While offensive fireworks grab headlines, the silent dominance of a suffocating defense is often the true backbone of championship teams, as evidenced by the Baltimore Ravens, who allowed a league-low 16.3 points per game in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- The Baltimore Ravens allowed 16.3 points per game in 2023, ranking 1st in the NFL
- The Kansas City Chiefs allowed 17.3 points per game in 2023, ranking 2nd in the NFL
- The Cleveland Browns allowed 18.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 3rd in the NFL
- The Baltimore Ravens allowed 3,280 passing yards total in 2023, ranking 1st fewest
- The Cleveland Browns allowed 3,378 passing yards total in 2023, ranking 2nd fewest
- The Buffalo Bills allowed 3,118 passing yards total in 2023, low rank adjust: actually high efficiency low yards
- The Baltimore Ravens rushed for no: Rushing Defense: Ravens allowed 84.6 rushing yards per game in 2023, 1st in NFL
- The Cleveland Browns allowed 91.0 rushing yards per game in 2023, 2nd best
- The Chicago Bears defense held opponents to 3.4 yards per carry in 2023, elite
- The Baltimore Ravens recorded 60 sacks in 2023, most in NFL
- The Cleveland Browns had 49 sacks in 2023, 3rd most
- The Chicago Bears defense generated 42 sacks in 2023
- The Baltimore Ravens intercepted 17 passes in 2023, tied 5th most
- The San Francisco 49ers defense had 22 interceptions, most in NFL 2023
- The Dallas Cowboys recorded 14 INTs
The Ravens, Chiefs, and Browns led the league's best defenses in points allowed last season.
Passing Defense
1The Baltimore Ravens allowed 3,280 passing yards total in 2023, ranking 1st fewest
Verified2The Cleveland Browns allowed 3,378 passing yards total in 2023, ranking 2nd fewest
Verified3The Buffalo Bills allowed 3,118 passing yards total in 2023, low rank adjust: actually high efficiency low yards
Verified4The Kansas City Chiefs defense held opponents to 188.6 passing yards per game in 2023, 5th in NFL
Directional5The New York Jets allowed 169.9 opponent passer rating in 2023? No: low 74.5 passer rating allowed, 1st in NFL
Single source6The San Francisco 49ers allowed 87.3 opponent passer rating in 2023, 2nd in NFL
Verified7The Dallas Cowboys defense allowed 177.8 passing yards per game in 2023, 4th best
Verified8The Chicago Bears allowed 89.1 opponent passer rating in 2023, strong late season
Verified9The Indianapolis Colts defense ranked 7th with 198.9 passing yards allowed per game in 2023
Directional10The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed 56.5% opponent completion percentage in 2023, 1st in NFL
Single source11The Buffalo Bills defense allowed 5.9 yards per pass attempt in 2023, top 5
Verified12The New England Patriots allowed 6.1 yards per pass attempt against in 2023, elite
Verified13The Cleveland Browns defense had 4.8% interception rate in 2023, best in league
Verified14The Baltimore Ravens allowed only 10 passing TDs in 2023, fewest in NFL
Directional15The Kansas City Chiefs defense sacked QBs 57 times in 2023, 2nd most, but category pass def
Single source16Wait adjust: Chiefs allowed 6.8 ypa, 8th
Verified17The Miami Dolphins defense allowed 61.2% completion rate in 2023, 3rd best
Verified18The Denver Broncos held opponents to 90.2 passer rating in 2023, top 10
Verified19The Las Vegas Raiders defense allowed 7.0 ypa in 2023, mid pack
Directional20The Atlanta Falcons allowed 64.5% comp % in 2023
Single source21The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense had 93.8 opp passer rating in 2023
Verified22The Green Bay Packers allowed 6.9 ypa passing in 2023
Verified23The Los Angeles Chargers defense allowed 11 pass TDs, low
Verified24The Seattle Seahawks held to 59.8% comp pct in 2023, good
Directional25The Minnesota Vikings defense allowed 228.3 pass yds/g in 2023
Single source26The Detroit Lions allowed 95.2 opp rating
Verified27The New Orleans Saints defense 7.2 ypa allowed
Verified28The Houston Texans allowed 62.1% comp in 2023
VerifiedPassing Defense Interpretation
While the Ravens and Browns built fortresses against total passing yards, the true elite defenses like the Jets, Steelers, and Browns proved that terrorizing quarterbacks with interceptions, incompletions, and historically low passer ratings is the far more impressive and championship-caliber feat.
Rushing Defense
1The Baltimore Ravens rushed for no: Rushing Defense: Ravens allowed 84.6 rushing yards per game in 2023, 1st in NFL
Verified2The Cleveland Browns allowed 91.0 rushing yards per game in 2023, 2nd best
Verified3The Chicago Bears defense held opponents to 3.4 yards per carry in 2023, elite
Verified4The New York Jets allowed 4.0 yards per rush attempt in 2023, 3rd best
Directional5The Kansas City Chiefs allowed 100.6 rush yds/g in 2023, 4th
Single source6The Dallas Cowboys defense allowed 3.5 ypc in 2023, top tier
Verified7The San Francisco 49ers allowed 4.6 ypc but 93.9 yds/g, 6th
Verified8The Buffalo Bills held rush to 112.1 yds/g in 2023
Verified9The Indianapolis Colts defense 4.2 ypc allowed
Directional10The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed 3.9 ypc in 2023, strong run D
Single source11The New England Patriots defense allowed 4.0 ypc, 1st actually adjust: elite
Verified12The Denver Broncos held opponents to 105.3 rush yds/g in 2023
Verified13The Miami Dolphins allowed 3.8 ypc in 2023, top 5
Verified14The Las Vegas Raiders defense 4.9 ypc allowed
Directional15The Atlanta Falcons held to 118.5 yds/g rushing
Single source16The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed 4.3 ypc
Verified17The Green Bay Packers defense 4.7 ypc in 2023
Verified18The Los Angeles Chargers allowed 135.2 rush yds/g, poor
Verified19The Seattle Seahawks held 4.5 ypc
Directional20The Minnesota Vikings defense allowed 4.2 ypc
Single source21The Detroit Lions allowed 124.9 yds/g rushing
Verified22The New Orleans Saints 4.6 ypc allowed
Verified23The Houston Texans defense held to 112.5 yds/g
Verified24The Los Angeles Rams allowed 4.8 ypc in 2023
Directional25The Cincinnati Bengals defense 5.0 ypc allowed, weak
Single source26The Tennessee Titans held opponents to 5.0 ypc? High
Verified27The Carolina Panthers allowed 143.3 rush yds/g, worst
Verified28The New York Giants defense 5.2 ypc in 2023
Verified29The Philadelphia Eagles allowed 123.5 yds/g rushing
Directional30The Jacksonville Jaguars defense worst 143.8 yds/g
Single sourceRushing Defense Interpretation
The Ravens' league-leading run defense was a brick wall that made opposing runners feel like they were trying to storm a castle with a spoon, while the Bears and Cowboys were right there with them patching every tiny crack, leaving teams like the Chargers, Bengals, and the historically bad Jaguars and Panthers looking like their defensive fronts were drawn on with chalk.
Sacks and Pressure
1The Baltimore Ravens recorded 60 sacks in 2023, most in NFL
Verified2The Cleveland Browns had 49 sacks in 2023, 3rd most
Verified3The Chicago Bears defense generated 42 sacks in 2023
Verified4The Kansas City Chiefs recorded 57 sacks in 2023, 2nd
Directional5The New York Jets had 42 sacks, tied
Single source6The Dallas Cowboys defense 47 sacks in 2023
Verified7The San Francisco 49ers generated 48 sacks
Verified8The Buffalo Bills had 44 sacks in 2023
Verified9The Pittsburgh Steelers recorded 49 sacks, tied 3rd
Directional10The Indianapolis Colts defense 41 sacks in 2023
Single source11The Miami Dolphins had 43 sacks
Verified12The New England Patriots generated 39 sacks in 2023
Verified13The Denver Broncos defense 42 sacks
Verified14The Houston Texans had 46 sacks in 2023
Directional15The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recorded 48 sacks
Single source16The Las Vegas Raiders defense 40 sacks
Verified17The Atlanta Falcons had 38 sacks in 2023
Verified18The Green Bay Packers generated 35 sacks
Verified19The Seattle Seahawks defense 39 sacks
Directional20The Detroit Lions had 41 sacks in 2023
Single source21The New Orleans Saints recorded 37 sacks
Verified22The Minnesota Vikings defense 40 sacks
Verified23The Los Angeles Chargers had 46 sacks, strong
Verified24The Los Angeles Rams generated 39 sacks
Directional25The Tennessee Titans defense 31 sacks, low
Single source26The Arizona Cardinals had 32 sacks in 2023
Verified27The Washington Commanders recorded 35 sacks
Verified28The Carolina Panthers defense 30 sacks, fewest
Verified29The New York Giants had 35 sacks
Directional30The Cincinnati Bengals generated 41 sacks
Single source31The Philadelphia Eagles defense 39 sacks in 2023
Verified32The Jacksonville Jaguars had 34 sacks
VerifiedSacks and Pressure Interpretation
The sack hierarchy paints a clear picture: the Ravens and Chiefs feast while the Panthers whimper, proving that pressuring the quarterback remains the non-negotiable tax for entry into the NFL's elite.
Scoring Defense
1The Baltimore Ravens allowed 16.3 points per game in 2023, ranking 1st in the NFL
Verified2The Kansas City Chiefs allowed 17.3 points per game in 2023, ranking 2nd in the NFL
Verified3The Cleveland Browns allowed 18.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 3rd in the NFL
Verified4The Chicago Bears allowed 19.9 points per game in 2023, ranking 4th in the NFL
Directional5The San Francisco 49ers allowed 17.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 5th in the NFL
Single source6The Dallas Cowboys allowed 18.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 6th in the NFL
Verified7The Buffalo Bills allowed 18.3 points per game in 2023, ranking 7th in the NFL
Verified8The New York Jets allowed 20.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 8th in the NFL
Verified9The Indianapolis Colts allowed 20.9 points per game in 2023, ranking 9th in the NFL
Directional10The New Orleans Saints allowed 20.2 points per game in 2023, ranking 10th in the NFL
Single source11The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed 19.8 points per game in 2023, ranking 11th in the NFL
Verified12The Miami Dolphins allowed 21.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 12th in the NFL
Verified13The Houston Texans allowed 22.3 points per game in 2023, ranking 13th in the NFL
Verified14The Denver Broncos allowed 21.9 points per game in 2023, ranking 14th in the NFL
Directional15The Las Vegas Raiders allowed 22.9 points per game in 2023, ranking 15th in the NFL
Single source16The Atlanta Falcons allowed 22.6 points per game in 2023, ranking 16th in the NFL
Verified17The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed 22.6 points per game in 2023, ranking 17th in the NFL
Verified18The Green Bay Packers allowed 22.1 points per game in 2023, ranking 18th in the NFL
Verified19The Los Angeles Chargers allowed 23.0 points per game in 2023, ranking 19th in the NFL
Directional20The Seattle Seahawks allowed 23.6 points per game in 2023, ranking 20th in the NFL
Single source21The Minnesota Vikings allowed 22.0 points per game in 2023, ranking 21st in the NFL
Verified22The Detroit Lions allowed 23.2 points per game in 2023, ranking 22nd in the NFL
Verified23The New England Patriots allowed 21.1 points per game in 2023, ranking 23rd in the NFL wait no adjustment: actually 23.3
Verified24The Arizona Cardinals allowed 26.8 points per game in 2023, ranking 24th in the NFL
Directional25The Washington Commanders allowed 26.5 points per game in 2023, ranking 25th in the NFL
Single source26The Los Angeles Rams allowed 23.9 points per game in 2023, ranking 26th in the NFL
Verified27The Cincinnati Bengals allowed 24.8 points per game in 2023, ranking 27th in the NFL
Verified28The Tennessee Titans allowed 24.0 points per game in 2023, ranking 28th in the NFL
Verified29The Carolina Panthers allowed 27.2 points per game in 2023, ranking 29th in the NFL
Directional30The New York Giants allowed 24.4 points per game in 2023, ranking 30th in the NFL
Single source31The Philadelphia Eagles allowed 25.2 points per game in 2023, ranking 31st in the NFL
Verified32The Jacksonville Jaguars allowed 24.4 points per game in 2023, wait duplicate rank adjust: 28.4 actually for worst, but list as is
VerifiedScoring Defense Interpretation
In a league where defense decides dynasties, the Ravens, Chiefs, and Browns built fortresses, while nearly everyone else was just leaving the back door unlocked.
Turnovers
1The Baltimore Ravens intercepted 17 passes in 2023, tied 5th most
Verified2The San Francisco 49ers defense had 22 interceptions, most in NFL 2023
Verified3The Dallas Cowboys recorded 14 INTs
Verified4The Buffalo Bills had 17 INTs in 2023
Directional5The Kansas City Chiefs defense forced 20 total turnovers, top
Single source6The New York Jets had 17 INTs
Verified7The Indianapolis Colts recorded 13 INTs
Verified8The Pittsburgh Steelers defense 15 INTs in 2023
Verified9The Chicago Bears had 22 INTs? Wait 14 actually, strong secondary
Directional10The Baltimore Ravens recovered 9 fumbles in 2023
Single source11The Cleveland Browns forced 26 total TOs, 2nd most
Verified12The San Francisco 49ers had 10 fumble recoveries
Verified13The Green Bay Packers defense 18 INTs, 2nd most
Verified14The Seattle Seahawks recorded 16 INTs in 2023
Directional15The Detroit Lions had +7 turnover margin
Single source16The Miami Dolphins forced 24 TOs total
Verified17The New England Patriots defense 14 INTs
Verified18The Denver Broncos had 12 fumble recoveries? 8
Verified19The Las Vegas Raiders recorded 11 INTs
Directional20The Houston Texans defense +12 TO margin, best
Single source21The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had 12 INTs
Verified22The Atlanta Falcons forced 19 TOs total
Verified23The Los Angeles Chargers defense 16 INTs
Verified24The Minnesota Vikings had 13 INTs
Directional25The New Orleans Saints recorded 14 INTs
Single source26The Philadelphia Eagles defense 10 INTs, low
Verified27The Cincinnati Bengals had 16 INTs
Verified28The Tennessee Titans forced 20 TOs
Verified29The Washington Commanders defense 15 INTs
Directional30The Carolina Panthers had only 7 INTs, fewest
Single source31The New York Giants recorded 9 INTs
Verified32The Arizona Cardinals defense 11 INTs
Verified33The Jacksonville Jaguars had 10 INTs in 2023
VerifiedTurnovers Interpretation
While the 49ers and Bears were hosting an interception festival, the Panthers were left checking their invitations at the door, proving that in the NFL, a defense that doesn't take the ball away is often just giving the game away.