If you think winning in the NFL is all about offense, think again, as these revealing team defense statistics from recent seasons show a clear and undeniable blueprint for championship success.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens allowed just 87.2 rushing yards per game, leading the league in rushing defense
- The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs permitted 99.1 rushing yards per game to opponents, ranking 5th in the NFL
- During 2022, the San Francisco 49ers defense held opponents to 93.4 rushing yards per game, best in the league
- In 2023, the Baltimore Ravens allowed 180.4 passing yards per game, leading NFL passing defense
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 passing defense gave up 189.2 yards per game, 3rd best
- San Francisco 49ers in 2022 limited passing to 181.7 yards per game, 1st rank
- The 2023 Baltimore Ravens defense allowed 267.6 total yards per game, 1st in NFL total defense
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 total defense surrendered 288.3 yards per game, 4th best
- San Francisco 49ers 2022 limited total yards to 275.1 per game, league-leading
- The 2023 Baltimore Ravens allowed 16.4 points per game, 1st in NFL scoring defense
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 scoring defense gave up 17.3 points per game, 2nd best
- San Francisco 49ers 2022 limited to 17.5 points per game allowed, 3rd rank
- The 2023 Baltimore Ravens forced 31 total turnovers, leading the NFL in takeaways
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 defense recorded 57 sacks, 1st in NFL sack leaders
- San Francisco 49ers 2022 had +7 turnover margin, 5th best
The Baltimore Ravens' 2023 defense was the NFL's most dominant by every key statistical measure.
Passing Defense
- In 2023, the Baltimore Ravens allowed 180.4 passing yards per game, leading NFL passing defense
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 passing defense gave up 189.2 yards per game, 3rd best
- San Francisco 49ers in 2022 limited passing to 181.7 yards per game, 1st rank
- Philadelphia Eagles 2023 allowed 192.5 passing yards per game, 5th
- Cleveland Browns 2023 passing defense held opponents to 172.9 yards per game, 1st
- New England Patriots 2023 surrendered 195.8 passing yards per game, 7th best
- Denver Broncos 2022 allowed 184.3 passing yards per game, 2nd
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 passing defense permitted 198.1 yards per game, 9th
- Buffalo Bills 2023 gave up 201.4 passing yards per game, 11th rank
- New Orleans Saints 2023 allowed 178.6 passing yards per game, 2nd best
- Dallas Cowboys 2023 passing defense surrendered 203.7 yards per game, 13th
- Atlanta Falcons 2022 held to 199.2 passing yards per game, 10th
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 limited passing to 185.4 yards per game, 4th
- Houston Texans 2023 allowed 206.1 passing yards per game, 15th rank
- Indianapolis Colts 2023 passing defense gave up 176.8 yards per game, 3rd best
- Seattle Seahawks 2023 surrendered 208.5 passing yards per game, 17th
- Chicago Bears 2022 allowed 202.3 passing yards per game, 12th
- Minnesota Vikings 2023 passing defense held to 210.9 yards per game, 19th
- Tennessee Titans 2023 allowed 174.2 passing yards per game, 4th best
- Washington Commanders 2023 gave up 212.6 passing yards per game, 21st rank
- New York Jets 2023 passing defense limited to 188.7 yards per game, 6th
- Miami Dolphins 2021 allowed 204.1 passing yards per game, 14th
- Carolina Panthers 2023 surrendered 214.3 passing yards per game, 23rd
- Las Vegas Raiders 2023 passing defense permitted 190.5 yards per game, 8th best
- Green Bay Packers 2023 allowed 216.7 passing yards per game, 25th
- Arizona Cardinals 2022 held opponents to 207.4 passing yards per game, 16th
- Detroit Lions 2023 passing defense gave up 179.1 yards per game, 5th rank
- New York Giants 2023 allowed 218.9 passing yards per game, 27th
Passing Defense Interpretation
This parade of narrowly separated rankings suggests that in the modern NFL, the gap between a top-five passing defense and a merely average one is about as wide as a first-down marker, yet teams will cling to that sliver of statistical superiority as if it were a Lombardi Trophy itself.
Pressure and Turnover Stats
- The 2023 Baltimore Ravens forced 31 total turnovers, leading the NFL in takeaways
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 defense recorded 57 sacks, 1st in NFL sack leaders
- San Francisco 49ers 2022 had +7 turnover margin, 5th best
- Philadelphia Eagles 2023 intercepted 22 passes, 2nd in interceptions
- Cleveland Browns 2023 defense had 49 sacks, 3rd rank
- New England Patriots 2023 forced 25 turnovers, 4th best
- Denver Broncos 2022 recorded 55 sacks, 2nd in league
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 had 48 sacks, 4th rank
- Buffalo Bills 2023 intercepted 17 passes, 9th
- New Orleans Saints 2023 turnover margin +9, 3rd best
- Dallas Cowboys 2023 defense got 44 sacks, 6th rank
- Atlanta Falcons 2022 forced 28 turnovers, 6th
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 had 55 sacks, 1st that year
- Houston Texans 2023 intercepted 11 passes, 22nd rank
- Indianapolis Colts 2023 recorded 41 sacks, 8th best
- Seattle Seahawks 2023 forced 24 turnovers, 5th rank
- Chicago Bears 2022 had +5 turnover margin, 10th
- Minnesota Vikings 2023 defense got 39 sacks, 10th best
- Tennessee Titans 2023 intercepted 14 passes, 14th rank
- Washington Commanders 2023 turnover margin -8, 29th
- New York Jets 2023 had 43 sacks, 7th rank
- Miami Dolphins 2021 forced 29 turnovers, 2nd best
- Carolina Panthers 2023 recorded 37 sacks, 12th rank
- Las Vegas Raiders 2023 intercepted 15 passes, 12th best
- Green Bay Packers 2023 had 46 sacks, 5th rank
- Arizona Cardinals 2022 turnover margin +2, 14th
- Detroit Lions 2023 forced 26 turnovers, 3rd best
- New York Giants 2023 defense had 42 sacks, 9th rank
Pressure and Turnover Stats Interpretation
The NFL clearly values chaos equally, where a defense can win by snatching the ball like a paranoid raven, burying a quarterback under a mountain of Chiefs, or, in the Commanders' case, simply handing it back with a sigh.
Rushing Defense
- In the 2023 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens allowed just 87.2 rushing yards per game, leading the league in rushing defense
- The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs permitted 99.1 rushing yards per game to opponents, ranking 5th in the NFL
- During 2022, the San Francisco 49ers defense held opponents to 93.4 rushing yards per game, best in the league
- The 2023 Philadelphia Eagles allowed 98.7 rushing yards per game, placing 4th overall
- In 2021, the Los Angeles Rams surrendered only 95.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 3rd
- The 2023 Cleveland Browns defense limited foes to 101.3 rushing yards per game, 6th in NFL
- New England Patriots in 2023 allowed 104.5 rushing yards per game, 8th best
- 2022 Denver Broncos held opponents to 97.8 rushing yards per game, 2nd in league
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 rushing defense allowed 106.2 yards per game, 10th rank
- Buffalo Bills in 2023 permitted 108.9 rushing yards per game, 12th in NFL
- 2023 New Orleans Saints defense gave up 91.6 rushing yards per game against the run, 3rd best
- Dallas Cowboys 2023 allowed 110.4 rushing yards per game, 14th
- In 2022, Philadelphia Eagles rushed for 104.1 yards allowed per game, 7th
- Atlanta Falcons 2023 defense allowed 112.7 rushing yards per game, 16th rank
- 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers limited to 99.8 rushing yards per game, 4th best
- Houston Texans 2023 rushing defense surrendered 114.2 yards per game, 18th
- 2023 Indianapolis Colts allowed 105.6 rushing yards per game, 9th
- Seattle Seahawks 2022 held to 107.3 rushing yards per game, 11th
- 2023 Chicago Bears defense allowed 116.8 rushing yards per game, 20th rank
- Minnesota Vikings 2023 permitted 109.4 rushing yards per game, 13th
- Tennessee Titans 2022 rushing defense allowed 98.5 yards per game, 6th best
- Washington Commanders 2023 gave up 118.1 rushing yards per game, 22nd
- New York Jets 2023 allowed 102.7 rushing yards per game, 7th
- 2021 Miami Dolphins limited opponents to 96.3 rushing yards per game, 2nd
- Carolina Panthers 2023 defense surrendered 119.5 rushing yards per game, 24th
- Las Vegas Raiders 2023 allowed 111.2 rushing yards per game, 15th
- Green Bay Packers 2022 held to 108.6 rushing yards per game, 12th
- Arizona Cardinals 2023 rushing defense allowed 120.9 yards per game, 25th rank
- Detroit Lions 2023 permitted 103.4 rushing yards per game, 8th best
- New York Giants 2023 allowed 113.8 rushing yards per game, 17th
Rushing Defense Interpretation
These numbers prove that in the modern NFL, the real defensive elite isn't just about flashy interceptions but about mastering the mundane, grimy art of making every opposing rusher feel like they're trying to run through a wall of very angry, very coordinated men.
Scoring Defense
- The 2023 Baltimore Ravens allowed 16.4 points per game, 1st in NFL scoring defense
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 scoring defense gave up 17.3 points per game, 2nd best
- San Francisco 49ers 2022 limited to 17.5 points per game allowed, 3rd rank
- Philadelphia Eagles 2023 allowed 20.1 points per game, 8th
- Cleveland Browns 2023 scoring defense held opponents to 18.2 points per game, 4th best
- New England Patriots 2023 surrendered 21.4 points per game, 12th rank
- Denver Broncos 2022 allowed 18.7 points per game, 5th
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 scoring defense permitted 22.8 points per game, 14th best
- Buffalo Bills 2023 gave up 18.3 points per game, 6th rank
- New Orleans Saints 2023 allowed 23.1 points per game, 16th
- Dallas Cowboys 2023 scoring defense surrendered 18.9 points per game, 7th best
- Atlanta Falcons 2022 held to 23.4 points per game, 17th rank
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 limited to 23.6 points per game allowed, 20th
- Houston Texans 2023 gave up 24.7 points per game, 22nd best
- Indianapolis Colts 2023 scoring defense allowed 22.5 points per game, 13th
- Seattle Seahawks 2023 surrendered 23.9 points per game, 19th rank
- Chicago Bears 2022 permitted 25.1 points per game, 24th
- Minnesota Vikings 2023 scoring defense gave up 26.3 points per game, 26th best
- Tennessee Titans 2023 allowed 20.2 points per game, 9th rank
- Washington Commanders 2023 surrendered 29.5 points per game, 30th
- New York Jets 2023 scoring defense held to 20.8 points per game, 10th best
- Miami Dolphins 2021 allowed 24.9 points per game, 23rd rank
- Carolina Panthers 2023 gave up 27.2 points per game, 28th
- Las Vegas Raiders 2023 scoring defense permitted 22.9 points per game, 15th best
- Green Bay Packers 2023 allowed 26.7 points per game, 27th rank
- Arizona Cardinals 2022 surrendered 26.8 points per game, 25th
- Detroit Lions 2023 scoring defense gave up 23.2 points per game, 18th best
- New York Giants 2023 allowed 21.8 points per game, 11th rank
Scoring Defense Interpretation
In a league where defense appears to be a cherished but endangered species, the Ravens stand as a stubborn fortress while others are merely trying to remember where they left the moat.
Total Defense
- The 2023 Baltimore Ravens defense allowed 267.6 total yards per game, 1st in NFL total defense
- Kansas City Chiefs 2023 total defense surrendered 288.3 yards per game, 4th best
- San Francisco 49ers 2022 limited total yards to 275.1 per game, league-leading
- Philadelphia Eagles 2023 allowed 291.2 total yards per game, 6th rank
- Cleveland Browns 2023 total defense held to 274.2 yards per game, 2nd best
- New England Patriots 2023 gave up 300.3 total yards per game, 10th
- Denver Broncos 2022 allowed 282.1 total yards per game, 3rd
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 total defense permitted 304.3 yards per game, 12th rank
- Buffalo Bills 2023 surrendered 310.3 total yards per game, 14th best
- New Orleans Saints 2023 allowed 270.2 total yards per game, 3rd
- Dallas Cowboys 2023 total defense gave up 314.1 yards per game, 16th
- Atlanta Falcons 2022 held to 303.3 total yards per game, 11th
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 limited total to 281.2 yards per game, 5th best
- Houston Texans 2023 allowed 320.3 total yards per game, 18th rank
- Indianapolis Colts 2023 total defense surrendered 282.4 yards per game, 4th
- Seattle Seahawks 2023 gave up 323.8 total yards per game, 20th
- Chicago Bears 2022 allowed 309.6 total yards per game, 13th
- Minnesota Vikings 2023 total defense held to 326.1 yards per game, 22nd rank
- Tennessee Titans 2023 permitted 272.7 total yards per game, 5th best
- Washington Commanders 2023 surrendered 330.7 total yards per game, 24th
- New York Jets 2023 allowed 291.4 total yards per game, 7th
- Miami Dolphins 2021 gave up 308.4 total yards per game, 15th rank
- Carolina Panthers 2023 total defense permitted 333.8 yards per game, 26th
- Las Vegas Raiders 2023 held to 301.7 total yards per game, 9th best
- Green Bay Packers 2023 allowed 336.2 total yards per game, 28th
- Arizona Cardinals 2022 surrendered 309.8 total yards per game, 17th
- Detroit Lions 2023 total defense gave up 282.5 yards per game, 6th rank
- New York Giants 2023 allowed 332.7 total yards per game, 25th best
Total Defense Interpretation
While the Ravens' 2023 defense tightened the league's belt to a svelte 267.6 yards per game, the defensive landscape across the NFL reveals a fragile hierarchy where even a top-ten unit like the Patriots can allow over 300 yards, proving that in modern football, a 'dominant' defense is often just the least leaky lifeboat in a storm of offensive firepower.