2011 NFL Report Cards: Grading Every Team's Defense Thus Far

With three weeks in the books, NFL fans are already seeing high expectations crash along with their team's defense. The expression says that defense wins championships, but it can also lose them.

In the early part of 2011, some defenses have risen to an elite level from the depths of mediocrity. Other defenses that have been elite for years have suddenly been hit with age.

It's difficult to accurately gauge defenses with such a limited sample size, but three weeks is enough time to serve as a decent indicator of what is to come.

Here's a look at every team's early grade card.

32. St. Louis Rams

The Rams defense has been shockingly awful. Entering the season, everyone knew that St. Louis would struggle defensively, but hardly anyone expected the team to play this badly.

Losing cornerback Ron Bartell for the season was a big blow, and the rest of the Rams secondary has not stepped up to the challenge. Justin King was absolutely abused by Torrey Smith, and the other defensive backs have been nothing to write home about.

St. Louis' run defense has been dreadful, and the team is giving up an abysmal 5.4 yards per carry. James Laurinaitis and the rest of the team's front seven has disappointed, and no one seems to be making an impact.

Really, the only bright spot on the Rams defense has been Chris Long's emergence as a pass-rusher. Long has always been good against the run and did have eight and a half sacks last year, but with three sacks in three games this year, he has been dominating.

Despite Long's play, the St. Louis defense has been worse than ever. The team has been absolutely dominated by opposing offenses, and there isn't much reason to expect improvement.

Grade:  F

31. Carolina Panthers

Despite dishing out huge contracts to several returning defensive players, the Panthers have offered little resistance as opposing teams marched towards the end zone. Star linebacker Jon Beason is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, and thus far no one has stepped up to lead the defense.

Defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy have accounted for all of the Panthers' pass rush and the team has allowed quarterbacks to throw for a league-leading 110.8 passer rating. Carolina has also allowed 4.4 yards per carry and is struggling to contain opposing run games.

The lack of talent along the interior defensive line was evident in 2010, and after an offseason of no upgrades, the unit is struggling more than ever.

Without the aforementioned Beason and Thomas Davis, the team's linebacker unit is below average, and the secondary isn't any better. The defensive ends are playing well, but with so little other talent, the team's defense is just terrible.

Grade:  F

30. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle defense has few good players and zero dominant ones. While the team's run defense looks good on the surface, the Seahawks have not gone up against any high level run games. The 49ers are the best run game Seattle has faced, but even they are averaging just 4.1 yards per carry.

Brandon Mebane is the team's only good defensive lineman, and the linebackers and defensive backs aren't any better. Former No. 4 overall pick Aaron Curry was benched and is available for trade, and while Earl Thomas has shown promise, he is not there yet.

Seattle has had good success against the run game, but the team's pass defense has been awful. And the Seahawks haven't even faced a good passing attack yet.

Grade:  D-

29. Atlanta Falcons

Though Atlanta acquired Ray Edwards in free agency, John Abraham has been the team's only pass-rusher thus far. Abraham remains a good player, but at the age of 33 he simply cannot be relied upon in the long term.

Last year's first-round pick Sean Weatherspoon is finally healthy and leading the team in tackles, yet the team's defense has struggled immensely. In fact, the Atlanta defense doesn't look too bad on paper, but the results simply aren't there.

The Falcons had to know that their defense would struggle this year, yet the team chose to devote most of its resources to the offense, which has also struggled. In the explosive NFC South, Atlanta's defense needs to pick up its game, or the team will soon be in a hole too deep to climb out of.

Grade:  D

28. Arizona Cardinals

Entering the 2011 season, fans and the media alike were criticizing the Cardinals' lack of a pass rush. This, however, has not been an issue as the team currently has the seventh-most sacks in the NFL.

What has been an issue is the ridiculous amount of yardage Arizona has surrendered to average offenses. The team has allowed the 27th-most yards while facing Seattle, Washington and Carolina. That's unimpressive to say the least.

The Cardinals have a good defensive line, but the secondary has struggled with young, inexperienced cornerbacks. Patrick Peterson is still likely to be a star, but as a rookie, he is not a good starter.

Arizona has been one of the NFL's worst defenses statistically, and the team hasn't even played a good offense.

Grade:  D

27. Kansas City Chiefs

On the surface, the Chiefs defense appears to be the NFL's worst, as no team has surrendered more points. However, Kansas City has played three good offenses in Buffalo, Detroit and San Diego.

The Chiefs have actually been good against the run, though they have passing offenses. On the other hand, Kansas City has struggled immensely against the pass and is 30th in sacks.

Star safety Eric Berry was lost for the season in the first game of the year, and Brandon Flowers can't cover everyone. While the Chiefs were abused by Buffalo and Detroit, they played well against San Diego. It's extremely difficult to judge the Kansas City defense due to the stiff competition they have faced, but the early signs are not good.

Grade:  D

26. Indianapolis Colts

Despite this low ranking, the Colts defense has actually played better than expected. The team's defense definitely lacks talent, but defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have contributed all of the team's five sacks and are one of the NFL's best pass-rushing duos.

Allowing 3.3 yards per carry, Indianapolis has been excellent against the run, and they have battled some quality run games. The Colts obviously need to start devoting some high draft picks to their linebackers and secondary, but in the meantime, they will continue to struggle.

Outside of Mathis and Freeney, the team has struggled to produce much of a pass rush and lacks the secondary to compensate for this. With an undersized defense, the Colts absolutely need the pass defense to improve, or they will be doomed.

Grade:  D+

25. New England Patriots

While the Patriots have allowed offenses to produce tons of points, they have not been as bad as the numbers suggest. New England's high-octane offense actually contributes to opposing offenses' score totals by scoring so quickly and putting the defense back on the field. With so many opportunities to score, even the worst of offenses can produce some points.

This is not to say that New England's defense has been good. The team's defense has allowed a passer rating of 94.6 and 4.3 yards per carry. The team has made some turnovers but, on the whole, they have struggled immensely. Not surprisingly, the Patriots rank in the bottom half of the NFL in sacks and have struggled to pressure the quarterback.

New England still has the game's best nose tackle in Vince Wilfork and some other quality players, but there isn't enough high level talent to contain explosive offenses. The defense hasn't been as bad as the numbers suggest, but they have definitely struggled.

Grade:  D+

24. Philadelphia Eagles

Trent Cole and Cullen Jenkins are performing as usual, but the rest of the defense has been extremely disappointing. Free-agent acquisition Nnamdi Asomugha has failed to play at his usual level, and has actually been beat several times.

It was widely known that the Eagles did not have a good linebacking corps, and the team's run defense has only confirmed this belief. Allowing 4.9 yards per carry, Philadelphia has tried to shake up the linebackers, but there is virtually no talent in the unit. Fifth-round pick Casey Matthews should not be starting and has struggled immensely.

It is not a surprise that the Eagles have struggled early with the many defensive players the team acquired in the offseason. In time, the team's many pieces should begin to gel and improve. In the meantime, the Philadelphia defense will continue to struggle.

Grade:  C-

23. New Orleans Saints

In the first two weeks of the 2011 season, the Saints have already faced two explosive offenses in the Texans and Packers. It's not a surprise that New Orleans has allowed a considerable amount of points, but the lack of resistance is troubling.

As is typical of a Gregg Williams defense, the Saints have blitzed a ton and have the NFL's fourth-most sacks to show for it. Despite this, the team has struggled immensely against both the pass and the run. New Orleans will likely always be a hot-and-cold defense, and thus far the team has been extremely cold.

There is, however, reason to hope for improvement. The Saints could hardly have gone up against better offenses, and they could have fared much worse. Look for the New Orleans defense to turn around and start making more plays as they typically have.

Grade:  C-

22. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins defense definitely hasn't been the elite unit that people hoped it would be, but it hasn't been awful either. Miami seems to be loaded with talent on the defensive side of the ball, yet the team is not performing at a high level.

With Cameron Wake, Jason Taylor and Karlos Dansby at linebacker, the team has a good pass rush, but they are 29th in sacks. A good, deep defensive line and decent secondary makes the team's struggles even more confusing.

The Dolphins haven't just struggled against the pass, however. The team is also allowing 4.5 yards per carry and can't seem to stop anyone. It stands to reason that the team's talent will eventually break out and produce at a higher level, but it may want to do so soon.

Grade:  C-

21. Cleveland Browns

Transitioning to a 4-3 defense under defensive coordinator Dick Jauron, the Browns have played surprisingly decent on defense. Cleveland actually has some excellent talent on defense, but the team must fill in some weak spots and add depth.

With Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor at defensive tackle, the Browns have a massive, run-stopping interior defensive line. Rubin has also been the team's best pass-rusher, yet he remains one of the NFL's most underrated players.

Rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard has bullied two sub-par defensive tackles, but remains weak against the run. Joe Haden continues to play like a shut-down cornerback, and safety T.J. Ward has dramatically improved in coverage. With this said, the Browns' linebacker unit is not at all explosive, and depth is a huge need.

Grade:  C

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

It seems like blasphemy to even consider placing the Pittsburgh defense so low, yet the team's play completely justifies the ranking. After dominating for a decade, the Steelers defense appears to finally be aging.

Pittsburgh has the 16th-most sacks in the NFL, but the pass rush has not been consistent enough to cover for an average secondary. This combined with an aging defensive line has transformed the dominant Dick LeBeau defense into an average unit.

However, the Steelers may simply be off to a slow start. History suggests that the team will break out of this current slump, but it looks like time may be catching up with Pittsburgh.

Grade:  C

19. San Diego Chargers

Defensive end Corey Liuget looks like he may develop into a stud, but there are currently no stars on the San Diego defense. Sure, Eric Weddle is a good player, but he isn't actually elite.

Since Shawne Merriman fell apart, the Chargers have struggled some on defense, and draft bust Larry English hasn't helped. San Diego isn't bad at any one area on defense, but there is no unit that stands out either.

As the ranking suggests, the Chargers are simply average on defense. The unit isn't bad, but it won't win many games either.

Grade:  C

18. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders actually haven't been too bad against the pass and have the fourth-most sacks in the NFL. Stanford Routt has played beyond anyone's expectations and the team isn't missing Nnamdi Asomugha as much as was expected.

The Raiders are, however, awful against the run. The team has allowed a seemingly impossible 5.8 yards per carry. Rolando McClain hasn't made an impact worthy of the No. 8 overall pick, and Richard Seymour has been the team's best player in the front seven.

Not surprisingly, the Oakland defense is extremely athletic and is capable of creating something from nothing. If the Raiders can simply improve to just bad against the run, the team's defense could be good.

Grade:  C

17. Green Bay Packers

The Packers have one of the NFL's most talented defenses, but for whatever reason the unit has struggled. Clay Matthews is a premier pass-rusher and B.J. Raji remains a dominant nose tackle. The loss of Cullen Jenkins has definitely hurt the team, but that isn't enough to explain Green Bay's defensive struggles.

This may sound like the Packers have a terrible defense, but that is not the case. Green Bay's defense has actually been average this year, but the team is not playing near its talent level. The loss of safety Nick Collins for the season certainly does not help matters.

Charles Woodson is once again playing at an elite level and has actually recorded two interceptions. Dom Capers is still getting to the quarterback and the team has the fourth-most sacks in the NFL. It may not happen immediately, but eventually the Packers will bust out of this slump and play at the level they are capable of.

Grade:  C

16. Buffalo Bills

Shawne Merriman has not lived up to his lofty preseason expectations, but the Bills are still doing surprisingly well defensively. The team's linebackers are nothing special, but the Bills' defensive line is much better than it is given credit for.

Though he is not an ideal nose tackle, Kyle Williams is an excellent player and deserves much more recognition than he receives. No. 3 overall pick Marcell Dareus is looking like a star, and the team has depth along the line as well.

Buffalo has the least sacks in the NFL, but the team has done a decent job of containing two explosive offenses and is 3-0. The Bills may not be flashy on defense, but the results are good.

Grade:  C+

15. Denver Broncos

The most shocking thing about Denver's defense is how well it has defended against the run. The Broncos are incredibly weak at defensive tackle, and the team's linebackers are either inexperienced or not overly talented.

Star pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil has been hurt, and as a result the team is ranked 23rd in sacks. Denver has, however, seen plenty of pass-rushing ability from its No. 2 overall pick, Von Miller.  Miller has demonstrated the explosiveness that made him the second pick of the draft, and is producing.

The Broncos defense really isn't overly talented, but the results speak for themselves. This is not to say that the team has faced good offenses, but Denver has played well above expectations.

Grade:  C+

14. Detroit Lions

The Lions defense is immensely talented, especially along the defensive line. The team does, however, need to improve in the secondary. Detroit hoped that Eric Wright would dramatically improve the team's pass defense, but Wright is just one player.

At linebacker, the Lions have some solid but unspectacular players. This is not at all the case along the defensive line. Ndamukong Suh, Cliff Avril, Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch give Detroit an excellent defensive line with tons of playmaking ability.

The Lions' lack of size along the defensive line has hurt them some in the run game though. The small long combined with the unexciting linebackers has caused Detroit to surrender five yards per carry. Detroit has a young and growing defense that has the ability to completely dominate a game.

Grade:  B-

13. San Francisco 49ers

While the 49ers haven't played against any great offenses, the team has produced incredible results. San Francisco is only 16th in sacks but has the third-most turnovers in the NFL.

Patrick Willis is an absolute beast at linebacker and is a huge part of the reason for the 49ers allowing only 2.9 yards per carry. Ahmad Brooks is also a good run-defending linebacker and the team has a decent defensive line. The team has not, however, completely shut down any one team and they haven't gone up against any particularly good offenses.

At the moment, San Francisco seems to be over-performing its talent level. But the team has made big plays and stopped the run at such a high level that it may not be a fluke. Regardless, the 49ers are currently playing at a high level on defense.

Grade:  B-

12. New York Giants

As has always been the case, the Giants defense is excelling because of its defensive ends. At the moment, however, it is one particular defensive end: Jason Pierre-Paul.

Pierre-Paul was viewed as a high upside player in the 2010 NFL draft, and he is already producing at an extremely high level. With 4.5 sacks, Pierre-Paul has helped New York accumulate the 11th-most sacks in the NFL.

The fact that the Giants are ranked this high is somewhat of a miracle considering the barrage of injuries the team has experienced. New York remains incredibly talented on defense, and if the pass rush keeps playing at such a high level, the team will dominate.

Grade:  B

11. Cincinnati Bengals

This is perhaps the most surprising ranking. The Bengals have produced the seventh-most sacks in the NFL and have done so through a variety of players.

Cincinnati has allowed just 2.9 yards per carry while also playing above-average against the pass. The Bengals defense is not at all without talent, but it is a surprise to see how well the team is playing against the pass after losing Jonathan Joseph to the Texans in free agency.

The Bengals have not yet faced any especially good offenses, so it will be interesting to see if the team's production continues. One thing in Cincinnati's favor is the versatility and depth of their defense. Mike Zimmer has many players he can sub and use in a variety of ways to keep offenses off-guard.

Grade:  B

10. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have actually played against some good offenses and fared well. Jeff Backus will probably have nightmares about Jared Allen for months following Allen's three-sack performance against the Lions.

Minnesota doesn't seem to be missing Ray Edwards very much and has produced an excellent pass rush while dominating against the run. The Vikings have three stars in Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Chad Greenway, but the team's secondary isn't great at all.

For years, the Vikings have excelled along the defensive line and this remains true even after the departures of Pat Williams and Ray Edwards. With legitimate stars in Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Chad Greenway, Minnesota seems likely to build upon its success.

Grade:  B+

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are yet another team that hasn't played any great offenses but has looked good. Despite having the 30th-most sacks in the NFL, Jacksonville has been the league's seventh-best passing defense.

Tyson Alualu and Terrance Knighton give the Jaguars a beastly defensive tackle combination, and though the team's defensive ends aren't overly good, the defensive line has excelled. The Jaguars don't have particularly talented linebackers, but this defensive line is good enough to limit offenses to just 3.7 yards per carry.

The Jacksonville secondary largely consists of unknowns, so this success against the pass is extremely surprising. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is a defensive backs guru, however, so this success just might continue.

Grade:  B+

8. New York Jets

The only surprising thing about the Jets ranking is how low they are. It is widely accepted that Rex Ryan fields the NFL's most talented defense, so it's a bit of an upset for the team to barely make the top 10.

Darrelle Revis is the NFL's best cornerback, and though Antonio Cromartie does get beat on occasion, he is a good player. With David Harris, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace also on the team's defense, there is a ton of talent in New York.

The Jets' pass rush has struggled as was expected, but the team has still done an excellent job against the pass.  The team has also only allowed 3.4 yards per carry and is shutting down the run game.

Grade:  A-

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have done a surprisingly good job of limiting three excellent offenses in the early part of the 2011 season. Tampa Bay is loaded with high draft picks along the defensive line, and this commitment may already be paying off.

Gerald McCoy hasn't played at Ndamukong Suh's level, but he isn't a player to be ashamed of either. Aqib continues to play at a high level and is one of the NFL's better cornerbacks when he can stay out of trouble off the field.

The Buccaneers' young defensive ends aren't producing a great pass rush yet, but Da'Quan Bowers and Adrian Clayborn look to be starting in Tampa Bay for a long time. The Buccaneers aren't doing anything flashy, but they are keeping offenses from gaining too many yards and scoring too many points.

Grade:  A-

6. Washington Redskins

Rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is playing like a man possessed and is excelling in every aspect of the game. The Redskins have limited some decent offenses and are another team that seems to be playing beyond its talent.

Brian Orakpo and Kerrigan make a potentially deadly outside-linebacker combination and are already wreaking havoc. Washington's run defense has struggled some and is allowing 4.8 yards per carry. However, the team has not given up many yards or points.

The Redskins' 3-4 defense is still developing, but the addition of Kerrigan in the draft and several free-agent acquisitions are making the transition easier. Washington still has a ways to go before being an elite defense, but the current play is a good sign of what is to come.

Grade:  A-

5. Dallas Cowboys

In Dallas, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan finally has a talented defense to play with. Ryan is a blitzing genius and could get even more production out of DeMarcus Ware. The team is already leading the NFL in sacks, and look for that trend to continue.

The fact that the Cowboys are only allowing three yards per carry may be even more impressive than the team's sack totals. Ryan doesn't have an overly talented secondary, but he is finding a way to get to the quarterback while also shutting down the run game.

Dallas has a talented defense, and with a talented defensive coordinator like Ryan in charge, the unit is performing beyond its impressive talent. Unless some major injuries occur, expect the Cowboys to keep their stellar play going.

Grade:  A-

4. Chicago Bears

The Bears don't seem to be lighting it up in any one statistical category, but considering the teams they've played, they have done very well. The Chicago defense was able to limit the Saints and Packers to 30 and 27 points respectively.

Julius Peppers is dominating as usual, and he is far from the only talented player on the Chicago defense. Brian Urlacher can still play at a high level and Lance Briggs is one of the best weak-side linebackers in the game.

The Bears don't do anything complicated on defense, but the talented unit is still able to dominate. The sheer talent on the Chicago defense is enough to frighten the best of offenses.

Grade:  A-

3. Houston Texans

It isn't often that a team with a brand new defensive scheme is able to dominate on defense, but that is exactly what the Texans are doing. Along with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips came the 3-4 defense, and the team is already significantly better than a year ago.

With the exception of the Saints, the Houston defense has been able to hold offenses to astonishingly low scores and is giving the team's offense a chance to win games. Mario Williams seems to be adapting to his new position and has two sacks in the first three games.

No. 11 overall pick J.J. Watt is looking like a star, as is much of the Texans defense. New cornerback Jonathan Joseph is a great player and has been incredibly important to Houston's pass defense. With Wade Phillips and a ton of talent, the Texans should be in great shape defensively.

Grade:  A

2. Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis may have lost a step, but the Ravens defense is still as good as ever. Haloti Ngata is the NFL's best defensive lineman and Terrence Cody is developing at nose tackle. Baltimore leads the NFL in turnovers and already has 10 on the season.

Terrell Suggs has been looking like the player of old and is one of the NFL's best 3-4 outside linebackers. Ed Reed is still a deadly player in the secondary, and just the presence of him scares opposing quarterbacks.

With the seventh-most sacks in the NFL, the Ravens are are getting after the quarterback. The team is also only allowing 3.5 yards per carry and is simply dominating every phase of the game. Yes, the Baltimore Ravens are still an elite defense.

Grade:  A+

1. Tennessee Titans

The Titans may not have a great pass rush or exciting team, but they simply aren't allowing yards or points. Tennessee has the NFL's second best pass defense with just the 20th-most sacks, so they obviously don't need to blitz more.

The most impressive aspect of the Titans defense is their run defense. Tennessee is allowing just 2.4 yards per carry and is giving up nothing in the run game.

The Titans may not have any exciting, well-known defensive players, but the unit is flat-out good. They don't really have any weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball, and have the depth to keep starters well rested. Tennessee may not continue to dominate this much, but right now, no one is better.

Grade:  A+