NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Looking at Teams Winning on Defense

As we get later into the season we see a lot of games becoming closer and closer, in addition to also becoming lower scoring.

Pending on where the game is played the weather conditions can be a factor however, improved play on the defensive side of the ball is what's really happening.

Three of the four teams listed are in the playoff contenders, while the final will have increased expectations for 2012. Nonetheless, all have been winning on defense these past few weeks.

Houston Texans (9-3)

Basically, had it not been for a sick defense, the Houston Texans would not be sitting at 9-3 and atop the AFC South. With so many injuries it was uncertain as to whether the Texans could sustain their division lead, yet here they are, winners of six straight.

Much is attributed to a defense that ranks No. 3 against the pass and No. 4 against the rush.

Also, in their last six games, Houston has allowed no more than 14 points in any contest and allows an average of just under 11 points per game.

Therefore, all the offense needs to muster up is two TDs and it's game over. Watch out for the Texans in the playoffs because with a stout rushing attack and arguably the NFL's best defense, they can make a deep run.

San Francisco 49ers (10-2)

Only three times this season has the 49ers defense allowed 20 or more points in one game (no more than 27).

That's pretty damn impressive considering from Weeks 2 through 10, they didn't play any NFC West games.

Dallas put up 27 points on Frisco, but it took an OT to do it. The Niners then gave up 23 points to the Eagles' high-powered offense in a huge road win. At home against the Giants, San Francisco held Eli Manning and the Giants to 20 points winning their seventh straight game.

Those are the only games this season in which this defense allowed 20-plus points. In Detroit, they shut down a potent Lions offense and won 25-19. Despite losing on the road to Baltimore, the Ravens only put up 16 points with their dynamic offense.

Currently the 49ers rank No. 1 in rush defense (71.8 per game) and No. 16 in pass defense (231.6 per game). So although the pass defense is the weaker of the two, most of those yards don't come until San Francisco has built a solid lead.

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)

The Baltimore Ravens have been the only team this season to score 30 points against Pittsburgh, beating them 35-7 in Week 1. The Steelers haven't allowed more than 23 points in a game ever since (playing against the Ravens in Week 9).

The Steelers have allowed just 14.6 points per game the last five games, and 16 total points in the last two weeks. For the season Pittsburgh is ranked No. 2 against the pass and No. 7 against the rush, allowing a total of just 273 yards per game.

What's going to be even more impressive is how they dominate the rest of their schedule. Pittsburgh gets Cleveland twice, and sandwiched in between is a game against San Francisco (big defensive game) and the Rams at home.

So, regardless of how the offense plays, you know the defense has the capability to blank all four games. San Fran may have a stout defense, but their offense will struggle against The Steel Curtain.

The Browns have no shot and neither does St. Louis.

If you love to watch dominant defensive football, be sure to check out Blitzburgh as the regular season closes out.

Arizona Cardinals (5-7)

The final team on this list is the surprising, yet surging, Arizona Cardinals.

They've won four of their last five and the defense is finally coming around. They've allowed just 70 total points in their last five games and the offense and special teams is doing just enough to get the win.

Now, the Cardinals defensive ranks at the moment may not appear to be very impressive, however, it was a lot worse early in the year.

That being said, it's better late than never, and with San Francisco coming in this week, followed by the Browns, Bengals and Seahawks to close out the year, don't be surprised if Arizona finishes 9-7. To that end, it'll give them much more confidence heading into the 2012 offseason.

Then, when next season kicks off, be sure to keep an eye on the Cardinals because what we're seeing from their defense now, is what will be going on all next year: suffocating coverage and a solid pass rush.

Week 14 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank)

1. Green Bay Packers (12-0) (LW 1)	17. New York Giants (6-6) (LW 17)
2. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) (LW 6)	18. San Diego Chargers (5-7) (LW 20)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) (LW 2)	19. Miami Dolphins (4-8) (LW 21)
4. New Orleans Saints (9-3) (LW 5)	20. Arizona Cardinals (5-7) (LW 22)
5. Houston Texans (9-3) (LW 3)	21. Seattle Seahawks (5-7) (LW 25)
6. New England Patriots (9-3) (LW 4)	22. Buffalo Bills (5-7) (LW 19)
7. San Francisco 49ers (10-2) (LW 7)	23. Kansas City Chiefs (5-7) (LW 24)
8. Atlanta Falcons (7-5) (LW 9)	24. Philadelphia Eagles (4-8) (LW 18)
9. Denver Broncos (7-5) (LW 14)	25. Carolina Panthers (4-8) (LW 28)
10. Tennessee Titans (7-5) (LW 16)	26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8) (LW 23)
11. New York Jets (7-5) (LW 15)	27. Washington Redskins (4-8) (LW 27)
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-5) (LW 8)	28. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9) (LW 26)
13. Detroit Lions (7-5) (LW 13)	29. Cleveland Browns (4-8) (LW 30)
14. Oakland Raiders (7-5) (LW 11)	30. Minnesota Vikings (2-10) (LW 29)
15. Chicago Bears (7-5) (LW 10)	31. St. Louis Rams (2-10) (LW 31)
16. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) (LW 12)	32. Indianapolis Colts (0-12) (LW 32)

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