Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. That adage still holds up in the modern NFL, as seen with the success of the Seattle Seahawks this season. We’ve seen other teams carried by their defense as well, including the Houston Texans, who got to the AFC Divisional Round despite a vanilla offense and a struggling quarterback.
When making these rankings, I’m considering how each group performed last year, while also trying to project what they may look like this upcoming season. This is based on current personnel, coaching staff, free agent signings, draft picks, and more. That’s why teams that may lose their defensive coordinator may not be as high as you’d expect.
Below, I’ll dig into my NFL defense power rankings of all 32 teams. After reading, you’ll have an idea of which teams should have the best defenses heading into the 2026 NFL season. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.
NFL Defense Power Rankings
NFL Defense power rankings are updated as of September 17, 2026.
- Los Angeles Rams
- Houston Texans
- Seattle Seahawks
- Denver Broncos
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New England Patriots
- Baltimore Ravens
- San Francisco 49ers
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Dallas Cowboys
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns
- Indianapolis Colts
- Buffalo Bills
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Washington Commanders
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Carolina Panthers
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets
- Detroit Lions
- Miami Dolphins
- Chicago Bears
The Jets are in full-out rebuild mode after trading Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner. Defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn needs to start showing his value on this side of the ball.
The Commanders got an infusion of talent and improved coaching in this defense. I like how they’ve brought in Daronte Jones as the new defensive coordinator, as he worked with Brian Flores in Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about NFL defenses.
What is the most important on defense?
The most important on defense is pass rush. If the group can’t get to the quarterback consistently, they’re going to have a tough time. The next best is pass coverage. It’s a passing league nowadays, so this means much more than run defense. This is why defenses like the Rams could be dominant with Myles Garrett in the fold.
Does defense win championships?
Yes, defense absolutely wins championships. Just look at how the Eagles completely shut down the Chiefs in the Super Bowl back in 2025.
Can you win a Super Bowl with a bad defense?
It’s certainly possible to win a Super Bowl with a bad defense, but it’s going to be difficult. Just look at Joe Burrow and the Bengals. They’ve missed the playoffs for two straight years because of this.
