Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
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- Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
What is the best defense in the NFL? Week 8 is everything football fans should want to see, with two of the best NFL defenses in 2026 (Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks) facing two of the best offenses in football (Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears). While those amtchups are the headliners from this weekend, there were plenty of impressive showings and alarming performances to evaluate.
Let’s dive into our Week 9 NFL defense rankings, evaluating how every defense performed in Week 8. We’ve also previewed some upcoming defensive matchups for defenses coming off the bye and provided our Week 9 fantasy defense rankings ath the bottom.
The Minnesota Vikings defense is historically dominant. Entering Sunday, Minnesota had allowed the second-lowest yards per play (4.5) with an average passer rating allowed (61.7) that pales in comparison to the second-best pass defense (Seattle Seahawks, 72.6). To the surprise of no one, it’s operating on an extraordinarily high blitz rate (67.6 percent) that has resulted in a league-high pressure rate (35.7 percent) and sack rate (10.6 percent). Everyone thought that the Lions offense, with Jared Goff playing at an MVP-caliber level, might finally be the unit to stop Minnesota’s dominance defensively. Instead, led by Andrew Van Ginkel (3 QB hits and 2.5 sacks), the Vikings had four sacks in the first half on Goff and limited Detroit to 88 net passing yards. Unfortunately, the Vikings offense was unable to sustain drives, resulting in Detroit putting up 13 second-half points. Still, holding the Lions offense to 19 points and a single red-zone touchdown on 11 drives at Ford Field is an accomplishment.
The Seattle Seahawks defense versus the Bears offense s a gift from the football gods on Monday Night Football. Chicago will naturally try to runt he football, as it entered Week 8 leading the NFL in rushing yards per game (154.3), but Seattle has been outstanding against the run for two years now and its opponents have averaged just 89.4 rush ypg (fifth) and 3.5 yards per carry. Another thing Seattle is great at? Taking away tight ends, with Colston Loveland about to face a defense that has allowed the fewest receiving yards per game (34.4) to the position this season. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams are the X-factors that can still find ways to beat Mike Macdonald’s defense, making this a must-see chess match.
The Denver Broncos defense got the one stop it needed at the goal line to preserve the win. That came in a fourth quarter where the Chiefs offense was shut out, and Denver also held Patrick Mahomes and Co. in check on third down (6-for-14). Really, backup running back Emmett Johnson (128 receiving yards) was the only one who caused Denver any trouble. After a tough challenge this Sunday, Denver should be licking its chops over a Week 9 matchup against the injury-decimated Panthers offensive line and rattled quarterback Bryce Young.
What a two-game run it’s been from this Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Sunday marked the second consecutive week that Tampa Bay held an opponent under 260 total yards, and it’s now allowed just three red-zone trips in the last 22 drives. Phenomenal work. Game script (Week 7) and weather (Week 8) certainly are contributing factors in that, but let’s also remember that the Buccaneers entered Sunday ranked ninth in third-down defense (36.4 percent conversion rate), seventh in yards-per-play allowed (5.0) and points per drive (1.81), and third in total yards per drive allowed (26.8). Those numbers are going to be even better now. This is a great defense, even if the pass rush isn’t on that level, and it will be tested by Caleb Williams and the Bears’ passing game next Sunday night.
This Pittsburgh Steelers defense wasn’t going to allow itself to struggle with Cleveland the way it did a few weeks ago. In the rematch, Harold Fannin Jr. (154 receiving yards) accounted for 48.3 percent of the Browns’ total yardage on Sunday. Deshaun Watson did clear the 300-yard mark, but much of that damage came in garbage time. The Steelers have now held three consecutive opponents under 20 points, and they’ll have two weeks to prepare for a Week 10 matchup against the Bengals offense, another rematch from earlier in the season.
Sunday’s loss certainly doesn’t fall on the shoulders of the Kansas City Chiefs defense. Going on the road and holding an opponent to an 18.2 percent third-down conversion rate and 26.7 yards per drive should be good enough to win. Unfortunately for Steve Spagnuolo, his unit did implode a bit in the fourth quarter by allowing 136 total yards and 14 points on just 11 plays (12.4 yards per play), and rookie Jonah Coleman did most of that damage. The Chiefs’ pass rush should look better next Sunday versus Geno Smith, but the Jets’ skill group (Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, and Omar Cooper Jr.) could beat Kansas City for a few explosive plays on its way to 21-plus points.
Through seven games this season, the San Francisco 49ers defense ranks ninth in EPA per Play (-0.040) and Dropback Success Rate (44.6 percent), all the while allowing the 12th-fewest points per drive (1.93) and the fourth-lowest yards-per-play average (4.7) in the NFL. That success comes with Nick Bosa missing significant time, Alfred Collins on injured reserve, and a transition period under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Bosa could be back in Week 9, and Morris’ defense now has DeForest Buckner on the interior. If 49ers fans were pleased with this defense before, it is about to get even better. We’ll certainly see Brock Bowers give them some trouble in Week 9, but that’s about all the Raiders offense has going for it right now.
Naturally, the Jacksonville Jaguars defense feasted on Indianapolis. The Colts finished with 134 net passing yards on Sunday, with Daniel Jones throwing two interceptions and taking three sacks before getting pulled. Likewise, Indianapolis got nothing on the ground, with Jonathan Taylor bottled up for 23 yards on eight carries (2.9 yards per carry). With this Jaguars defense facing the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens and then the Titans offense in the next two weeks, we should keep seeing a defensive clinic from this unit.
Injuries are always going to be considered in our NFL defense rankings, that’s why the Los Angeles Rams are dropping after Week 8. Jaylen Watson (shoulder) was ruled out pretty quickly after suffering his injury on Sunday, and fellow corner Trent McDuffie is now dealing with a back issue. That’s a major problem for a unit that still has no timeline for Kobie Turner (groin) and Myles Garrett (knee) to return from their injuries. Los Angeles has no depth at cornerback, so if McDuffie and/or Watson miss time, things could get pretty rough for this pass defense.
Entering the weekend, the signals coming from the Los Angeles Chargers front office were that this team wouldn’t consider selling at the trade deadline. Will that change after Derwin James Jr. hit injured reserve and the team extended its losing streak to seven games? Perhaps. Until it does, we’ll put more stock in a Chargers defense that did an admirable job neutralizing the Rams offense ( 3-for-11 on third down and 25.5 yards per drive ) in another game where its teammates on the other side could do nothing but turn the football over and punt it away after three-and-outs.
Jeffery Simmons is exactly what Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen needed. Look back at his best years in New Orleans, when he had defensive linemen like Cameron Jordan. Simmons is a perennial All-Pro whose game-wrecking ability on the defensive interior is going to completely change what Allen can do with this defense. Chicago’s secondary isn’t perfect by any means and it could still be better at edge rusher, but the acquisition of Simmons very much makes this a top-12 defense.
Review: The statistics from this Atlanta Falcons pass defense look incredible from Sunday (-2 net passing yards allowed), but Tampa Bay basically didn’t use Baker Mayfield (0-for-3 passes completed) in the rain. Atlanta did, however, get completely bullied on the ground, with Bucky Irving (170 rushing yards and 6.3 yards per carry) and Kenneth Gainwell (140 yards and 5.6 yards per carry) doing whatever they wanted. It’s the second time in three weeks that Atlanta has allowed over 200 rushing yards to an opponent, and this unit has now allowed 120-plus yards and 5.0-plus yards per carry three times in the last four games. Cincinnati may try to test that a bit with Chase Brown next Sunday, but the game plan will still center around Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The Green Bay Packers defense truly seems to have turned a corner. What is particularly impressive about that is off-ball linebackers Edgerrin Cooper (Achilles tear) and Zaire Franklin (hairline fracture in leg) are out, and this team is relying heavily on rookie Brandon Cisse as its No. 2 cornerback. In the last five contests , Green Bay has allowed just 14.6 PPG and 299.4 total YPG with a 36.8 percent third-down conversion rate, and opposing quarterbacks have averaged just a 69.4 passer rating with three times as many sacks taken (15) as passing touchdowns (five). Mind you, that is without Micah Parsons. Given the state of the Patriots offensive line and with A.J. Brown injured, Drake Maye could have some real trouble in Week 9.
Opponents know the game plan for success against this Cleveland Browns defense: run the football and don’t stop. Jaylen Warren went off on Sunday in Pittsburgh, putting up 143 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries (8.4 yards per carry). In the last two games, Cleveland has allowed 383 rushing yards , six rushing touchdowns, and a 6.2 yards-per-carry average. The numbers will probably look better in the next two weeks, but that’ll largely be a byproduct of facing two of the worst rushing offenses in the NFL (Saints and Texans).
The NFL trade rumors surrounding this New England Patriots defense are throwing us for a bit of a loop. Reports have suggested that both starting cornerback Carlton Davis III and defensive tackle Christian Barmore could be had. That doesn’t mean either player will be moved, but Barmore remains an impactful player and trading away a proven starter seems like a gamble. One thing is for certain: Davis and Barmore will be necessary next Sunday against a Packers offense that will look to test New England deep as often as it can with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. One thing the Patriots won’t have to worry about is stopping the run.
One thing the New York Giants defense was missing coming into the season was a No. 1 cornerback. Thanks to defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, it appears that Deonte Banks is becoming that. He was phenomenal in coverage on Nico Collins before the bye, joining Arvell Reese among the breakout stars on this Giants defense. Banks and Reese are two of the biggest reasons why, through seven games, New York has held opponents to a 90.1 passer rating (13th) and 6.1 yards per attempt (third). Set to face Tanner McKee and a struggling Eagles offense in Week 9, New York has another great opportunity to deliver a strong showing defensively.
At times on Sunday, we saw the reappearance of the Cincinnati Bengals defense of years past. It’s why Cam Ward (304 passing yards, 2-0 TD-INT, and 104.6 passer rating) had a career-best performance and the Titans offense put up 158 rushing yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry on its way to 36 points. There were, however, three big defensive stops late that resulted in a safety, sent the game into overtime, and then secured the win. There’s clearly a level of volatility with Cincinnati defensively, which could be a bit of an issue versus Drake London and Bijan Robinson in Madrid.
The Baltimore Ravens pass defense was this team’s biggest problem entering November. It now feels like an afterthought with Lamar Jackson potentially lost for the season. Even in a game where Buffalo didn’t need to keep its foot on the gas, DJ Moore (82 yards on four receptions), Dalton Kincaid (86 yards and one touchdown on four receptions), and Khalil Shakir (64 yards on five receptions) all made big plays downfield against the Ravens secondary. On a short week, you know Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence are going to be taking shots early and often. Success through the air will come, and Thursday Night Football will show a national audience what Baltimore’s fan base has known for a while: Marlon Humphrey is cooked.
Will the Houston Texans defense perform better after the bye? A top-two defense in 2025, Houston has allowed the 10th-highest red-zone touchdown rate (68.4 percent), the 12th-most points per drive ( 2.29 ), and the seventh-highest completion rate (66.3 percent) this year. Coverage busts have been a far bigger problem than before, and the four-man rush isn’t getting home like it used to. Fortunately for Houston, it has a get-right matchup coming out of the bye as it draws the worst offensive line in the NFL, with the Chargers offense also dead last in touchdowns. If the Texans defense can’t take advantage of this matchup, alarm bells need to go off. Given how it fared a few weeks ago versus Tennessee, we suspect it will perform well.
Injuries overshadowed the performance on Sunday by this Detroit Lions defense. Linebacker D.J. Wonnum (9 pressures and 5 sacks this season) and safety Brian Branch exited in Week 8 and are in the NFL’s concussion protocol. While those might only be short-term absences, All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell’s injury is of grave concern. Detroit did perform pretty well defensively on Sunday, but the potential long-term absence of Campbell hangs a dark cloud over this unit moving forward.
We can understand why the Carolina Panthers fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. This group has been a disappointment this season and Evero has had years to turn things around without any real signs of doing it. With that said, it’s hard to envision things getting better in the near future since cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are out, and we still don’t know when edge rusher Jaelan Phillips will be cleared to play. Don’t put too much stock in how the Panthers defense performs in Week 9; it might say a lot more about the woeful state of Denver’s passing game.
With David Bailey (groin), Joseph Ossai, and T’Vondre Sweat all inactive, the New York Jets couldn’t do much of anything right against Kirk Cousins and the Raiders offense. The second half was particularly bad, with Las Vegas scoring 24 points and gaining 250 total yards on five possessions before kneeling out the clock to end things. In the last three weeks , Aaron Glenn’s defense has surrendered nearly 700 passing yards with eight passing touchdowns and 8.6 yards per pass attempt. Suffice it to say, Patrick Mahomes (Week 9) and Josh Allen (Week 10) are going to put up some numbers in these next two games.
Related: New York Jets Coaching Candidates to Replace Aaron Glenn
The Philadelphia Eagles defense has been a major disappointment in 2026. While there are a variety of reasons for it, highly paid defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis not living up to their contracts is one of the biggest problems. It also doesn’t help that, outside of Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles’ secondary has been underwhelming. If Philadelphia is going to allow nearly 6 yards per play to Washington, Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely should be counting down the days until their matchup versus Philadelphia.
Well, at least the Washington Commanders defense was able to take advantage of the current iteration of this Eagles offense. Philadelphia did put up 10 points in the first quarter, but those two scoring drives covered just 66 total yards. After that, Washington shut out the Eagles and allowed just 201 total yards on the final nine drives (22.3 yards per drive) and didn’t let them reach the red zone. That’s nice. It won’t be nearly as easy next Sunday against Matthew Stafford and Co.
The New Orleans Saints defense has been a disappointment this season. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley does ahve a history of fielding some of the worst run defenses in the NFL, it’s happening again in 2026. Through seven games, New Orleans has allowed 139.4 rushing yards per game, 4.8 yards per carry and 11 rushing touchdowns with the highest Rush Success rate (48.1 percent) allowed. In related news, opponents have averaged a 47.8 percent third-down conversion rate (fourth-highest) with the most red-zone drives per game (4.3). Coming out of the bye to face the Browns in Week 9, New Orleans should have its hands full with Quinshon Judkins but a subpar Browns offensive line should limit how much success Cleveland has.
It’s great to see Ed Oliver back out on the field. Here’s the problem: the Buffalo Bills defensive line isn’t why this has been one of the worst NFL defenses this season. We’re also certainly not going to put any stock in Buffalo holding its opponent to 68 net passing yards and 3.5 yards per attempt considering third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano played most of this game, coming on in relief having not received any practice reps. The Vikings offense is a better test, but even that Monday Night Football matchup has the feeling of a stoppable force versus a movable object.
In the first game without Jeffrey Simmons, the Tennessee Titans defense allowed 510 total yards, 43 points, 7.3 yards per play, and a 70 percent third-down conversion rate on 14 drives. Did that come against Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow? Yes. Robert Saleh’s defense also generated four takeaways in this one. However, two of Burrow’s interceptions were due to mistakes made by him (underthrow) and Chase (miscommunication). If the Titans front office trades away any more talent during the Week 9 bye, things could look truly horrendous for Tennessee defensively in November against the Jaguars (Week 10 and 12) and Cowboys (Week 11).
In the last six games , the Las Vegas Raiders defense has allowed 1,516 passing yards (252.7 pass ypg) with 17 passing touchdowns (2.83 per game) and 7.6 yards per attempt. Meanwhile, opponents have produced 970 rushing yards (161.7 rush ypg) and eight rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry against Las Vegas in that same span. We’ll just be Captain Obvious: Kyle Shanahan, coming off the bye, should view this Week 9 matchup at home as an opportunity to break the scoreboard against this Raiders defense.
We’ll say this: the Miami Dolphins defense held its own in the first half (91 total yards and 3 points allowed on five drives). It’s what came after the first six series—188 total yards and 21 points on three possessions from the Patriots offense—that served as a reminder of how much work Jeff Hafley has left to do. Miami is in for a very long Sunday at home in Week 9 against a Lions offense that has far more firepower and a vastly superior offensive line than New England put on the field.
When a front office throws in the towel on a season, it’s inevitable that team will have one of the worst defenses in football. The Indianapolis Colts defense was already bad, and with the fire sale now going on, as Week 8 showcased (6.9 yards per play allowed), it’s going to get even uglier. It doesn’t matter that Sauce Gardner is sticking around in Indianapolis, the Colts are going to be a “get-right game” for every upcoming opponent. Great news for the Cowboys offense in Week 9.
Statistically, the Arizona Cardinals defense actually performed fine on Sunday given Dallas averaged just 3.6 yards per play and went 6-for-16 on third down. That did, however, largely feel like a byproduct of this Cowboys’ passing game constantly getting in its own way and failing to take advantage of a defense that makes a lot of mistakes. This upcoming three-game stretch against the Seahawks (Jaxon Smith-Njigba), Rams (Puka Nacua), and Chiefs (Kenneth Walker) will be a reality check for Arizona defensively.
The Dallas Cowboys still have the worst NFL defense in 2026. More evidence was provided on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, with Gardner Minshew coming off the bench and putting up a 137.3 passer rating with three passing touchdowns and averaging 8.2 yards per attempt against the Cowboys defense. Just for good measure, Tyler Allgeier also turned 11 carries into 147 yards and a score—a casual 13.4 yards-per-carry average. Don’t put any weight into what Dallas does defensively in Week 9 against a Colts offense that has given up on the season.
Here is our fantasy defense rankings this week.
- Denver Broncos D/STvs Carolina Panthers
- Seattle Seahawks D/STvs Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers D/STvs Las Vegas Raiders
- Houston Texans D/STvs Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams D/STvs Washington Commanders
- New York Giants D/STvs Philadelphia Eagles
- Kansas City Chiefs D/STvs New York Jets
- Chicago Bears D/STvs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Green Bay Packers D/STvs New England Patriots
- Cleveland Browns D/STvs New Orleans Saints
- New England Patriots D/STvs Green Bay Packers
- Dallas Cowboys D/STvs Indianapolis Colts
- Detroit Lions D/STvs Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings D/STvs Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers D/STvs Denver Broncos
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
Week 9 NFL Defense Rankings: Steelers, Packers, Bears and 49ers Rise; Fantasy Defense Rankings This Week
What is the best defense in the NFL? Week 8 is everything football fans should want to see, with two of the best NFL defenses in 2026 (Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks) facing two of the best offenses in football (Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears). While those amtchups are the headliners from this weekend, there were plenty of impressive showings and alarming performances to evaluate.
Let’s dive into our Week 9 NFL defense rankings, evaluating how every defense performed in Week 8. We’ve also previewed some upcoming defensive matchups for defenses coming off the bye and provided our Week 9 fantasy defense rankings ath the bottom.
1. Minnesota Vikings (1)
The Minnesota Vikings defense is historically dominant. Entering Sunday, Minnesota had allowed the second-lowest yards per play (4.5) with an average passer rating allowed (61.7) that pales in comparison to the second-best pass defense (Seattle Seahawks, 72.6). To the surprise of no one, it’s operating on an extraordinarily high blitz rate (67.6 percent) that has resulted in a league-high pressure rate (35.7 percent) and sack rate (10.6 percent). Everyone thought that the Lions offense, with Jared Goff playing at an MVP-caliber level, might finally be the unit to stop Minnesota’s dominance defensively. Instead, led by Andrew Van Ginkel (3 QB hits and 2.5 sacks), the Vikings had four sacks in the first half on Goff and limited Detroit to 88 net passing yards. Unfortunately, the Vikings offense was unable to sustain drives, resulting in Detroit putting up 13 second-half points. Still, holding the Lions offense to 19 points and a single red-zone touchdown on 11 drives at Ford Field is an accomplishment.
2. Seattle Seahawks (2)
The Seattle Seahawks defense versus the Bears offense s a gift from the football gods on Monday Night Football. Chicago will naturally try to runt he football, as it entered Week 8 leading the NFL in rushing yards per game (154.3), but Seattle has been outstanding against the run for two years now and its opponents have averaged just 89.4 rush ypg (fifth) and 3.5 yards per carry. Another thing Seattle is great at? Taking away tight ends, with Colston Loveland about to face a defense that has allowed the fewest receiving yards per game (34.4) to the position this season. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams are the X-factors that can still find ways to beat Mike Macdonald’s defense, making this a must-see chess match.
3. Denver Broncos (3)
The Denver Broncos defense got the one stop it needed at the goal line to preserve the win. That came in a fourth quarter where the Chiefs offense was shut out, and Denver also held Patrick Mahomes and Co. in check on third down (6-for-14). Really, backup running back Emmett Johnson (128 receiving yards) was the only one who caused Denver any trouble. After a tough challenge this Sunday, Denver should be licking its chops over a Week 9 matchup against the injury-decimated Panthers offensive line and rattled quarterback Bryce Young.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5)
What a two-game run it’s been from this Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Sunday marked the second consecutive week that Tampa Bay held an opponent under 260 total yards, and it’s now allowed just three red-zone trips in the last 22 drives. Phenomenal work. Game script (Week 7) and weather (Week 8) certainly are contributing factors in that, but let’s also remember that the Buccaneers entered Sunday ranked ninth in third-down defense (36.4 percent conversion rate), seventh in yards-per-play allowed (5.0) and points per drive (1.81), and third in total yards per drive allowed (26.8). Those numbers are going to be even better now. This is a great defense, even if the pass rush isn’t on that level, and it will be tested by Caleb Williams and the Bears’ passing game next Sunday night.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)
This Pittsburgh Steelers defense wasn’t going to allow itself to struggle with Cleveland the way it did a few weeks ago. In the rematch, Harold Fannin Jr. (154 receiving yards) accounted for 48.3 percent of the Browns’ total yardage on Sunday. Deshaun Watson did clear the 300-yard mark, but much of that damage came in garbage time. The Steelers have now held three consecutive opponents under 20 points, and they’ll have two weeks to prepare for a Week 10 matchup against the Bengals offense, another rematch from earlier in the season.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (4)
Sunday’s loss certainly doesn’t fall on the shoulders of the Kansas City Chiefs defense. Going on the road and holding an opponent to an 18.2 percent third-down conversion rate and 26.7 yards per drive should be good enough to win. Unfortunately for Steve Spagnuolo, his unit did implode a bit in the fourth quarter by allowing 136 total yards and 14 points on just 11 plays (12.4 yards per play), and rookie Jonah Coleman did most of that damage. The Chiefs’ pass rush should look better next Sunday versus Geno Smith, but the Jets’ skill group (Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, and Omar Cooper Jr.) could beat Kansas City for a few explosive plays on its way to 21-plus points.
7. San Francisco 49ers (8)
Through seven games this season, the San Francisco 49ers defense ranks ninth in EPA per Play (-0.040) and Dropback Success Rate (44.6 percent), all the while allowing the 12th-fewest points per drive (1.93) and the fourth-lowest yards-per-play average (4.7) in the NFL. That success comes with Nick Bosa missing significant time, Alfred Collins on injured reserve, and a transition period under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Bosa could be back in Week 9, and Morris’ defense now has DeForest Buckner on the interior. If 49ers fans were pleased with this defense before, it is about to get even better. We’ll certainly see Brock Bowers give them some trouble in Week 9, but that’s about all the Raiders offense has going for it right now.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (11)
Naturally, the Jacksonville Jaguars defense feasted on Indianapolis. The Colts finished with 134 net passing yards on Sunday, with Daniel Jones throwing two interceptions and taking three sacks before getting pulled. Likewise, Indianapolis got nothing on the ground, with Jonathan Taylor bottled up for 23 yards on eight carries (2.9 yards per carry). With this Jaguars defense facing the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens and then the Titans offense in the next two weeks, we should keep seeing a defensive clinic from this unit.
9. Los Angeles Rams (7)
Injuries are always going to be considered in our NFL defense rankings, that’s why the Los Angeles Rams are dropping after Week 8. Jaylen Watson (shoulder) was ruled out pretty quickly after suffering his injury on Sunday, and fellow corner Trent McDuffie is now dealing with a back issue. That’s a major problem for a unit that still has no timeline for Kobie Turner (groin) and Myles Garrett (knee) to return from their injuries. Los Angeles has no depth at cornerback, so if McDuffie and/or Watson miss time, things could get pretty rough for this pass defense.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (17)
Entering the weekend, the signals coming from the Los Angeles Chargers front office were that this team wouldn’t consider selling at the trade deadline. Will that change after Derwin James Jr. hit injured reserve and the team extended its losing streak to seven games? Perhaps. Until it does, we’ll put more stock in a Chargers defense that did an admirable job neutralizing the Rams offense ( 3-for-11 on third down and 25.5 yards per drive ) in another game where its teammates on the other side could do nothing but turn the football over and punt it away after three-and-outs.
11. Chicago Bears (16)
Jeffery Simmons is exactly what Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen needed. Look back at his best years in New Orleans, when he had defensive linemen like Cameron Jordan. Simmons is a perennial All-Pro whose game-wrecking ability on the defensive interior is going to completely change what Allen can do with this defense. Chicago’s secondary isn’t perfect by any means and it could still be better at edge rusher, but the acquisition of Simmons very much makes this a top-12 defense.
12. Atlanta Falcons (9)
Review: The statistics from this Atlanta Falcons pass defense look incredible from Sunday (-2 net passing yards allowed), but Tampa Bay basically didn’t use Baker Mayfield (0-for-3 passes completed) in the rain. Atlanta did, however, get completely bullied on the ground, with Bucky Irving (170 rushing yards and 6.3 yards per carry) and Kenneth Gainwell (140 yards and 5.6 yards per carry) doing whatever they wanted. It’s the second time in three weeks that Atlanta has allowed over 200 rushing yards to an opponent, and this unit has now allowed 120-plus yards and 5.0-plus yards per carry three times in the last four games. Cincinnati may try to test that a bit with Chase Brown next Sunday, but the game plan will still center around Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
13. Green Bay Packers (14)
The Green Bay Packers defense truly seems to have turned a corner. What is particularly impressive about that is off-ball linebackers Edgerrin Cooper (Achilles tear) and Zaire Franklin (hairline fracture in leg) are out, and this team is relying heavily on rookie Brandon Cisse as its No. 2 cornerback. In the last five contests , Green Bay has allowed just 14.6 PPG and 299.4 total YPG with a 36.8 percent third-down conversion rate, and opposing quarterbacks have averaged just a 69.4 passer rating with three times as many sacks taken (15) as passing touchdowns (five). Mind you, that is without Micah Parsons. Given the state of the Patriots offensive line and with A.J. Brown injured, Drake Maye could have some real trouble in Week 9.
14. Cleveland Browns (10)
Opponents know the game plan for success against this Cleveland Browns defense: run the football and don’t stop. Jaylen Warren went off on Sunday in Pittsburgh, putting up 143 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries (8.4 yards per carry). In the last two games, Cleveland has allowed 383 rushing yards , six rushing touchdowns, and a 6.2 yards-per-carry average. The numbers will probably look better in the next two weeks, but that’ll largely be a byproduct of facing two of the worst rushing offenses in the NFL (Saints and Texans).
15. New England Patriots (12)
The NFL trade rumors surrounding this New England Patriots defense are throwing us for a bit of a loop. Reports have suggested that both starting cornerback Carlton Davis III and defensive tackle Christian Barmore could be had. That doesn’t mean either player will be moved, but Barmore remains an impactful player and trading away a proven starter seems like a gamble. One thing is for certain: Davis and Barmore will be necessary next Sunday against a Packers offense that will look to test New England deep as often as it can with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. One thing the Patriots won’t have to worry about is stopping the run.
16. New York Giants (20)
One thing the New York Giants defense was missing coming into the season was a No. 1 cornerback. Thanks to defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, it appears that Deonte Banks is becoming that. He was phenomenal in coverage on Nico Collins before the bye, joining Arvell Reese among the breakout stars on this Giants defense. Banks and Reese are two of the biggest reasons why, through seven games, New York has held opponents to a 90.1 passer rating (13th) and 6.1 yards per attempt (third). Set to face Tanner McKee and a struggling Eagles offense in Week 9, New York has another great opportunity to deliver a strong showing defensively.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (13)
At times on Sunday, we saw the reappearance of the Cincinnati Bengals defense of years past. It’s why Cam Ward (304 passing yards, 2-0 TD-INT, and 104.6 passer rating) had a career-best performance and the Titans offense put up 158 rushing yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry on its way to 36 points. There were, however, three big defensive stops late that resulted in a safety, sent the game into overtime, and then secured the win. There’s clearly a level of volatility with Cincinnati defensively, which could be a bit of an issue versus Drake London and Bijan Robinson in Madrid.
18. Baltimore Ravens (15)
The Baltimore Ravens pass defense was this team’s biggest problem entering November. It now feels like an afterthought with Lamar Jackson potentially lost for the season. Even in a game where Buffalo didn’t need to keep its foot on the gas, DJ Moore (82 yards on four receptions), Dalton Kincaid (86 yards and one touchdown on four receptions), and Khalil Shakir (64 yards on five receptions) all made big plays downfield against the Ravens secondary. On a short week, you know Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence are going to be taking shots early and often. Success through the air will come, and Thursday Night Football will show a national audience what Baltimore’s fan base has known for a while: Marlon Humphrey is cooked.
19. Houston Texans (21)
Will the Houston Texans defense perform better after the bye? A top-two defense in 2025, Houston has allowed the 10th-highest red-zone touchdown rate (68.4 percent), the 12th-most points per drive ( 2.29 ), and the seventh-highest completion rate (66.3 percent) this year. Coverage busts have been a far bigger problem than before, and the four-man rush isn’t getting home like it used to. Fortunately for Houston, it has a get-right matchup coming out of the bye as it draws the worst offensive line in the NFL, with the Chargers offense also dead last in touchdowns. If the Texans defense can’t take advantage of this matchup, alarm bells need to go off. Given how it fared a few weeks ago versus Tennessee, we suspect it will perform well.
20. Detroit Lions (23)
Injuries overshadowed the performance on Sunday by this Detroit Lions defense. Linebacker D.J. Wonnum (9 pressures and 5 sacks this season) and safety Brian Branch exited in Week 8 and are in the NFL’s concussion protocol. While those might only be short-term absences, All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell’s injury is of grave concern. Detroit did perform pretty well defensively on Sunday, but the potential long-term absence of Campbell hangs a dark cloud over this unit moving forward.
21. Carolina Panthers (19)
We can understand why the Carolina Panthers fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. This group has been a disappointment this season and Evero has had years to turn things around without any real signs of doing it. With that said, it’s hard to envision things getting better in the near future since cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are out, and we still don’t know when edge rusher Jaelan Phillips will be cleared to play. Don’t put too much stock in how the Panthers defense performs in Week 9; it might say a lot more about the woeful state of Denver’s passing game.
22. New York Jets (18)
With David Bailey (groin), Joseph Ossai, and T’Vondre Sweat all inactive, the New York Jets couldn’t do much of anything right against Kirk Cousins and the Raiders offense. The second half was particularly bad, with Las Vegas scoring 24 points and gaining 250 total yards on five possessions before kneeling out the clock to end things. In the last three weeks , Aaron Glenn’s defense has surrendered nearly 700 passing yards with eight passing touchdowns and 8.6 yards per pass attempt. Suffice it to say, Patrick Mahomes (Week 9) and Josh Allen (Week 10) are going to put up some numbers in these next two games.
Related: New York Jets Coaching Candidates to Replace Aaron Glenn
23. Philadelphia Eagles (22)
The Philadelphia Eagles defense has been a major disappointment in 2026. While there are a variety of reasons for it, highly paid defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis not living up to their contracts is one of the biggest problems. It also doesn’t help that, outside of Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles’ secondary has been underwhelming. If Philadelphia is going to allow nearly 6 yards per play to Washington, Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely should be counting down the days until their matchup versus Philadelphia.
24. Washington Commanders (28)
Well, at least the Washington Commanders defense was able to take advantage of the current iteration of this Eagles offense. Philadelphia did put up 10 points in the first quarter, but those two scoring drives covered just 66 total yards. After that, Washington shut out the Eagles and allowed just 201 total yards on the final nine drives (22.3 yards per drive) and didn’t let them reach the red zone. That’s nice. It won’t be nearly as easy next Sunday against Matthew Stafford and Co.
25. New Orleans Saints (26)
The New Orleans Saints defense has been a disappointment this season. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley does ahve a history of fielding some of the worst run defenses in the NFL, it’s happening again in 2026. Through seven games, New Orleans has allowed 139.4 rushing yards per game, 4.8 yards per carry and 11 rushing touchdowns with the highest Rush Success rate (48.1 percent) allowed. In related news, opponents have averaged a 47.8 percent third-down conversion rate (fourth-highest) with the most red-zone drives per game (4.3). Coming out of the bye to face the Browns in Week 9, New Orleans should have its hands full with Quinshon Judkins but a subpar Browns offensive line should limit how much success Cleveland has.
26. Buffalo Bills (31)
It’s great to see Ed Oliver back out on the field. Here’s the problem: the Buffalo Bills defensive line isn’t why this has been one of the worst NFL defenses this season. We’re also certainly not going to put any stock in Buffalo holding its opponent to 68 net passing yards and 3.5 yards per attempt considering third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano played most of this game, coming on in relief having not received any practice reps. The Vikings offense is a better test, but even that Monday Night Football matchup has the feeling of a stoppable force versus a movable object.
27. Tennessee Titans (25)
In the first game without Jeffrey Simmons, the Tennessee Titans defense allowed 510 total yards, 43 points, 7.3 yards per play, and a 70 percent third-down conversion rate on 14 drives. Did that come against Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow? Yes. Robert Saleh’s defense also generated four takeaways in this one. However, two of Burrow’s interceptions were due to mistakes made by him (underthrow) and Chase (miscommunication). If the Titans front office trades away any more talent during the Week 9 bye, things could look truly horrendous for Tennessee defensively in November against the Jaguars (Week 10 and 12) and Cowboys (Week 11).
28. Las Vegas Raiders (24)
In the last six games , the Las Vegas Raiders defense has allowed 1,516 passing yards (252.7 pass ypg) with 17 passing touchdowns (2.83 per game) and 7.6 yards per attempt. Meanwhile, opponents have produced 970 rushing yards (161.7 rush ypg) and eight rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry against Las Vegas in that same span. We’ll just be Captain Obvious: Kyle Shanahan, coming off the bye, should view this Week 9 matchup at home as an opportunity to break the scoreboard against this Raiders defense.
29. Miami Dolphins (30)
We’ll say this: the Miami Dolphins defense held its own in the first half (91 total yards and 3 points allowed on five drives). It’s what came after the first six series—188 total yards and 21 points on three possessions from the Patriots offense—that served as a reminder of how much work Jeff Hafley has left to do. Miami is in for a very long Sunday at home in Week 9 against a Lions offense that has far more firepower and a vastly superior offensive line than New England put on the field.
30. Indianapolis Colts (27)
When a front office throws in the towel on a season, it’s inevitable that team will have one of the worst defenses in football. The Indianapolis Colts defense was already bad, and with the fire sale now going on, as Week 8 showcased (6.9 yards per play allowed), it’s going to get even uglier. It doesn’t matter that Sauce Gardner is sticking around in Indianapolis, the Colts are going to be a “get-right game” for every upcoming opponent. Great news for the Cowboys offense in Week 9.
31. Arizona Cardinals (29)
Statistically, the Arizona Cardinals defense actually performed fine on Sunday given Dallas averaged just 3.6 yards per play and went 6-for-16 on third down. That did, however, largely feel like a byproduct of this Cowboys’ passing game constantly getting in its own way and failing to take advantage of a defense that makes a lot of mistakes. This upcoming three-game stretch against the Seahawks (Jaxon Smith-Njigba), Rams (Puka Nacua), and Chiefs (Kenneth Walker) will be a reality check for Arizona defensively.
32. Dallas Cowboys (32)
The Dallas Cowboys still have the worst NFL defense in 2026. More evidence was provided on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, with Gardner Minshew coming off the bench and putting up a 137.3 passer rating with three passing touchdowns and averaging 8.2 yards per attempt against the Cowboys defense. Just for good measure, Tyler Allgeier also turned 11 carries into 147 yards and a score—a casual 13.4 yards-per-carry average. Don’t put any weight into what Dallas does defensively in Week 9 against a Colts offense that has given up on the season.
Week 9 Fantasy Defense Rankings
Here is our fantasy defense rankings this week.
- Denver Broncos D/STvs Carolina Panthers
- Seattle Seahawks D/STvs Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers D/STvs Las Vegas Raiders
- Houston Texans D/STvs Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams D/STvs Washington Commanders
- New York Giants D/STvs Philadelphia Eagles
- Kansas City Chiefs D/STvs New York Jets
- Chicago Bears D/STvs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Green Bay Packers D/STvs New England Patriots
- Cleveland Browns D/STvs New Orleans Saints
- New England Patriots D/STvs Green Bay Packers
- Dallas Cowboys D/STvs Indianapolis Colts
- Detroit Lions D/STvs Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings D/STvs Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers D/STvs Denver Broncos
