Home 2026 NFL Defense Ratings

PFM Defense Ratings

2026 NFL Defense Ratings

Defense is more than points allowed. These ratings look at whether each team has the talent, coaching, recent form and roster support to rush the passer, cover and get off the field. The table below separates defenses that can carry a team from groups still needing more help.

79.5 League Average 2026 Season · Pre-training camp

No. 1 DefenseSeattle Seahawks89.6 Defensive Rating

Teams Graded 86+2Elite defensive outlooks

What 86+ MeansDefensive JuggernautA defense strong enough to take over a game

League Leaders

Top 3 PFM Defenses

The strongest defensive profiles in the current PFM model.

No. 1

Seattle SeahawksRoster 85.6

89.6 Elite No. 2

Los Angeles RamsRoster 85.0

86.2 Elite No. 3

Houston TexansRoster 80.6

85.8 Strong

Read Beyond the Rank

How to Use the PFM Defense Ratings

Do not read these like a points-allowed list. The useful part is the why: who can wreck a drive, what the defense wants to be, and whether the staff can keep the rush and coverage tied together. A defense without teeth should not scare anybody.

No. 1 Defense Seattle Seahawks Defensive Rating: 89.6

Best Roster Support Seattle Seahawks Roster Strength: 85.6

Biggest Defensive Edge Cleveland Browns Defense over offense: +14.7

Strongest Two-Way Team Seattle Seahawks Offense/Defense: 86.5 / 89.6

All 32 Teams

Full PFM Defense Ratings

Tap or click any column heading to sort the defense ratings.

2026 NFL defense ratings table for all 32 teams
#1	Seattle SeahawksSEA	Elite Defensive Outlook: 89.6	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.6	Elite Defensive Outlook: 87.8	Elite Defensive Outlook: 91.8	Elite Defensive Outlook: 91.3	Elite Offensive Outlook: 86.5	Elite Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#2	Los Angeles RamsLAR	Elite Defensive Outlook: 86.2	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.0	Elite Defensive Outlook: 87.6	Elite Defensive Outlook: 90.7	Elite Defensive Outlook: 90.7	Elite Offensive Outlook: 88.0	Elite Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#3	Houston TexansHOU	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.8	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.6	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.0	Elite Defensive Outlook: 89.1	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.8	Solid Offensive Foundation: 79.1	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#4	Denver BroncosDEN	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.6	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.8	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.0	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.9	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.7	Solid Offensive Foundation: 81.2	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#5	Philadelphia EaglesPHI	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.4	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.2	Strong Defensive Outlook: 82.4	Strong Defensive Outlook: 82.5	Elite Defensive Outlook: 86.2	Strong Offensive Outlook: 84.0	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#6	Cleveland BrownsCLE	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.2	Defensive Questions: 76.6	Major Defensive Concern: 73.0	Major Defensive Concern: 67.4	Major Defensive Concern: 71.4	Major Offensive Concern: 69.4	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#7	New England PatriotsNE	Strong Defensive Outlook: 83.8	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.4	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.0	Elite Defensive Outlook: 87.7	Strong Defensive Outlook: 86.0	Strong Offensive Outlook: 83.8	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#8	Kansas City ChiefsKC	Strong Defensive Outlook: 83.8	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.6	Elite Defensive Outlook: 92.3	Defensive Questions: 75.6	Elite Defensive Outlook: 87.2	Strong Offensive Outlook: 83.2	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#9	Pittsburgh SteelersPIT	Strong Defensive Outlook: 83.4	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.8	Strong Defensive Outlook: 83.2	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.3	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.1	Offensive Questions: 77.6	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#10	Los Angeles ChargersLAC	Strong Defensive Outlook: 82.3	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.5	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.6	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.5	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.0	Strong Offensive Outlook: 82.4	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#11	Jacksonville JaguarsJAX	Strong Defensive Outlook: 82.0	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.4	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.0	Elite Defensive Outlook: 88.5	Strong Defensive Outlook: 83.3	Solid Offensive Foundation: 80.8	Strong Defensive Outlook	View Dashboard
#12	San Francisco 49ersSF	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.9	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.6	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.7	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.7	Elite Defensive Outlook: 86.7	Strong Offensive Outlook: 85.1	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#13	Chicago BearsCHI	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.4	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.9	Strong Defensive Outlook: 82.9	Solid Defensive Foundation: 78.7	Strong Defensive Outlook: 84.0	Strong Offensive Outlook: 85.8	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#14	Buffalo BillsBUF	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.3	Strong Defensive Outlook: 82.3	Major Defensive Concern: 72.5	Elite Defensive Outlook: 86.3	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.6	Elite Offensive Outlook: 90.5	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#15	Baltimore RavensBAL	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.5	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.7	Major Defensive Concern: 71.3	Defensive Questions: 77.3	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.1	Strong Offensive Outlook: 85.4	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#16	Detroit LionsDET	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.5	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.0	Strong Defensive Outlook: 85.7	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.1	Elite Defensive Outlook: 86.8	Elite Offensive Outlook: 88.5	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#17	Minnesota VikingsMIN	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.2	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.8	Strong Defensive Outlook: 82.2	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.9	Solid Defensive Foundation: 78.9	Offensive Questions: 76.6	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#18	Green Bay PackersGB	Solid Defensive Foundation: 78.5	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.2	Strong Defensive Outlook: 83.2	Solid Defensive Foundation: 78.8	Strong Defensive Outlook: 83.8	Strong Offensive Outlook: 86.0	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#19	Tampa Bay BuccaneersTB	Solid Defensive Foundation: 78.1	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.0	Defensive Questions: 76.6	Defensive Questions: 76.7	Solid Defensive Foundation: 78.4	Solid Offensive Foundation: 80.8	Solid Defensive Foundation	View Dashboard
#20	New York JetsNYJ	Defensive Questions: 77.9	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.3	Major Defensive Concern: 72.8	Major Defensive Concern: 65.5	Major Defensive Concern: 73.5	Major Offensive Concern: 72.7	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#21	New Orleans SaintsNO	Defensive Questions: 77.6	Major Defensive Concern: 72.0	Major Defensive Concern: 72.0	Major Defensive Concern: 71.5	Major Defensive Concern: 70.5	Major Offensive Concern: 69.0	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#22	Atlanta FalconsATL	Defensive Questions: 77.5	Defensive Questions: 77.8	Defensive Questions: 74.5	Defensive Questions: 76.0	Defensive Questions: 76.6	Solid Offensive Foundation: 78.2	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#23	New York GiantsNYG	Defensive Questions: 76.2	Major Defensive Concern: 72.4	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.2	Major Defensive Concern: 71.1	Major Defensive Concern: 73.0	Offensive Questions: 74.7	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#24	Washington CommandersWSH	Defensive Questions: 75.7	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.5	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.3	Major Defensive Concern: 68.3	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.1	Strong Offensive Outlook: 82.4	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#25	Las Vegas RaidersLV	Defensive Questions: 75.1	Defensive Questions: 75.7	Major Defensive Concern: 73.6	Major Defensive Concern: 66.7	Major Defensive Concern: 72.6	Major Offensive Concern: 72.3	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#26	Indianapolis ColtsIND	Defensive Questions: 74.9	Defensive Questions: 75.0	Major Defensive Concern: 73.4	Solid Defensive Foundation: 80.7	Defensive Questions: 76.1	Solid Offensive Foundation: 78.3	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#27	Carolina PanthersCAR	Defensive Questions: 74.3	Major Defensive Concern: 70.1	Major Defensive Concern: 70.8	Major Defensive Concern: 74.0	Major Defensive Concern: 72.3	Major Offensive Concern: 73.0	Defensive Questions	View Dashboard
#28	Dallas CowboysDAL	Major Defensive Concern: 73.9	Solid Defensive Foundation: 78.7	Major Defensive Concern: 73.7	Major Defensive Concern: 70.7	Defensive Questions: 77.4	Elite Offensive Outlook: 86.0	Major Defensive Concern	View Dashboard
#29	Cincinnati BengalsCIN	Major Defensive Concern: 73.0	Solid Defensive Foundation: 81.1	Major Defensive Concern: 73.8	Major Defensive Concern: 70.8	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.4	Strong Offensive Outlook: 84.2	Major Defensive Concern	View Dashboard
#30	Miami DolphinsMIA	Major Defensive Concern: 72.5	Solid Defensive Foundation: 79.4	Major Defensive Concern: 72.5	Major Defensive Concern: 68.7	Defensive Questions: 75.2	Solid Offensive Foundation: 78.0	Major Defensive Concern	View Dashboard
#31	Tennessee TitansTEN	Major Defensive Concern: 72.3	Major Defensive Concern: 71.4	Defensive Questions: 74.8	Major Defensive Concern: 67.5	Major Defensive Concern: 71.2	Major Offensive Concern: 68.8	Major Defensive Concern	View Dashboard
#32	Arizona CardinalsARI	Major Defensive Concern: 72.2	Major Defensive Concern: 73.6	Major Defensive Concern: 71.9	Major Defensive Concern: 68.3	Major Defensive Concern: 73.0	Major Offensive Concern: 73.6	Major Defensive Concern	View Dashboard

Rating Guide

What Each Defensive Rating Range Means

The same severity lines used across PFM apply here. Strong defensive numbers should read as strengths, while lower ranges show where the team profile needs more support.

86+ Elite Defensive Outlook

A defensive profile strong enough to shape the full team read.

82–85.9 Strong Defensive Outlook

A real defensive strength, even if the team still needs support elsewhere.

78–81.9 Solid Defensive Foundation

A playable defensive baseline with areas still worth watching.

74–77.9 Defensive Questions

A concern range that needs better support from roster, staff or recent form.

Below 74 Major Defensive Concern

A defensive rating low enough to pull on the overall team outlook.

Team Context

Best Defensive Environments

The defenses with names, identity and enough help around them to actually scare offenses.

Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Rating: 89.6
Roster Strength: 85.6
Coaching Direction: 87.8

For Seattle, the defense has staff support behind the rating. Defensive Rating 89.6 and Coaching Direction 87.8 make the pass rush, coverage and communication easier to trust.

View Team Dashboard

Los Angeles Rams

Defensive Rating: 86.2
Roster Strength: 85.0
Coaching Direction: 87.6

For Los Angeles, the defense has staff support behind the rating. Defensive Rating 86.2 and Coaching Direction 87.6 make the pass rush, coverage and communication easier to trust.

View Team Dashboard

Kansas City Chiefs

Defensive Rating: 83.8
Roster Strength: 84.6
Coaching Direction: 92.3

Kansas City's defense is not just living on talent. Coaching Direction 92.3 backs up Defensive Rating 83.8, which matters when pressure and coverage have to work together.

View Team Dashboard

PFM ratings updated July 24, 2026

How PFM grades NFL teams

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