The 50 Most Intimidating Defenses in NFL History

In today's NFL, offense is king. Recent rule changes have limited the freedoms of defensive players.

These alterations may prevent us from seeing as many dominant groups that could stifle offenses and dictate the outcome of a ball game.

The criteria for determining the 50 most intimidating defenses in NFL history go beyond statistics. All entries on this list are defensive units that will be long remembered in the annals of the league's history and featured players that opposing teams feared going up against.

50. 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers

Intimidators: LB James Farior, SS Troy Polamalu, LB Joey Porter, DE Aaron Smith

Scary Good Stats: 15.7 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 14 passing TDs (1st), 1,299 rushing yards (1st)

Other Notes: Held eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles to 113 total yards on Nov. 7, 15-1 regular season record

49. 1989 Denver Broncos

Intimidators: LB Karl Mecklenberg, FS Steve Atwater, CB Tyrone Braxton, DT Greg Kragen

Scary Good Stats: 14.1 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 4,407 total yards (3rd), 13 passing TDs (1st), 43 turnovers (2nd)

Other Notes: Held three opponents to less than 200 total yards, reached Super Bowl XXIV

48. 1982 New York Jets

Intimidators: DE Mark Gastineau, CB Bobby Jackson, DT Marty Lyons

Scary Good Stats: 17 INTs (4th in NFL), 5 rushing TDs (2nd), 26 turnovers (5th)

Nickname: "Sack Exchange"

Other Notes: Forced nine turnovers in two playoff victories, advanced to AFC Championship Game

47. 1991 Washington Redskins

Intimidators: LB Andre Collins, LB Wilber Marshall, DE Charles Mann, CB Darrell Green

Scary Good Stats: 14.0 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 27 INTs (2nd), 1,346 rushing yards (3rd), 41 turnovers (3rd)

Other Notes: 14-2 regular season record, forced 14 turnovers in the playoffs, won Super Bowl XXVI

46. 1980 Philadelphia Eagles

Intimidators: LB Bill Bergey, LB Jerry Robinson, FS Brenard Wilson, DT Charlie Johnson

Scary Good Stats: 13.9 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 4,443 total yards (3rd), 1,618 rushing yards (2nd), 8 rushing TDs (1st)

Other Notes: Forced eight turnovers in playoff win over Minnesota Vikings, reached Super Bowl XV

45. 1966 St. Louis Cardinals

Intimidators: S Larry Wilson, S Jerry Stovall, DT Chuck Walker

Scary Good Stats: 3,492 total yards (1st in NFL), 209 first downs (2nd), 1,192 rushing yards (2nd), 3.2 yards/rush (1st)

Other Notes: Larry Wilson is the inventor of the safety blitz, had four Pro Bowlers

44. 1991 New Orleans Saints

Intimidators: LB Pat Swilling, LB Sam Mills, LB Vaughan Johnson, LB Rickey Jackson

Scary Good Stats: 13.2 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 3,933 total yards (2nd), 12 passing TDs (1st), 48 turnovers (1st)

Other Notes: Led Saints to first division title, three of four linebackers made the Pro Bowl

43. 1942 Chicago Bears

Intimidators: LB Bulldog Turner, LB Danny Fortmann, LB George Wilson

Scary Good Stats: 7.6 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 33 INTs (1st), 3 rushing TDs (1st), 1.8 yards/rush (1st)

Other Notes: Finished regular season 11-0, posted four shutouts, won NFL Championship

42. 1968 Kansas City Chiefs

Intimidators: LB Willie Lanier, LB Bobby Bell, DT Buck Buchanan, S Johnny Robinson

Scary Good Stats: 12.1 pts/gm (1st in AFL), 14 passing TDs (3rd), 37 INTs (1st), 1,266 rushing yards (2nd), 4 rushing TDs (1st)

Other Notes: 12-2 regular season record, allowed a total of 25 points in a five-game stretch

41. 1977 Dallas Cowboys

Intimidators: DE Harvey Martin, DT Randy White, LB Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, FS Cliff Harris

Scary Good Stats: 15.1 pts/gm (8th in NFL), 3,213 total yards (1st), 1,562 passing yards (2nd), 9 rushing TDs (7th)

Nickname: "Doomsday"

Other Notes: Allowed just 23 points during playoff run, won Super Bowl XII

40. 1966 Green Bay Packers

Intimidators: LB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderley, S Willie Wood, DE Willie Davis

Scary Good Stats: 11.6 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 1,959 passing yards (1st), 7 passing TDs (1st), 28 INTs (2nd)

Other Notes: Held Chicago Bears to just 94 total yards on Oct. 16, 12-2 regular season record, won Super Bowl I

39. 2009 New York Jets

Intimidators: CB Darrelle Revis, DE Shaun Ellis, LB David Harris, LB Bart Scott, LB Calvin Pace

Scary Good Stats: 14.8 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 2,459 passing yards (1st), 8 passing TDs (1st), 14 fumbles lost (4th)

Other Notes: Held opponents to 10 or fewer points in seven games, advanced to AFC Championship Game

38. 1973 Minnesota Vikings

Intimidators: DT Alan Page, FS Paul Krause, DE Jim Marshall, DE Carl Eller, CB Bobby Bryant

Scary Good Stats: 12.0 pts/gm (2nd), 8 passing TDs (2nd), 5 rushing TDs (1st)

Nickname: "The Purple People Eaters"

Other Notes: 12-2 regular season record, reached Super Bowl VIII

37. 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

Intimidators: DE "Mean" Joe Greene, LB Jack Lambert, LB Jack Ham, CB Mel Blount

Scary Good Stats: 12.2 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 10 passing TDs (2nd), 11 rushing TDs (2nd), 3.5 yards/rush (2nd)

Nickname: "Steel Curtain"

Other notes: Six Pro Bowlers, held opponents to 10 points or fewer 10 times (including playoffs), won Super Bowl XIII

36. 1988 Chicago Bears

Intimidators: LB Mike Singletary, DE Richard Dent, DT Steve McMichael, DT Dan Hampton

Scary Good Stats: 13.4 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 26 INTs (3rd), 5 rushing TDs (1st), 3.4 yards/rush (2nd)

Other Notes: Held opponents to 10 or fewer points in eight games

35. 1973 Oakland Raiders

Intimidators: FS Jack Tatum, SS George Atkinson, LB Phil Villapiano, CB Willie Brown

Scary Good Stats: 12.5 pts/gm (3rd in NFL), 3,160 total yards (3rd), 1,470 rushing yards (2nd), 5 rushing TDs (1st)

Other Notes: Allowed just 23 points in a four-game stretch, forced at least one turnover in all but one game

34. 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Intimidators: DE Lee Roy Selmon, LB Cecil Johnson, CB Jeris White

Scary Good Stats: 14.8 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 2,076 passing yards (1st), 3.5 yards/rush (4th), 24 lost fumbles (1st)

Other Notes: Shutout Kansas City Chiefs in final regular season game to clinch first division title

33. 1958 New York Giants

Intimidators: LB Sam Huff, DE Andy Robustelli, S Jimmy Patton

Scary Good Stats: 15.2 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 11 passing TDs (2nd), 3.6 yards/rush (2nd)

Other Notes: Led by defensive coordinator Tom Landry, held Cleveland Browns to just 86 total yards in playoff victory

32. 2006 Baltimore Ravens

Intimidators: LB Ray Lewis, LB Bart Scott, FS Ed Reed, LB Adalius Thomas

Scary Good Stats: 12.6 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 28 INTs (1st), 5 rushing TDs (1st), 3.3 yards/rush (2nd)

Other Notes: Had six Pro Bowlers, finished regular season 13-3

31. 1981 Philadelphia Eagles

Intimidators: DT Charlie Johnson, LB Frank LeMaster, LB Jerry Robinson

Scary Good Stats: 13.8 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 2,696 passing yards (1st), 12 passing TDs (2nd)

Other Notes: Had four Pro Bowlers, held Washington Redskins to 176 total yards on Dec. 6

30. 1977 Los Angeles Rams

Intimidators: DE Jack Youngblood, LB Isiah Robertson, FS Bill Simpson

Scary Good Stats: 10.4 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 3,575 total yards (4th), 7 rushing TDs (3rd)

Other Notes: Held opponents to 10 or fewer points in eight games, had four Pro Bowlers

29. 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers

Intimidators: DE "Mean" Joe Greene, LB Jack Lambert, LB Jack Ham, CB Mel Blount

Scary Good Stats: 11.6 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 9 passing TDs (1st), 8 rushing TDs (3rd)

Nickname: "Steel Curtain"

Other notes: Five Pro Bowlers, 12-2 regular season record, won Super Bowl X

28. 1968 Baltimore Colts

Intimidators: LB Mike Curtis, CB Bobby Boyd, DT Fred Miller

Scary Good Stats: 10.3 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 9 passing TDs (1st), 6 rushing TDs (2nd), 41 turnovers (4th)

Other Notes: Had three shutouts in a six-game span, 13-1 regular season record, reached Super Bowl III

27. 1970 Minnesota Vikings

Intimidators: DT Alan Page, FS Paul Krause, DE Jim Marshall, DE Carl Eller, DT Gary Larsen

Scary Good Stats: 10.2 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 2,803 total yards (1st), 6 passing TDs (1st), 4 rushing TDs (1st)

Nickname: "The Purple People Eaters"

Other Notes: 12-2 regular season record, forced six turnovers on Oct. 11 over Chicago Bears

26. 1962 Detroit Lions

Intimidators: CB Dick "Night Train" Lane, DT Roger Brown, S Yale Lary, DT Alex Karras

Scary Good Stats: 12.6 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 11 passing TDs (2nd), 1,231 rushing yards (1st), 3.5 yards/rush (1st)

Other Notes: Four members of the 1st-Team All-Pro, held opponents to 10 or fewer points in seven games

25. 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers

Intimidators: LB James Farior, SS Troy Polamalu, LB James Harrison, DE Aaron Smith, CB Ike Taylor

Scary Good Stats: 13.9 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 2,511 passing yards (1st), 7 rushing TDs (2nd), 3.3 yards/rush (2nd)

Other Notes: James Harrison won NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won Super Bowl XLIII

24. 1959 New York Giants

Intimidators: LB Sam Huff, DE Andy Robustelli, S Jimmy Patton

Scary Good Stats: 14.2 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 2,843 total yards (1st), 11 passing TDs (1st), 1,261 rushing yards (1st), 6 rushing TDs (1st)

Other Notes: Led by defensive coordinator Tom Landry, held opponents to 10 or fewer points in six of the 12 regular season games

23. 1971 Baltimore Colts

Intimidators: LB Ted Hendricks, LB Mike Curtis, CB Charlie Stukes, FS Rick Volk

Scary Good Stats: 10.0 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 2,852 total yards (2nd), 9 passing TDs (1st), 28 INTs (1st), 1,113 rushing yards (1st)

Other Notes: Held Buffalo Bills to 49 total yards on Oct. 10, had five Pro Bowlers

22. 1988 Houston Oilers

Intimidators: DE Ray Childress, LB John Grimsley, CB Steve Brown

Scary Good Stats: 22 INTs (6th in NFL), 1,592 rushing yards (4th), 42 turnovers (3rd), 20 fumbles lost (3rd)

Other Notes: Known for aggressive play and late hitting, advanced to Divisional round

21. 1986 Chicago Bears

Intimidators: LB Mike Singletary, LB Otis Wilson, DE Richard Dent, DE Dan Hampton

Scary Good Stats: 11.7 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 12 passing TDs (1st), 4 rushing TDs (1st), 3.4 yards/rush (2nd)

Other Notes: Held teams to 10 or fewer points in 10 games, finished regular season 14-2

20. 2000 Tennessee Titans

Intimidators: DE Jevon Kearse, SS Blaine Bishop, CB Samari Rolle, DE Kenny Holmes

Scary Good Stats: 11.9 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 2,423 passing yards (1st), 10 passing TDs (1st), 7 rushing TDs (2nd)

Other Notes: 13-3 regular season record, allowed a total of three points over final three regular season games

19. 1977 Denver Broncos

Intimidators: LB Randy Gradishar, LB Tom Jackson, DE Lyle Alzado, SS Bill Thompson

Scary Good Stats: 10.6 pts/gm (3rd in NFL), 25 INTs (6th), 1,531 rushing yards (1st), 5 rushing TDs (1st), 3.3 yards/rush (1st)

Nickname: "Orange Crush"

Other Notes: Had five Pro Bowlers, four members of 1st-Team All-Pro, reached Super Bowl XII

18. 1986 New York Giants

Intimidators: LB Lawrence Taylor, LB Harry Carson, LB Carl Banks, DT Jim Burt

Scary Good Stats: 14.8 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 15 passing TDs (4th), 1,284 rushing yards (1st), 19 fumbles lost (2nd)

Other Notes: 14-2 regular season record, held San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins under 200 total yards each in the playoffs, won Super Bowl XXI

17. 1978 Dallas Cowboys

Intimidators: DE Harvey Martin, DT Randy White, LB Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, FS Cliff Harris

Scary Good Stats: 13.0 pts/gm (3rd in NFL), 4,009 total yards (2nd), 1,721 rushing yards (1st)

Nickname: "Doomsday"

Other Notes: Had five Pro Bowlers, reached Super Bowl XIII

16. 1991 Philadelphia Eagles

Intimidators: DE Reggie White, DE Clyde Simmons, DT Jerome Brown, LB Seth Joyner

Scary Good Stats: 15.2 pts/gm (5th in NFL), 3,549 total yards (1st), 4 rushing TDs (1st), 3.0 yards/rush (1st), 48 turnovers (1st)

Other Notes: Five Pro Bowlers, coached by Bud Carson (defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s)

15. 1969 Kansas City Chiefs

Intimidators: LB Willie Lanier, LB Bobby Bell, DT Buck Buchanan, S Johnny Robinson

Scary Good Stats: 12.6 pts/gm (1st in AFL), 32 INTs (1st), 1,091 rushing yards (1st), 3.5 yards/rush (1st), 47 turnovers (1st)

Other Notes: Gave up an average of two touchdowns a game during regular season, allowed just 20 points during playoff run, won Super Bowl IV

14. 1963 Chicago Bears

Intimidators: DE Doug Atkins, S Richie Petitbon, S Rosey Taylor, LB Joe Fortunato

Scary Good Stats: 10.3 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 1,734 passing yards (1st), 36 INTs (1st), 1,679 rushing yards (1st), 54 turnovers (1st)

Other Notes: Had five members of the 1st-Team All-Pro list, won NFL Championship

13. 1973 Miami Dolphins

Intimidators: DT Manny Fernandez, DE Bill Stanfill, LB Nick Buoniconti, SS Jake Scott, FS Dick Anderson

Scary Good Stats: 10. 7 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 1,290 passing yards (1st), 5 passing TDs (1st)

Nickname: "No Name Defense"

Other Notes: Set record by allowing 150 points in a 14-game season, gave up a total of 33 points in the playoffs, won Super Bowl VIII

12. 1969 Minnesota Vikings

Intimidators: DT Alan Page, FS Paul Krause, DE Jim Marshall, DE Carl Eller

Scary Good Stats: 9.5 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 2,720 total yards (1st), 30 INTs (1st), 8 passing TDs (1st), 42 turnovers (2nd)

Nickname: "The Purple People Eaters"

Other Notes: Held opponents to 10 or fewer points in 10 games (including playoffs), reached Super Bowl IV

11. 1975 Los Angeles Rams

Intimidators: DE Jack Youngblood, DT Merlin Olsen, LB Isiah Robertson, LB Jack Reynolds

Scary Good Stats: 9.6 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 11 passing TDs (3rd), 1,533 rushing yards (2nd), 4 rushing TDs (1st)

Other Notes: Second-lowest points per game average in the Super Bowl era, held opponents to a total of 32 points during final six regular season contests

10. 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers

Intimidators: DE "Mean" Joe Greene, LB Jack Lambert, LB Jack Ham, CB Mel Blount

Scary Good Stats: 13.5 pts/gm (2nd in NFL), 1,466 passing yards (1st), 3.7 yards/pass attempt (1st), 7 rushing TDs (1st)

Nickname: "Steel Curtain"

Other notes: Had four Pro Bowlers, won Super Bowl IX

9. 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Intimidators: LB Derrick Brooks, DE Simeon Rice, SS John Lynch, DT Warren Sapp

Scary Good Stats: 12.2 pts/gm (1st), 2,490 passing yards (1st), 10 passing TDs (1st), 31 INTs (1st), 38 turnovers (3rd)

Other Notes: Forced five turnovers in Super Bowl XXXVII win over Oakland Raiders, FS Dexter Jackson had two interceptions and was named Super Bowl MVP

8. 1975 Oakland Raiders

Intimidators: FS Jack Tatum, SS George Atkinson, LB Phil Villapiano, CB Willie Brown

Scary Good Stats: 18.2 pts/gm (7th in NFL), 35 INTs (1st), 3,629 total yards (3rd)

Other Notes: Tatum, one of the game's most feared tacklers, was known as "The Assassin"

7. 1990 New York Giants

Intimidators: LB Lawrence Taylor, LB Pepper Johnson, LB Carl Banks, DT Erik Howard

Scary Good Stats: 13.2 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 4,206 total yards (2nd), 245 first downs (1st), 12 passing TDs (2nd)

Other Notes: Faced seven playoff teams during the regular season, allowed just three TDs in their postseason run, won Super Bowl XXV

6. 1962 Green Bay Packers

Intimidators: LB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderley, S Willie Wood, LB Bill Forester, DE Willie Davis

Scary Good Stats: 10.6 pts/gm (1st), 1,746 passing yards (1st), 10 passing TDs (1st), 31 INTs (1st), 4 rushing TDs (1st)

Other Notes: Had six Hall of Famers in the starting lineup, won NFL Championship

5. 1971 Minnesota Vikings

Intimidators: DT Alan Page, FS Paul Krause, DE Jim Marshall, DE Carl Eller, CB Charlie West

Scary Good Stats: 9.9 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 3,406 total yards (2nd), 27 INTs (3rd), 2 rushing TDs (1st), 45 turnovers (3rd)

Nickname: "The Purple People Eaters"

Other Notes: Alan Page became first defensive player to win NFL MVP, only one team scored more than 20 points against them

4. 1977 Atlanta Falcons

Intimidators: DE Claude Humphrey, CB Rolland Lawrence, LB Ralph Ortega

Scary Good Stats: 9.2 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 1,384 passing yards (1st), 5 rushing TDs (1st), 48 turnovers (2nd)

Nickname: "Gritz Blitz"

Other Notes: Lowest points per game average in the Super Bowl era, held opponents to 10 or fewer points in 10 games

3. 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Intimidators: LB Ray Lewis, FS Rod Woodson, DT Sam Adams, DT Tony Siragusa, DE Rob Burnett

Scary Good Stats: 10.3 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 11 passing TDs (1st), 970 rushing yards (1st), 5 rushing TDs (1st), 2.7 yards per rush (1st)

Other Notes: Set NFL records for fewest points allowed and fewest yards rushing allowed in a 16-game season, won Super Bowl XXV 34-7 over New York Giants, Ray Lewis named Super Bowl MVP

2. 1985 Chicago Bears

Intimidators: LB Mike Singletary, LB Otis Wilson, DE Richard Dent, DE Dan Hampton

Scary Good Stats: 12.4 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 34 INTs (1st), 2,761 rushing yards (1st), 6 rushing TDs (1st)

Other Notes: Finished regular season 15-1, won Super Bowl XX 46-10 over New England Patriots, allowed a total of 10 points in three playoff games

1. 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers

Intimidators: DE "Mean" Joe Greene, LB Jack Lambert, LB Jack Ham, CB Mel Blount

Scary Good Stats: 9.9 pts/gm (1st in NFL), 3.2 yards/rush (1st), 5 rushing TDs (1st)

Nickname: "Steel Curtain"

Other notes: Had eight Pro Bowlers, four Hall of Famers in the starting lineup, limited opponents to just 28 points over the final nine regular season games