1. Buffalo Bills
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
The “Blitzburgh Steelers” in “The Burgh” still play passionate and technically sound defense. Led by TJ Watt, aka “The Gamewrecker,” and do-it-all linebacker Devin Bush, this defense continues to play strong while the offense struggles to find its identity.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is a ballhawk in the secondary, and 12-year veteran Joe Haden still mans the top corner spot.
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— SteelerNation (@SteeIerNation) October 20, 2021
If Pittsburgh makes the playoffs this season it will be on the strength of its defense and head coach Mike Tomlin.
3. Arizona Cardinals
In the “Valley of the Sun,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is feasting on offenses with pressure from his down four linemen, led by elite edge rushers Chandler Jones and JJ Watt. This allows him to use seven in coverage and mix up his looks. He still loves to blitz, and when he does he’s usually effective, but he doesn’t have to do it as often this season.
4. Tampa Bay Bucs
It took a few weeks, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are beginning to look like the team that dominated on the defensive side of the football late last season.
As the team gets healthier the D is also picking up and can make teams one-dimensional with Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh shutting down the inside run game.
Eagles vs. Bucs Final Injury Report: Lane Johnson officially out, Tampa Bay defense banged up https://t.co/0TgwerOqib
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) October 13, 2021
Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles loves to bring pressure and deception, but with all the injuries early in the season he’s kept it very vanilla. Expect that to change as well.
5. L.A. Rams
In order for Sean McVay’s Rams to become the second straight team to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium, the defense will have to equal the potency of the offense. Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey make it possible, but overall, the Rams have to improve against the run and get more stops on third down.
Honorable Mention:
Cincinnati Bengals — A lot more talented on that side of the ball than most know. All you hear about is their offense. But this team is pretty complete.
Denver Broncos — Elite-level defense being wasted by a bad offense. It’s catching up to them.
24-7
I was told the Broncos defense was elite#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/BwS19ENNoZ— Cliff (@srlklr) October 17, 2021
Baltimore Ravens — Playing hard and tough with a ton of injured players. They blitz teams into submission.
