.5) and Cliff Avril (7.5) have combined for half of Seattle’s 32 sacks. And only the Jets have been better when it comes to red-zone defense.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

Take a closer look at the Kansas City Chiefs this season, even before the team embarked on its current seven-game winning streak.

The turning point for this club was watching the defense begin to come into its own after a very shaky start. In its first four games, this team allowed 125 points and 15 offensive touchdown.

In their last nine games, seven of those resulting in wins, the Chiefs have given up a total of 113 points and only 13 offensive touchdowns. And only twice over that span has Andy Reid’s team allowed at least 20 points in a game.

The big turnaround has come via the ability to take away the football as Kansas City has already forced 24 turnovers, 10 more than a year ago.

Led by outside linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, the Chiefs not only have 39 sacks but have seven players with at least three sacks.

2. Denver Broncos

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

For the most part, the Denver Broncos have been the top-ranked defensive unit in the league this season. And being at No. 2 is nothing to be ashamed of here.

No team has surrendered fewer total yards and fewer passing yards in the NFL. Only the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks have been harder to run on in terms of yards allowed.

Wade Phillips’ potent unit has given up only 21 offensive touchdowns, while his group has taken back five of the team’s 23 takeaways for touchdowns. Led by outside linebacker Von Miller (10), Denver tops the league with 44 sacks. And DeMarcus Ware is getting healthier every week.

The team is loaded in the secondary and the Broncos have yet to give up 30 points in any game this season. This is a formidable unit to say the least, but…

1. Carolina Panthers

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

While the Carolina Panthers remain unbeaten and seem to be getting better on the offensive side of the ball, the defense (with very few exceptions) has been formidable all season.

When you combine this team’s ability to stifle opponents combined with its big-play ability and potent pass rush, kudos to the league’s only 13-0 team.

The Panthers are a top-five club in terms of fewest yards allowed (third), ranking fourth against the run and fifth against the pass. Ron Rivera’s squad leads the NFL with 33 takeaways and Carolina has racked up 40 sacks.

Defensive tackle Kawann Short, linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly and play-making cornerback Josh Norman all appear Pro Bowl-bound.

It’s hard not to like what they’ve done all season.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com.