NFL Defensive Rankings by Position

Per-game allowances to each position with the quality of offenses faced removed. Rank 1 = toughest of 32. 2025 regular season through Week 18, cumulative window, opponent-adjusted and recency-weighted.

Defense vs Quarterbacks

A one-standard-deviation tougher defense moved quarterback passing yards by about 8.5 per game in 2024-25 — the largest defensive effect we measure.

#	Defense	Rating	Pass Yds (rank)	Pass TDs (rank)	INTs (rank)	Rush Yds (rank)	Any TD (rank)	Next
1	Vikings	100	162.1 (1)	0.7 (1)	0.7 (18)	13.2 (3)	0.1 (7)	vs Packers
2	Chargers	68	200.7 (6)	1 (4)	1.1 (3)	16.6 (15)	0.2 (16)	vs Cardinals
3	Bills	68	179.2 (2)	1.3 (14)	0.7 (10)	16.8 (17)	0.3 (22)	at Texans
4	Eagles	66.3	193.5 (3)	0.8 (2)	0.7 (14)	16.3 (12)	0.4 (32)	vs Commanders
5	Seahawks	66.2	195.1 (4)	0.9 (3)	1 (6)	21.8 (30)	0.2 (20)	vs Patriots
6	Browns	62.6	195.8 (5)	1.3 (13)	0.6 (24)	15.1 (7)	0.1 (9)	at Jaguars
7	Panthers	61	202 (7)	1.1 (6)	1 (8)	19.3 (24)	0.2 (13)	vs Bears
8	Chiefs	56.8	204.4 (10)	1.1 (5)	0.6 (23)	15.4 (8)	0.3 (23)	vs Broncos
9	Raiders	55.7	203.1 (8)	1.2 (10)	0.4 (28)	10.9 (1)	0.3 (26)	vs Dolphins
10	Saints	54.9	203.7 (9)	1.4 (16)	0.7 (13)	17.9 (19)	0.1 (4)	at Lions
11	Texans	54.5	209.2 (14)	1.3 (15)	1 (5)	20.1 (27)	0.1 (6)	vs Bills
12	Patriots	52.7	207.6 (11)	1.5 (18)	0.5 (27)	14 (4)	0 (2)	at Seahawks
13	Jaguars	52.4	218.6 (16)	1.2 (8)	1.2 (1)	16.7 (16)	0.3 (24)	vs Browns
14	Broncos	51.7	208.7 (13)	1.2 (9)	0.6 (19)	18.8 (21)	0.2 (14)	at Chiefs
15	Giants	43.6	208.4 (12)	1.3 (12)	0.6 (20)	21.6 (29)	0.3 (25)	vs Cowboys
16	Packers	42.5	214.6 (15)	1.5 (17)	0.4 (29)	17.4 (18)	0.1 (11)	at Vikings
17	Rams	40.9	222.5 (17)	1.6 (24)	1 (7)	18.1 (20)	0.1 (10)	vs 49ers
18	Lions	34.7	234 (21)	1.5 (19)	0.7 (15)	12.7 (2)	0.2 (18)	vs Saints
19	Falcons	31.1	232.6 (19)	1.6 (20)	1.1 (4)	19.8 (26)	0.2 (19)	at Steelers
20	Cardinals	29.4	225.2 (18)	1.8 (26)	0.6 (22)	16.5 (14)	0.2 (17)	at Chargers
21	49ers	29.1	239.2 (23)	1.6 (22)	0.5 (25)	15.5 (9)	0.1 (5)	at Rams
22	Bengals	26.1	235.4 (22)	1.6 (21)	0.6 (21)	19.5 (25)	0.2 (15)	vs Buccaneers
23	Dolphins	25.7	240.5 (24)	1.8 (25)	0.7 (17)	15.7 (11)	0.1 (8)	at Raiders
24	Colts	24.8	250.3 (29)	1.2 (11)	0.7 (12)	16.5 (13)	0.3 (27)	vs Ravens
25	Commanders	17	246.7 (27)	1.8 (28)	0.5 (26)	18.9 (23)	0 (1)	at Eagles
26	Bears	16.7	243.2 (25)	1.6 (23)	1.2 (2)	23.6 (32)	0.4 (29)	at Panthers
27	Steelers	14.5	253.7 (30)	1.8 (29)	0.8 (9)	14 (5)	0.3 (21)	vs Falcons
28	Jets	12.2	233 (20)	2.3 (32)	0.1 (32)	15.5 (10)	0.1 (3)	at Titans
29	Titans	12	245.5 (26)	1.8 (27)	0.3 (31)	18.8 (22)	0.1 (12)	vs Jets
30	Ravens	10.3	263.2 (32)	1.1 (7)	0.7 (16)	23.4 (31)	0.4 (31)	at Colts
31	Buccaneers	7	247.7 (28)	1.9 (30)	0.7 (11)	21 (28)	0.4 (28)	at Bengals
32	Cowboys	0	260.4 (31)	1.9 (31)	0.3 (30)	15 (6)	0.4 (30)	at Giants

Defense vs Running Backs

A one-standard-deviation tougher defense moved running back rushing yards by about 3.5 per game in 2024-25 — the most reliable defensive signal we measure.

#	Defense	Rating	Rush Yds (rank)	Rec (rank)	Rec Yds (rank)	Any TD (rank)	Next
1	Seahawks	100	72 (2)	5.2 (31)	29.9 (17)	0.4 (2)	vs Patriots
2	Broncos	95.4	78.4 (5)	3.5 (7)	22 (4)	0.9 (22)	at Chiefs
3	Saints	92.9	90 (10)	3.1 (2)	19.2 (2)	0.7 (9)	at Lions
4	Steelers	89.9	90.5 (11)	4.2 (20)	28.4 (12)	0.3 (1)	vs Falcons
5	Chargers	87.9	88.9 (9)	3.3 (3)	27.2 (9)	0.6 (5)	vs Cardinals
6	Jaguars	87.9	71.9 (1)	4.9 (29)	32.5 (21)	0.7 (10)	vs Browns
7	Buccaneers	87.2	74.1 (3)	4.2 (21)	38.2 (29)	0.7 (7)	at Bengals
8	Vikings	87	100 (19)	3 (1)	19.1 (1)	0.5 (3)	vs Packers
9	Patriots	82.5	86.2 (8)	4 (16)	22.9 (6)	0.8 (14)	at Seahawks
10	Titans	81.3	85.2 (7)	3.3 (4)	28.8 (13)	0.9 (21)	vs Jets
11	Texans	80.2	75.8 (4)	4.5 (24)	36.6 (25)	0.8 (12)	vs Bills
12	Colts	77.6	91.4 (13)	3.7 (12)	21.5 (3)	0.8 (16)	vs Ravens
13	Chiefs	71	91.1 (12)	3.8 (13)	29.2 (15)	0.8 (13)	vs Broncos
14	Ravens	67.1	78.7 (6)	5.2 (30)	40.3 (31)	0.7 (8)	at Colts
15	Bears	66	107.2 (25)	3.3 (5)	23.2 (7)	0.6 (4)	at Panthers
16	Lions	61.1	97 (16)	3.5 (8)	29.1 (14)	0.9 (18)	vs Saints
17	Falcons	54.4	100.9 (20)	4 (18)	32.5 (22)	0.7 (6)	at Steelers
18	Browns	52.9	103.5 (21)	3.6 (9)	22.9 (5)	1 (24)	at Jaguars
19	Rams	51.6	95 (15)	4.5 (23)	37 (26)	0.7 (11)	vs 49ers
20	Eagles	47.9	97 (17)	4 (14)	38.8 (30)	0.8 (17)	vs Commanders
21	Bills	46	104.5 (22)	3.7 (10)	24.4 (8)	1.1 (27)	at Texans
22	Packers	40.6	110.4 (29)	4.1 (19)	27.2 (10)	0.8 (15)	at Vikings
23	49ers	37.1	93.5 (14)	5.5 (32)	37.9 (27)	0.9 (19)	at Rams
24	Bengals	34.4	107.4 (26)	4 (15)	34.6 (23)	0.9 (20)	vs Buccaneers
25	Panthers	34.1	108.4 (27)	4 (17)	27.3 (11)	1.1 (26)	vs Bears
26	Raiders	31.2	106.9 (24)	4.6 (27)	29.9 (18)	1 (23)	vs Dolphins
27	Dolphins	23.2	105.1 (23)	4.5 (25)	29.8 (16)	1.3 (31)	at Raiders
28	Giants	20.9	113.9 (31)	4.3 (22)	31.1 (19)	1 (25)	vs Cowboys
29	Cowboys	19	99.5 (18)	4.9 (28)	40.6 (32)	1.2 (29)	at Giants
30	Commanders	10.7	120.2 (32)	3.4 (6)	31.9 (20)	1.3 (30)	at Eagles
31	Cardinals	9.1	112 (30)	4.6 (26)	38 (28)	1.1 (28)	at Chargers
32	Jets	0	110.1 (28)	3.7 (11)	36 (24)	1.7 (32)	at Titans

Defense vs Wide Receivers

A one-standard-deviation tougher defense moved wide receiver receiving yards by about 0.9 per game in 2024-25 — small; receptions barely move.

#	Defense	Rating	Rec Yds (rank)	Rec (rank)	Any TD (rank)	Next
1	Vikings	100	104.2 (1)	8.6 (1)	0.4 (2)	vs Packers
2	Seahawks	83.3	105.7 (2)	9.6 (6)	0.7 (8)	vs Patriots
3	Eagles	80.9	123.6 (7)	9.5 (4)	0.3 (1)	vs Commanders
4	Cardinals	76.3	111.6 (3)	9.6 (5)	0.8 (12)	at Chargers
5	Panthers	76.1	116.1 (4)	9.8 (7)	0.6 (6)	vs Bears
6	Bills	71.5	117.4 (5)	9.8 (8)	0.7 (11)	at Texans
7	Texans	69.8	129.9 (15)	9 (2)	0.6 (7)	vs Bills
8	Chiefs	69.5	124.6 (8)	10.2 (12)	0.5 (4)	vs Broncos
9	Bengals	65.6	125.8 (9)	9.3 (3)	0.8 (16)	vs Buccaneers
10	Chargers	63.4	126.2 (10)	10.1 (11)	0.7 (9)	vs Cardinals
11	Broncos	62.9	129.2 (12)	11 (20)	0.4 (3)	at Chiefs
12	Browns	62.5	118.2 (6)	9.9 (9)	1 (21)	at Jaguars
13	Giants	57.8	127.2 (11)	10 (10)	0.9 (18)	vs Cowboys
14	Saints	53.8	129.3 (14)	10.2 (13)	0.9 (20)	at Lions
15	Raiders	53.7	132.1 (16)	10.9 (18)	0.7 (10)	vs Dolphins
16	Jaguars	49.8	132.7 (17)	11.7 (28)	0.6 (5)	vs Browns
17	Patriots	45.7	129.3 (13)	10.6 (15)	1.1 (27)	at Seahawks
18	Jets	43	134.3 (18)	10.6 (14)	1.1 (24)	at Titans
19	49ers	40.1	141 (21)	11.3 (25)	0.8 (13)	at Rams
20	Buccaneers	37.7	145 (25)	11.1 (23)	0.8 (17)	at Bengals
21	Falcons	36.6	139.3 (20)	10.7 (16)	1.1 (30)	at Steelers
22	Rams	36.4	141.4 (22)	11 (21)	1 (22)	vs 49ers
23	Packers	35.1	139 (19)	10.8 (17)	1.1 (31)	at Vikings
24	Dolphins	33.9	144.1 (24)	11 (22)	1 (23)	at Raiders
25	Lions	31.5	144 (23)	11 (19)	1.1 (28)	vs Saints
26	Commanders	29.8	148.9 (26)	11.5 (27)	0.9 (19)	at Eagles
27	Titans	20.4	156 (27)	11.3 (24)	1.1 (25)	vs Jets
28	Colts	16.2	160.1 (29)	12.6 (31)	0.8 (14)	vs Ravens
29	Steelers	15.1	159.4 (28)	11.5 (26)	1.1 (29)	vs Falcons
30	Bears	8.4	165.1 (30)	12 (30)	1.1 (26)	at Panthers
31	Cowboys	0.8	167.8 (31)	12 (29)	1.3 (32)	at Giants
32	Ravens	0	176.5 (32)	13.1 (32)	0.8 (15)	at Colts

Defense vs Tight Ends

A one-standard-deviation tougher defense moved tight end receiving yards by about 1.2 per game in 2024-25 — small and noisy, context rather than a lean.

#	Defense	Rating	Rec Yds (rank)	Rec (rank)	Any TD (rank)	Next
1	Eagles	100	30.6 (1)	4.4 (4)	0.3 (9)	vs Commanders
2	Bills	97.7	36.3 (2)	3.2 (1)	0.5 (19)	at Texans
3	Vikings	91.1	39.2 (4)	4.2 (3)	0.2 (5)	vs Packers
4	Chargers	80.4	45 (7)	4.1 (2)	0.3 (11)	vs Cardinals
5	Raiders	79.7	38.6 (3)	4.5 (5)	0.5 (21)	vs Dolphins
6	Ravens	79.4	42.6 (5)	4.5 (6)	0.3 (10)	at Colts
7	Giants	71.9	50.3 (12)	4.7 (7)	0.2 (2)	vs Cowboys
8	Packers	70.3	46.1 (9)	5.2 (15)	0.2 (4)	at Vikings
9	Chiefs	69.2	48.1 (10)	4.8 (8)	0.3 (8)	vs Broncos
10	Rams	64.4	45.3 (8)	5 (9)	0.5 (18)	vs 49ers
11	Browns	63.4	53.2 (15)	5.2 (13)	0.2 (1)	at Jaguars
12	Bears	61.8	49.6 (11)	5.4 (20)	0.3 (6)	at Panthers
13	Cowboys	61.2	50.4 (13)	5 (10)	0.3 (12)	at Giants
14	Texans	57.7	44.9 (6)	5.2 (16)	0.6 (25)	vs Bills
15	Seahawks	57.4	55.5 (18)	5.2 (14)	0.2 (3)	vs Patriots
16	Falcons	50.8	59.2 (24)	5.1 (11)	0.3 (7)	at Steelers
17	Saints	49.8	54.2 (17)	5.4 (19)	0.4 (15)	at Lions
18	Jaguars	49.8	51.6 (14)	5.4 (18)	0.5 (22)	vs Browns
19	Patriots	47	53.8 (16)	5.5 (23)	0.4 (17)	at Seahawks
20	Panthers	45.1	57.4 (21)	5.1 (12)	0.5 (20)	vs Bears
21	Broncos	41.3	56.2 (19)	5.8 (25)	0.4 (16)	at Chiefs
22	Lions	39.3	58.6 (22)	5.8 (26)	0.4 (14)	vs Saints
23	49ers	36.6	56.8 (20)	5.6 (24)	0.5 (23)	at Rams
24	Colts	31	67.7 (30)	5.4 (21)	0.3 (13)	vs Ravens
25	Titans	30.7	59 (23)	5.4 (17)	0.7 (29)	vs Jets
26	Jets	24.3	61.9 (26)	6 (28)	0.6 (24)	at Titans
27	Commanders	18.9	63.8 (28)	5.5 (22)	0.8 (31)	at Eagles
28	Steelers	17.6	63.8 (29)	6.3 (31)	0.6 (26)	vs Falcons
29	Dolphins	17.4	63.3 (27)	6.3 (32)	0.6 (27)	at Raiders
30	Buccaneers	15.4	60.9 (25)	5.9 (27)	0.8 (32)	at Bengals
31	Bengals	3.4	73.2 (32)	6 (29)	0.7 (28)	vs Buccaneers
32	Cardinals	0	71.4 (31)	6.2 (30)	0.7 (30)	at Chargers

Week 1: most generous defenses by position

Titans vs QB — ranked 29 of 32 · vs Jets
Ravens vs QB — ranked 30 of 32 · at Colts
Buccaneers vs QB — ranked 31 of 32 · at Bengals
Cowboys vs QB — ranked 32 of 32 · at Giants
Cowboys vs RB — ranked 29 of 32 · at Giants
Commanders vs RB — ranked 30 of 32 · at Eagles
Cardinals vs RB — ranked 31 of 32 · at Chargers
Jets vs RB — ranked 32 of 32 · at Titans
Steelers vs WR — ranked 29 of 32 · vs Falcons
Bears vs WR — ranked 30 of 32 · at Panthers
Cowboys vs WR — ranked 31 of 32 · at Giants
Ravens vs WR — ranked 32 of 32 · at Colts
Dolphins vs TE — ranked 29 of 32 · at Raiders
Buccaneers vs TE — ranked 30 of 32 · at Bengals
Bengals vs TE — ranked 31 of 32 · vs Buccaneers
Cardinals vs TE — ranked 32 of 32 · at Chargers

Values are opponent-adjusted per-game allowances to that position (interceptions: forced per game); the raw per-game numbers are in the interactive view.

Set Parlay Odds

3 legs

Build Parlay or Quick Add Props