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Best NFL Defenses in 2025-26: NFL Defense Rankings Through Week 13

Best NFL Defenses in 2025-26: NFL Defense Rankings Through Week 13

The NFL season is nearing its final stretches and the league’s best defenses are keeping their teams in the thick of the postseason chase.

The Texans and Broncos are stifling opposing offenses on a weekly basis as they contend for playoff spots, while the Bengals and Giants seem to be playing shorthanded as they chase a top draft pick.

Let’s see what makes the league’s best defenses so successful.

Don’t forget: You can watch all of the NFL action on the gridiron with DIRECTV.


2025-26 NFL Season Defensive Rankings

Thirteen weeks into the season, here’s what makes the top 10 defensive units stand out.

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans retook the top spot in points allowed by holding the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts to just 16 points in a huge Week 13 victory.

Houston followed the recipe for shutting down the Colts that the Steelers and Chiefs laid out: stop the run. The Texans yielded just 86 yards on the ground and less than 200 through the air.

Houston has now won four straight to sit a game behind the Colts and Jaguars for the AFC South lead. And their defense, which has allowed more than 20 points just twice this season, remains the league’s best.

Houston leads the league in points against and total yards allowed. They’ve created the fourth-most turnovers with 19, allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards and the third-fewest rushing yards.

This defense excels at every level and they are taking down not just the teams they should, but also the teams they need to beat to make it deep into the playoffs.

Next up: A date in Kansas City with the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. Both teams need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive in what will be a must-see conference matchup.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams suffered a stunning loss in Carolina on Sunday with one of their worst defensive performances of the year.

They gave up 360 total yards, including 164 on the ground. They didn’t force a single turnover. They did sack Bryce Young twice, but they allowed Carolina to go 7-15 on third down and 3-3 on fourth down. They couldn’t get off the field.

Carolina has been a surprise team, but this is the kind of game that the Rams, if they are a legit #1 seed, should win. Their 31 points against is the second most on the season.

Next up: A Week 14 matchup in Arizona against the division rival Cardinals with Detroit looming in Week 15. This once again feels like a trap game on the road. But having already lost hold of the NFC’s number one seed with a loss to Carolina, Los Angeles isn’t just risking a playoff seed, it might risk a postseason berth entirely.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks may not have played on Thanksgiving Day, but they feasted over the weekend in a 26-0 victory over the Vikings. Minnesota has been struggling all year and rolled out undrafted rookie Max Brosmer for his first start.

The Seahawks sacked Brosmer four times and they picked him off four times, including a humiliating pick six on one of the few Vikings drives that made it to the red zone.

They held Minnesota to just 162 total yards, including 96 yards passing and 66 yards on the ground. Minnesota was 2-10 on third down, 0-2 on fourth down and averaged just four yards per pass attempt.

If it weren’t for Seattle settling for field goals, this score could have been even more lopsided.

The Seahawk defense showed just how scary they can be. They’re top ten in fewest total yards allowed. They’re second in fewest rushing yards allowed, fourth in sacks, second in total pressures, second in total hurries and they have playmakers at all three levels.

Next up: A trip to Atlanta to take on the Falcons with the Colts, Rams and surging Panthers on deck. This has all the elements of a classic trap game that Seattle will hope to avoid.

Denver Broncos

Denver had a closer game than one might expect against the lowly Commanders, but they eked out a 27-26 overtime win in Washington on Sunday Night Football.

The defense had a surprisingly weak showing, giving up 419 total yards including 143 on the ground. They sacked Washington just twice and allowed Washington to go 8-17 on third down and 3-3 on fourth down.

Time and again, Washington was able to keep drives moving and the Denver defense on the field. Mariota was particularly effective scrambling, rushing 10 times for 55 yards on top of 294 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Talanoa Hufanga had a particularly great game with a pass deflection and 13 tackles including two tackles for loss. Nick Bonitto had a sack, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a game-sealing swat of Marcus Mariota’s two-point pass attempt to end the game.

Denver boasts the league’s best pass rush. They lead the league with 51 sacks, they’re top three in total pressures and they’ve allowed the fewest touchdowns of any team. They did show some vulnerability against a quarterback with scrambling ability, however.

Next up: Denver has now won their ninth straight ahead of a divisional matchup against the Raiders before four straight games against playoff hopeful teams: the Packers, Jaguars, Chiefs and Chargers. While they’re one of the few 10-win teams in the league, such a slate does not guarantee their playoff spot unless their defense finds their form and their offense can reestablish their rhythm.

Green Bay Packers

In a huge division matchup against the Lions on Thanksgiving, the Packers emerged victorious with a 31-24 win.

They sacked Jared Goff three times. Micah Parsons alone had 2.5 sacks plus a few more quarterback hits, and the Packers were able to do what Philadelphia did: get in Goff’s face early and knock him out of rhythm.

Of course, it didn’t help that Amon-Ra St. Brown left the game early with an ankle injury, but still, credit is due to the Green Bay defense for creating so much pressure and making life difficult for the Detroit passing game. Another huge key to the success: holding Jahmyr Gibbs to 68 yards on 20 carries.

Next up: The finale of their three-game stretch against division opponents. Green Bay is looking to make it three for three after back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Detroit as they prepare to take on a Chicago Bears team that have won nine of their last 10. The victor in this game will claim the top spot in the NFC North.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs lost a devastating Thanksgiving Day game to the Dallas Cowboys and now find their postseason chances in serious jeopardy. Their defense especially was carved up, giving up 457 total yards, including 320 through the air and another 137 on the ground.

The 31 points given up is tied for the most they’ve given up all season, and the 457 total yards is easily their worst.

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott had all the time in the world to surgically dissect the Chiefs. He wasn’t sacked a single time and didn’t face nearly the same kind of pressure Dallas was able to put on Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs defense has been one of the best scoring units in the NFL, but last year’s luck in one-score games seems to have worn out. All six of Kansas City’s losses this season have been in one-score games.

Next up: A matchup with the league’s best defense, the Houston Texans, on Sunday Night Football. Houston is trending in the complete opposite direction of Kansas City, having won four straight, three of which have been against playoff hopeful teams. Kansas City’s postseason chances are slim, even if they pull off the win.

New England Patriots

There’s no hotter team in the NFL than the New England Patriots. Winners of 10 straight, the Patriots head into their bye first in the AFC. They put a 33-15 beating down on the New York Giants, exemplified by the massive sideline hit Christian Ellis put on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.

This was a huge day for the New England defense and special teams. They yielded just 239 total yards, including a paltry 128 through the air. They technically blocked a kick on one of the most bizarre field goal attempts ever. They forced a fumble, they sacked Dart twice and Marcus Jones returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.

New England is one of the best teams at the line of scrimmage. They’re the third-best rush defense, allowing just 89.5 yards per game and they have the eighth-most tackles for loss. This is a defense that looks a lot like those in their Super Bowl-winning days. The Patriots are not just a team outplaying expectations, they’re outplaying the rest of the league.

Next up: Coming out of their Week 14 bye, they get a home matchup against the division rival Bills before taking on the Ravens, who will be fighting for their playoff lives in Week 16.

Philadelphia Eagles

A few weeks ago against the Detroit Lions, it looked like the Eagles had regained their championship form on defense. In the two weeks since, it’s been a much different story.

Back-to-back losses to the Cowboys and Bears have shown that Detroit was maybe an aberration.

After giving up 473 total yards against the Cowboys with most of the damage coming from the Dallas passing attack, Philadelphia followed that up with 425 total yards and 281 yards on the ground courtesy of the Chicago Bears.

The Bears may be the number one rush offense in the league, but for Philadelphia to get beat two different ways in back-to-back weeks is concerning.

The performance prompted boos from the Philadelphia home crowd the day after Thanksgiving. Chicago was 10-17 on third down. Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift combined for 40 carries, 255 yards and two touchdowns. They netted nearly six yards per touch.

Philadelphia is likely going to make the playoffs. They built such a lead in the conference that it would take a complete collapse to not make it. They have three games left against teams that are nowhere near playoff contention, including two against the Washington Commanders. But this is a team that lacks a rhythm offensively and now defensively in a concerning and baffling way.

Next up: Philly takes on the Los Angeles Chargers, who are right in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt. And though the Las Vegas Raiders are not really playing for anything meaningful, they’ll take the moral victory of spoiling an Eagles season in Week 15. This is one of the strangest good teams the NFL has seen in some time.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts lost their second straight to a playoff contending team, falling 20-16 at the hands of the Houston Texans. Their defense was gashed for 364 yards, including 256 through the air.

They were able to sack CJ Stroud twice and intercept him, but the Houston offense moved easily enough in Stroud’s first game back from a lengthy absence due to a concussion.

The two losses can hardly be pinned on the Indianapolis defense. Most coaches will happily take their defense holding the opponent to 20 points through regulation. But with two straight games of season-low offensive performances, more pressure will be on this defense to pick up the slack.

They’re one of the league’s best against the pass. They’re third in interceptions, fifth in sacks and fifth in quarterback hits. As they begin to regress back to the mean as their schedule heats up, it becomes more concerning. All five games left on their schedule are against teams fighting for a playoff spot.

Next up: A matchup in Jacksonville against the Jaguars, who they’re tied with atop the AFC South. They then head to Seattle, host San Francisco, host Jacksonville and then travel to Houston. It’s one of the most brutal final stretches for any team in the league.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers once again kept pace in the AFC playoff race with a 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Their defense was exceptional. They yielded just 31 yards on the ground and 156 yards overall. They were in the quarterback’s face constantly. They sacked him five times. They picked him off once. They hit him nine to ten times overall. One of those sacks went for an absurd 27 yards. Khalil Mack had a particularly great game with two sacks and four tackles for loss. Denzel Perryman and Daiyan Henley had a tackle for loss of their own. The Chargers just leveled the Raiders.

The concern is not on defense but on offense, where Justin Herbert suffered a fracture in his throwing hand and will get surgery to repair it.

Next up: A home matchup with the Eagles on Monday Night Football. Though they’re at eight and four and in a playoff spot today, their final five games are against playoff teams. After they host Philadelphia, they travel to Kansas City and Dallas, host Houston and venture to Denver in Week 18. They rival the Indianapolis Colts with one of the most brutal final stretches of the season.

2025 NFL Defenses Ranked by Points Against (Lowest to Highest)

Houston held the Indianapolis Colts to 16 points in their Week 13 win and the Seahawks blanked the Vikings. Meanwhile, the Rams surrendered a surprising 31 against the Panthers, but they remain one of the league’s best.

Rank Team Points Allowed Total Yards Passing Yards Rushing Yards Turnovers
1 Houston Texans 198 3188 2088 1100 19
2 Los Angeles Rams 210 3781 2487 1294 20
3 Seattle Seahawks 217 3473 2408 1065 18
4 Denver Broncos 218 3437 2320 1117 10
5 Green Bay Packers 226 3418 2238 1180 11
6 Kansas City Chiefs 232 3680 2469 1211 10
7 New England Patriots 241 3853 2690 1163 14
8 Indianapolis Colts 249 4134 2955 1179 17
9 Philadelphia Eagles 249 4166 2619 1547 13
10 Los Angeles Chargers 252 3303 2020 1283 13
11 Jacksonville Jaguars 253 3750 2761 989 20
12 Buffalo Bills 259 3654 1958 1696 15
13 San Francisco 49ers 269 4365 3016 1349 14
14 Cleveland Browns 270 3255 2039 1216 15
15 Detroit Lions 274 3794 2550 1244 13
16 Atlanta Falcons 276 3827 2253 1574 15
17 Minnesota Vikings 281 3682 2141 1541 11
18 Miami Dolphins 286 4142 2492 1650 14
19 Pittsburgh Steelers 289 4381 2969 1412 22
20 Baltimore Ravens 293 4205 2784 1421 14
21 New Orleans Saints 295 3775 2252 1523 14
22 Carolina Panthers 297 4304 2761 1543 17
23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 301 4139 2970 1169 18
24 Arizona Cardinals 303 3986 2635 1351 17
25 Chicago Bears 307 4308 2702 1606 26
26 Las Vegas Raiders 308 3879 2550 1329 14
27 New York Jets 315 3927 2353 1574 2
28 Washington Commanders 323 4659 3059 1600 7
29 Tennessee Titans 328 4150 2619 1531 10
30 Dallas Cowboys 342 4514 3018 1496 10
31 New York Giants 367 5015 3010 2005 7
32 Cincinnati Bengals 374 4920 3081 1839 15

2025 NFL Defenses Ranked by Total Yards Against (Lowest to Highest)

The Browns held the 49ers to 91 yards rushing on 33 carries. The Texans to just 86 yards on the ground. Not impressed with either, the Chargers smothered the Raiders rushing attack that put up just 31 rushing yards.

Rank Team Total Yards Points Allowed Passing Yards Rushing Yards Turnovers
1 Houston Texans 3188 198 2088 1100 19
2 Cleveland Browns 3255 270 2039 1216 15
3 Los Angeles Chargers 3303 252 2020 1283 13
4 Green Bay Packers 3418 226 2238 1180 11
5 Denver Broncos 3437 218 2320 1117 10
6 Seattle Seahawks 3473 217 2408 1065 18
7 Buffalo Bills 3654 259 1958 1696 15
8 Kansas City Chiefs 3680 232 2469 1211 10
9 Minnesota Vikings 3682 281 2141 1541 11
10 Jacksonville Jaguars 3750 253 2761 989 20
11 New Orleans Saints 3775 295 2252 1523 14
12 Los Angeles Rams 3781 210 2487 1294 20
13 Detroit Lions 3794 274 2550 1244 13
14 Atlanta Falcons 3827 276 2253 1574 15
15 New England Patriots 3853 241 2690 1163 14
16 Las Vegas Raiders 3879 308 2550 1329 14
17 New York Jets 3927 315 2353 1574 2
18 Arizona Cardinals 3986 303 2635 1351 17
19 Indianapolis Colts 4134 249 2955 1179 17
20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4139 301 2970 1169 18
21 Miami Dolphins 4142 286 2492 1650 14
22 Tennessee Titans 4150 328 2619 1531 10
23 Philadelphia Eagles 4166 249 2619 1547 13
24 Baltimore Ravens 4205 293 2784 1421 14
25 Carolina Panthers 4304 297 2761 1543 17
26 Chicago Bears 4308 307 2702 1606 26
27 San Francisco 49ers 4365 269 3016 1349 14
28 Pittsburgh Steelers 4381 289 2969 1412 22
29 Dallas Cowboys 4514 342 3018 1496 10
30 Washington Commanders 4659 323 3059 1600 7
31 Cincinnati Bengals 4920 374 3081 1839 15
32 New York Giants 5015 367 3010 2005 7

2025 NFL Defenses Ranked by Passing Yards Against (Lowest to Highest)

The Bills shut down the Steelers passing game in Week 13, their fourth consecutive game giving up less than 175 yards passing.

Geno Smith managed just 125 yards against the Chargers when you subtract all the sack yards. And the Browns took the L but gave up just 161 yards through the air and 91 on the ground.

Rank Team Passing Yards Rushing Yards Total Yards Points Allowed Turnovers
1 Buffalo Bills 1958 1696 3654 259 15
2 Los Angeles Chargers 2020 1283 3303 252 13
3 Cleveland Browns 2039 1216 3255 270 15
4 Houston Texans 2088 1100 3188 198 19
5 Minnesota Vikings 2141 1541 3682 281 11
6 Green Bay Packers 2238 1180 3418 226 11
7 New Orleans Saints 2252 1523 3775 295 14
8 Atlanta Falcons 2253 1574 3827 276 15
9 Denver Broncos 2320 1117 3437 218 10
10 New York Jets 2353 1574 3927 315 2
11 Seattle Seahawks 2408 1065 3473 217 18
12 Kansas City Chiefs 2469 1211 3680 232 10
13 Los Angeles Rams 2487 1294 3781 210 20
14 Miami Dolphins 2492 1650 4142 286 14
15 Detroit Lions 2550 1244 3794 274 13
16 Las Vegas Raiders 2550 1329 3879 308 14
17 Tennessee Titans 2619 1531 4150 328 10
18 Philadelphia Eagles 2619 1547 4166 249 13
19 Arizona Cardinals 2635 1351 3986 303 17
20 New England Patriots 2690 1163 3853 241 14
21 Chicago Bears 2702 1606 4308 307 26
22 Jacksonville Jaguars 2761 989 3750 253 20
23 Carolina Panthers 2761 1543 4304 297 17
24 Baltimore Ravens 2784 1421 4205 293 14
25 Indianapolis Colts 2955 1179 4134 249 17
26 Pittsburgh Steelers 2969 1412 4381 289 22
27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2970 1169 4139 301 18
28 New York Giants 3010 2005 5015 367 7
29 San Francisco 49ers 3016 1349 4365 269 14
30 Dallas Cowboys 3018 1496 4514 342 10
31 Washington Commanders 3059 1600 4659 323 7
32 Cincinnati Bengals 3081 1839 4920 374 15

2025 NFL Defenses Ranked by Rushing Yards Against (Lowest to Highest)

The Jaguars tamped down the Titans rushing attack to the tune of just 67 yards. The Seahawks throttled the Vikings in every which way including keeping them to a measly 66 yards on the ground. And the Texans became the second straight team to stifle the Colts high-powered rushing attack.

Rank Team Rushing Yards Passing Yards Total Yards Points Allowed Turnovers
1 Jacksonville Jaguars 989 2761 3750 253 20
2 Seattle Seahawks 1065 2408 3473 217 18
3 Houston Texans 1100 2088 3188 198 19
4 Denver Broncos 1117 2320 3437 218 10
5 New England Patriots 1163 2690 3853 241 14
6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1169 2970 4139 301 18
7 Indianapolis Colts 1179 2955 4134 249 17
8 Green Bay Packers 1180 2238 3418 226 11
9 Kansas City Chiefs 1211 2469 3680 232 10
10 Cleveland Browns 1216 2039 3255 270 15
11 Detroit Lions 1244 2550 3794 274 13
12 Los Angeles Chargers 1283 2020 3303 252 13
13 Los Angeles Rams 1294 2487 3781 210 20
14 Las Vegas Raiders 1329 2550 3879 308 14
15 San Francisco 49ers 1349 3016 4365 269 14
16 Arizona Cardinals 1351 2635 3986 303 17
17 Pittsburgh Steelers 1412 2969 4381 289 22
18 Baltimore Ravens 1421 2784 4205 293 14
19 Dallas Cowboys 1496 3018 4514 342 10
20 New Orleans Saints 1523 2252 3775 295 14
21 Tennessee Titans 1531 2619 4150 328 10
22 Minnesota Vikings 1541 2141 3682 281 11
23 Carolina Panthers 1543 2761 4304 297 17
24 Philadelphia Eagles 1547 2619 4166 249 13
25 Atlanta Falcons 1574 2253 3827 276 15
26 New York Jets 1574 2353 3927 315 2
27 Washington Commanders 1600 3059 4659 323 7
28 Chicago Bears 1606 2702 4308 307 26
29 Miami Dolphins 1650 2492 4142 286 14
30 Buffalo Bills 1696 1958 3654 259 15
31 Cincinnati Bengals 1839 3081 4920 374 15
32 New York Giants 2005 3010 5015 367 7


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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the best defense in the NFL in 2025?

The Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers are the top defenses in the league by points allowed and each is among the league best in total yards allowed.

Who are the top 5 NFL defenses?

The top five NFL defenses by points allowed are: Houston Texans (198), Los Angeles Rams (210), Seattle Seahawks (217), Denver Broncos (218), Green Bay Packers (226)

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