NFL’s Top Defenses Since 1980 Statistically Ranked By Greatness
By Matt Reed
12. 2006 Baltimore Ravens: 50 Points
The 2006 Baltimore Ravens featured some of the best to ever play the game on the defensive side of the ball. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis anchored the defense that ultimately fell in the divisional round of the postseason. Baltimore conceded 4.5 yards per play, which led the NFL. The Ravens also led the league in points allowed per game (12.6), eight points better than the league average, 20.7.
Their 3.3 yards per rush allowed (2nd in the NFL), along with five rushing touchdowns given up (led the NFL), were what stood out most to me. Baltimore also finished second in turnovers forced, with 40.
Icons: Adalius Thomas, Bart Scott, Ed Reed
11. 1988 Chicago Bears: 60 Points
The ’88 Bears may not have been the greatest Bears defense of all-time, but they still had players like Mike Singletary and Dan Hampton, meaning they were still better than most. Like many seasons, Chicago led the league with 13.4 points per game allowed and conceded 0.3 rushing touchdowns per game.
In that same season, Singletary won his second AP Defensive Player of the Year award, and he is only one of six men in NFL history to have captured the award on multiple occasions.
Icons: Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael
Next: A Rex Ryan defense comes in at number 9