By the end of last season, Chase was a YAC monster who could not be contained. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Does any team have a higher ceiling than the red-hot 49ers? Week 1. He said Branch's versatility makes him a 'day one starter' in the NFL. Until it wasn't. The big offseason moves will be bringing back Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Barnwell: How Jalen Hurts thrived Sunday, plus four trade destinations for Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts to Philly's rescue? After the playoff loss to the 49ers, the pressure will amp up on Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy in 2023. "I think we took a step forward, for sure," Fields said. TEAM SEASON GP W L T TD PTS PPG OPP PTS OPP PPG 1DWN 3DWN% 4DWN% Chicago Bears: 2020: 16: 8: 8: 0: 40: 372: 23.3: 370: . Are they sold on Desmond Ridder as their quarterback? We feel you, big man. They're actually getting decent pressure on the quarterback, with a 35% pressure rate (19th) on third down. Less than 24 hours later, the ax came down on Matt Rhule. Only four teams have forced fewer turnovers, and all of them have losing records. --Jeff Legwold, Defensive efficiency: 39.5 If the Raiders want to get back to being a playoff contender in the AFC, they have to improve their defense. Lawrence should have beenfar better than his two-interception, zero-touchdown showing in a disappointing 13-6 loss. 2. ThePanthers were non-competitive yet again on Sunday against the 49ers. -- Courtney Cronin, The passing offense has been a disappointment, which highlights myriad issues: Cam Newton's inaccuracy on short passes, a major void at tight end (the Patriots rank last in the NFL in production from that spot) and a receiving corps that hasn't been respected by opposing defenses and thus allows foes to load up against the run. The offense has been nearly unstoppable, the defense has had its moments (giving up massive yardage but sometimes coming up with a timely sack or takeaway), and the special teams have been mostly a disaster, other than near-perfect kicker Mason Crosby. There was more good news for the rookie class on the other side of the ball: Dameon Pierce rushed for 99 yards and his third touchdown of the season. The focus is solely on Guenther, whose defenses are responsible for two of the eight worst single-season defensive efficiency seasons of the past decade. Mike Tomlin didnt mince words after the game. The Seahawks are getting gashed against the run, in part because they're struggling in their transition to a 3-4 but also because they're missing tackles. The Giants have a top-10 pass defense at the moment. The Cardinals' four sacks are the fewest in the NFL, and their sacks per pass attempt rate is a league-low 2.88%. They are allowing 5 yards per carry and have given up 20 runs of 10 yards or more in four games, including two runs of at least 33 yards in the past two games. The biggest issue on defense is defending the run. I think he needs more help.". Dennis Daley (starting at left tackle after Taylor Lewan's season-ending knee injury) was bullied by Montez Sweat, while the interior line struggled on a day Ryan Tannehill absorbed five sacks. Outside of rookie Roger McCreary, all of the Titans' primary cornerbacks have been beat for explosive plays. The script is beyond tired for the Raiders. Four of them came through the air, which has sparked questions about the secondary. There is Justin Herbert with the Chargers and Trevor Lawrence on his way in Jacksonville. Rally from multiple scores down? The idealized version of the Taysom Hill Experience. Philly's first loss of the season . Tampa started No. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. This team is better with quarterback Alex Smith but still inconsistent. In the fourth quarter, opposing quarterbacks have posted an NFL-best 88.6 QBR against the Ravens, throwing five touchdowns and getting sacked twice. Seattle's defense has turned things around, albeit against some dreadful offenses. Seattle is still second in offensive scoring, even with Wilson coming back down to earth. Minutes earlier -- in a decision that was gutsy at best and reckless at worst -- Staley opted to keep his offense on the field on fourth-and-2 at his own 45-yard line with just over a minute to play. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. See how each team defense ranks against the rest and see updated stats and rankings throughout the year. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He completed 13 of his 14 passes in the second half with two touchdowns. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Will Mac Jones (ankle) be back in the lineup? Pass-rushing is the key to great defense in the NFL. League rank: 13th. A scrambling Kyler Murray went into a protection slide just short of the first-down marker, setting in motion a chain of events that ended with fill-in kicker Matt Ammendola badly pushing a 43-yard field goal attempt wide right. Cooper Kupp saved the Rams NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. They are committed to Tua Tagovailoa as quarterback, but now his health is the biggest concern. Not a dynasty in the 1950s Cleveland Browns way, but a dynasty of the modern game, where free agency and a salary cap can eat a team alive. They ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed per game last season. Special teams: 30, You don't need analytics to tell you that this season has been bad for the Cowboys. The linebacker play has struggled too, leading to veteran Jamie Collins' return to the team on Monday. ThePats are a Week 6 win over the Browns away from getting back to even ground at .500. The defense showed signs of life in back-to-back wins over the Colts and Ravens and, most recently, in a 31-10 victory over the Jaguars. Luckily, Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden have done a great job of bringing in talent over the last two seasons and the hope is that players like Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell and Trayvon Mullen can reshape the unit. --Nick Wagoner, Defensive efficiency:51.0 From the good (the Chiefs' offense) to the bad (the Lions' defense) to the mediocre, our NFL Nation writers explain the offense, defense and special-teams rankings for the teams they cover. Reed and rookie Sauce Gardner are holding up nicely on the outside, but they're giving up too many chunk plays in the middle of the field. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF Seattle's special teams have been strong the whole time, led by Jason Myers going 18-for-18 on field goal tries. Depth charts for every team 7:48 pm ET, Ranking 10 best NFL landing spots for Richardson, 2023 NFL combine: WR/TE winners and losers, Takeaways from NFL combine measurements for WR, TE, Pete Prisco's top 100 NFL free agents of 2023, NFL combine: Grading top QBs, plus winners and losers, NFL combine 2023 tracker: Top performances, highlights, NFL post-Super Bowl Power Rankings: Chiefs run it back, NFL Combine: Grading top QBs; winners and losers, NFL Draft: Top landing spots for Richardson, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Colossal Richardson sets multiple QB combine records, Pascal robbed at gunpoint, assaulted; WR 'doing fine', Bryce Young measures similar to former No. The biggest issue on defense is no T.J. Watt. Take a look at ESPNs thoughts on the Raiders defense over the previous ten seasons: Continuity is key, and the Raiders had very little on defense in the 2010s. Aaron Donald and the Rams are our consensus top fantasy DST for 2021. It's one of the many reasons they're winless, and it has made them vulnerable in the play-action game, too. With Mahomes reinjuring his right ankle Sunday night, it looked like the Chiefs were in trouble. All of that helps lift a struggling offense that has failed to produce a consistent running game. Rookie Derek Stingley Jr. had one of those picks,his first career interception. Opponent Time of Possession Percentage (Excluding OT) Opponent Seconds per Play. Sure, the Bad Boy Raiders have always been more Cobra Kai than Miyagi-Do, but the FPI figures and rankings don't lie -- not with an above-average offense (2.8, which ranks seventh), a terrible defense (-4.0, 30th) and a middling special-teams outfit (0.0, 21st). -- Jenna Laine, Everything you need this week: The end result? "To be a championship team and a playoff team," waxed Raiders coach Jon Gruden, "you have to be a good football team in all phases." WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS: Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | Kicker. That's why the Chiefs end the season as the top-ranked team in my Power Rankings and will be No. JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN The Jaguars have to figure out what went wrong because they faceDameon Pierce, Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley the next three weeks. Special teams: 22, The Browns' offense has been spearheaded by arguably the top rushing attack in the league, powered by the running back duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and one of the NFL's most improved offensive lines. Kelce remains at the center of everything, a prodigious producer who always seems to deliver his best moments when the lights are brightest. The Jets closed out Sundays 40-17 win over the Dolphins like a young team thats starting to believe in itself. Walker is set to start Sunday against the Rams. The Rams do have four interceptions this season. The Tom Brady era, however short, is over. -- Mike Reiss, This is what everyone anticipated entering the season: The defense would have to lead this franchise, and it has. Sometimes a loss can feel like a win. View defense & special teams stats for the 2022 NFL season. Oh, and a fair bit of tragedy, like the goal-line interception thrown by the quarterback in the final seconds of a 21-17 loss to the Titans. The coaching search will end this week, but the biggest issue is Kyler Murray. This is something that needs to be corrected for Week 5. --Todd Archer, Defensive efficiency:74.5 The biggest issue on defense is third-down conversions. Said Lamar Jackson: "We got the G.O.A.T. Deshaun Watson will have a full season with the Browns in 2023, which makes them a better team. That's why they rank 31st in the defensive FPI rankings. Fantasy football rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates. Visit ESPN to view 2022 NFL stat leaders. Mosley. KEY: Gms = Games Played, Tot Pts = Total Points Scored, Pts/G = Points Per Game, RushYds = Rushing Yards, RYds/G = Rushing Yards Per Game . Travis Kelce for OPOY? Its been a mess, and now it becomes the responsibility of defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach Steve Wilks, who was elevated to interim head coach. As if getting gashed by Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon wasn't enough to have the Bears licking their wounds after a Week 2 loss at Green Bay, Giants running back Saquon Barkley totaled 145 yards on 31 carries and earned 94 of his rushing yards after first contact in Week 4. The problem is the AFC is loaded with those guys. But when the players say they still need to get better, slowing the run is their biggest must. -- David Newton, Relive the NFL's greatest games, original series and more. The winds of change continue to howl on the NFL Power Rankings as we near the midpoint of the 2022 season. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN 1 team for the second week in a row. Sebastian Joseph-Day was brought in to help with rush defense. Watch on ESPN+, Offense: 24 Conversely, the defense has been relatively sturdy, led by third-year linebacker Roquan Smith, who has performed at an All-Pro level. -- Jordan Raanan, How did the Rams come back? The biggest issue on defense is the fourth quarter. Check out the full rundown, 1-32. -- Adam Teicher, Is there anything really surprising here? After that? This edition of Dan Hanzus' Power Rankings features a brand new team in the No. Washington's defense ranks in the top 10 in both yards and points allowed; it hasn't finished a season that way since 2008. Find the most recent updates each day . Unfortunately for Atlanta, a flag (for unnecessary roughness) was thrown on Grady Jarrett's pivotal fourth-quarter sack, and the opportunity to complete a stirring comeback was taken from Arthur Smith's bunch. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Trying to determine what has gone right for the Cowboys is difficult. This was an issue last year, and it continues to be one this season. Fantasy football rankings for Week 18: Defense/Special Teams, 2023 NFL combine preview: 15 future fantasy football stars to watch, Out of dark, Rodgers vows decision coming soon, Bucs to cut Fournette; RB says it was his request, Giants plan to release WR Golladay, source says, Commanders release QB Wentz after one season, Cards' Gannon: Murray 'on schedule' with rehab, Sources: Ex-Raiders QB Carr has visit with Jets, RB Jones reworking deal to stay with Packers. Kansas City owns the most efficient offense in the NFL with . More McCaffrey likely equals more points, more wins and less stress on an undermanned defense. Take Sunday, for instance: Cousins completed his first 17 passes against the Bears, leading the Vikings to touchdowns on their first three possessions while building a 21-3 lead. A week after getting pushed around by the Jared Goff-led Lions, it was the Saints turn -- Taysom Hill (accounted for four touchdowns) and Alvin Kamara (194 total yards) did pretty much whatever they wanted in a 39-32 Seattle loss. An established power rises to the top spot for the first time this season in Dan Hanzus' Power Rankings. This is another team that has issues at quarterback. Defense: 16 He had a top-10 defense in points allowed in four . The Colts have dropped a bit because they've struggled in giving up yards. But this team's fortunes have fallen the hardest because of an offense that has turned the ball over far too often and scored touchdowns too few times. Thankfully, the defense has kept them in and won them some games. --Michael DiRocco, Defensive efficiency:47.3 . What is a surprise is that the offense, bolstered by Ben Roethlisberger's return, is only 20th in the FPI rankings. Brissett threw 34 passes in the loss, or double the amount of carries Nick Chubb had in the game. They can't ask Josh Allen to do it all. What is the NFL pecking order heading into the final week of the regular season? Tucker is 17-for-17 lifetime on attempts in the final minute of regulation. They will most likely bring back Geno Smith at quarterback, which they should do. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF "I'm not where I was at the end of last season in that old system," Cousins said, "but we're developing it and we're getting there and I'm excited about that continued growth.". When Justin Herbert's subsequent pass fell incomplete, the Browns looked like a team given an early Christmas gift by the opposing head coach. With Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas sidelined, Hill got help from Alvin Kamara, who piled up 194 yards of total offense and looked -- for the first time in quite a while -- like, well, Alvin Kamara. section: | slug: nfl-power-rankings-chiefs-sit-atop-post-super-bowl-list-as-three-afc-teams-land-in-top-four | sport: football | route: article_single_league_latest | The Pats attacked the Swiss-cheese Detroit defense on the ground, while Belichicks defensive scheme put Jared Goff in a mental blender. What will define Eric Bieniemy's success. Through four games this season, Detroit has allowed 141 points (35.3 points per game), which is the second most in franchise history -- trailing only the 0-16 squad from 2008. Will he be with the Packers or is he getting traded? The quarterback, who had struggled mightily through the first four weeks of his second season, caught fire in the second half, finishing 12 of 13 for 135 yards and a touchdown in the final two quarters. Bengals coach Zac Taylor needs to pop the hood on his offense and figure out why that's no longer the case. Mix in a special-teams unit that features the league's most efficient returner in Andre Roberts, and you've got a team ready to make a deep playoff run. Bradley has been the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks (2009-2012), Los Angeles Chargers (2017-2020) and Las Vegas Raiders (2021). The Bolts are also having to adjust without Pro Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa, who was placed on injured reserve after tearing his groin in Week 3. The concerning part for Washington is that it lacks corner depth and its starters are both established vets -- Kendall Fuller and William Jackson III. --Lindsey Thiry, Defensive efficiency: 53.6 How many teams are better than the Brock Purdy-led 49ers? SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, It's no surprise that the Chiefs have the top-ranked offense -- by a wide margin -- given the seasons that Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are having. The Broncos had surrendered only six points in the second half of their first three games combined, so they were rolling. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/powerrankings, at All Rights Reserved. The biggest issue on defense is the 49ers' offense. However, in the Week 4 loss to the Raiders, the Broncos were pushed off the ball far too often in run defense. Plus, changes at the very top and very bottom. Josh Allen cut through 20 mph winds with ease, connecting on a pair of long TD passes to Gabriel Davis in a first half that included an absurd 348 passing yards for the star QB. After two straight losses, New England will probably look at this game as a chance to get right before a crucial division . That mark should be obliterated on Sunday, when the Jets face the Rams. That might not make him a happy player, but it's a must. They have to throw down the field more. In the second half, Baltimore has given up an NFL-worst 1,019 yards while allowing 67 points. League rank:15th. Connelly's numbers indicate that while bringing a high number of transfers on offense wasn't exactly a winning proposition in 2022 (programs that brought in nine or more newcomers finished 3.2 . --David Newton, Defensive efficiency: 47.6 -- Todd Archer, Offense: 12 The Seahawks are an entertaining team, but a consistently overmatched defense might stop them from being anything more than that. But they will need to be sharper when the schedule tightens up again. NFL defense rankings: Offseason outlook for all 32 teams. It's Sean McVay's responsibility to figure out how to fix it before it's too late. They're currently sixth in the league in that category. Past weeks could have been Chiefs, Chargers, or Raiders as well. The running back has played only three games, so when you look at what has happened offensively, it begins with being without the best multipurpose player in the NFL. The backup QB has played the best football of his career, but each of his three interceptions have come at crucial late junctures to seal -- or help seal -- the Browns' fate in their losses. They were easy throws for Mahomes, made easy by Reid's brilliant offensive mind. Presumably, they'll return to form once Byron Jones returns from the physically unable to perform list -- which he's eligible to do this week. Below, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters across the league and asked what the biggest issue faced by each team's defense is. Shane Steichen will be their new head coach, but if he doesn't find a quarterback, it won't matter how good he is as a coach. injuries. There is a lot of young talent on the roster. Buffalo Bills (3-1) Week 4 ranking: 2. Who sits atop the NFL Power Rankings heading into the playoffs? Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit Win a shootout? The unit that gave up 51 points to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs in January has not improved this season, and even a healthy J.J. Watt can make only so much of a difference. I trust the Bills, who are loaded with talent and have been through the wars. Defense: 18 League rank: 23rd. That also has been a factor in the team's failure to convert seven game-winning or tying drives. KEY: Gms = Games Played, Tot Pts = Total Points Scored, Pts/G = Points Per Game, RushYds = Rushing Yards, RYds/G = Rushing Yards Per Game . Detroit currently leads the league in scoring but also allows the most points in the league. The turnovers are the red-alert number. League rank: 24th. Sometimes inexperience has led to the big plays, but other times it's just corners getting beat, whether outright or because they anticipated help that didn't arrive. -- Jeff Dickerson, The special-teams units -- Diontae Spencer's punt return TD in Sunday's win not withstanding -- have had plenty of migraine moments this season, likely more than that rating indicates. The Kansas City Chiefs are champions after Super Bowl LVII. In an NFL bereft of consistent playmaking at tight end, Kelce is a cheat-code outlier. 1. New coach Sean Payton is one of the best offensive minds in the game. 1 after a dominating Super Bowl victory. Dan Hanzus updates his league pecking order, 1 to 32. Losing sturdy DT Lawrence Guy to a shoulder injury is a contributing factor, but that alone doesn't fully explain the alarming past six quarters the defense has played against the run. The Chiefs are doing a nice job of pressuring the quarterback, so it figures the turnovers will come. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Minnesota can't afford for its kicking issues to continue after its playoff chances took a massive hit against Tampa Bay. "Cause man, man, man.". The Colts' defense thrived on takeaways last season, producing 33 turnovers. The Texans have joined the ranks of the living, with their first win of the season. No waxing on or waxing off about that logic. But as FPI underscores, the defense has had issues outside of pass-rusher Myles Garrett, especially in the secondary, where injuries and inconsistent play have plagued Cleveland all season. Nor would quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who won his second Super Bowl MVP and second ring in five years. --Stephen Holder, Defensive efficiency: 46.0 League rank: 25th. They have to get him help, and they have the cap room to do it. Whenit was over, the Colts were celebrating in Denver on Thursday night -- even if the result didnt quite make sense. Hey, six different defensive coordinators in the decade does not exactly signify stability, from John Marshall to Chuck Bresnahan to Jason Tarver to Ken Norton Jr. to John Pagano to Paul Guenther. Losing Chandler Joneshas taken a greater toll on Arizona's pass rush than expected. Defensive efficiency, powered by ESPN's Football Power Index, is rated on a 0-100 scale, based on the defense's contribution to scoring margin on per-play basis and adjusted for strength of opposing offenses faced. Get updated NFL defense rankings for the 2022 season. Did Jalen Hurts and Co. just run the Eagles back to the top of the NFL Power Rankings? Check out Dan Hanzus' full league pecking order, 1 to 32. --Eric Woodyard, Defensive efficiency: 41.1 A healthy Adams would be making a difference as a run defender and a pass-rusher. San Francisco ranks near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category, but the offense has been near the bottom of the league in a number of areas, most notably points scored. The Dolphins have been stout against the run, and the numbers they've given up are a bit skewed considering Josh Allen's 63 pass attempts in Week 3 and Lamar Jackson's prolific first half in Week 2. Miami currently has the second-worst pass defense in the NFL through its first four games, although that hasn't translated to the scoreboard. Tagovailoa already has been ruled out for Week 5. 1 team: Jump to a team: But injuries to key players have made it difficult for the unit to develop an identity through four games. We just got to go 1-0 each week. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. With the Falcons officially eliminated from playoff contention, it's time to turn the focus to 2021 and potentially moving on at quarterback while retooling other areas of the roster. A few other popular sleeper defenses that you might have drafted late are definitely off limits in Week 1 . The best teams find ways to win. League rank: 27th. -- Alaina Getzenberg, Defensive efficiency: 85.7 New Orleans Saints (10-3). Defense: 26 Sign up for the Raiders Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. For the second straight week, Green Bay failed to make key stops against an offense compromised by injuries. Win-Loss + Spread Records By Closing Spread, Spread + Over/Under Records By Combined Closing Lines. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, It's no surprise that the Steelers have another highly ranked defense, with the core from last season returning. Figures indicate statistics each team allowed to their opponents. In this edition of the NFL Power Rankings, the Giants and Jets soar to new heights, while the Buccaneers and Panthers tumble down the board. Assessing Browns' FA needs, The Ravens are the only NFL team to rank in the top 10 on offense, defense and special teams. Injuries have impacted the defense at times, but it has kept the Cardinals in games as the offense continues to figure itself out. The Giants aren't the most talented team in the NFC, and they're far from the healthiest, but they compete like hell and put themselves in the best position to win each week. On the ensuing possession, Davante Adams had a sideline reception to put the team in field-goal range in the final seconds wiped away by an official review. But the Niners still have a losing record, despite the generally strong overall rankings, because of the team's inconsistency and turnover problems. -- Lindsey Thiry, Russell Wilson was the MVP front-runner for much of the first half of the season, which the Seahawks needed, with their defense getting gashed at a historic rate. How many teams are hotter than Dan Campbell's Lions? But there's little to pick apart. Check out the full league pecking order, 1-32. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. Eh, I don't know. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, Defensive efficiency:62.7 They head to the offseason with quarterback worries. The question is the same one as in most years: Will the defense and/or special teams cost the Packers when it matters most? The Bengals are 26th in sacks per dropback, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, and are tied for 22nd in total sacks. They don't have an edge rusher with more than one sack and have called the third-most blitzes (57) so far this season. Bills. McVay's bet paid off, as Staley took over a good defense that included Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, maintained a base 3-4 scheme and added several wrinkles to make it great. It's time for Lawrence, touted as a generational talent entering the league, to step up. Carolina fired the head coach on Monday, ending hisrun with the Panthers at 11-27 in two-plus seasons. Penny is a talented player who cant shake the injury bug. Whether you are using the NFL team defense rankings for NFL player props, betting, fantasy, or just your own personal knowledge, we have you covered. The Ravens used to get offenses off the field when they had Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs forcing clutch turnovers. The biggest issue on defense is finishing the game. Football Power Index rankings Late Sunday night, filled with joy from another Super Bowl victory, I asked Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark if his organization was now considered a dynasty, with two Super Bowl victories in four years and three appearances. The nickel package has struggled with veteran Terrance Mitchell and second-year player Caleb Farley finding their way as they rotate opposite of Kristian Fulton. They look really solid from front to back, even with safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, formerly of the New Orleans Saints, acclimating to a new position and team. Unfortunately, that hasn't helped the team win. To say the Raiders have struggled on the defensive side of the ball in the previous decade is a bit of an understatement.