By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

The 2021 NFL season is now less than a week away. The preseason has been completed and rosters are being finalized as teams prepare for week 1 of the regular season. Now is as good a time as any to start projecting how each team will perform this year. In particular for this article, let’s predict who the top five defenses in the NFL can be this season, counting down from 5th place and continuing all the way to the number one spot.

5. Buffalo Bills

The Bills were an average defense last year, ranking 14th in yards allowed per game with 352.5 and 16th in scoring with 23.4 points per game allowed. What’s encouraging is that they played much better defensively late in the season than they did earlier. For example, in their final six regular-season games following their bye week, they held four of their six opponents to under 20 points and then also held the Ravens to just three points in a playoff game. That gives reason for optimism heading into the 2021 NFL season, especially because head coach Sean McDermott is defensively focused. In addition, they addressed their lack of “true pass rushers” in the NFL Draft this year with first round pick Greg Rousseau and second round pick Boogie Basham. With the improved pass rush and renewed focus on defense, the Bills can get back to playing like they did in 2019 when they ranked 2nd in scoring defense at 16.2 points per game and 3rd in total defense at 298.3 yards per game.

4. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers suffered an extreme amount of injuries in the 2020 NFL season, including their top two pass rushers in Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. Despite the fact that neither of them played much at all, in addition to all of the other injuries as well, they still managed to finish ranked 5th in total defense at 314.4 yards allowed per game. They only recorded 30 team sacks in 2020 but that number should greatly improve with their overall health, as demonstrated by their 48 team sacks in the 2019 NFL season. Lead by superstar linebacker Fred Warner, the 49ers should have another great year defensively, even without Robert Saleh as the defensive coordinator anymore after he accepted the New York Jets head coaching job.

3. Washington Football Team

Last season WFT ranked 2nd in yards allowed per game with 304.6 and 4th in scoring defense with 20.6 points allowed per game. There is good reason to believe that they could be even better this season than they were last season because of the development and progress of their young and dominant front seven. Chase Young and Montez Sweat are already one of the very best EDGE duos in the NFL and should continue to improve as they mature a bit more. The team ranked 6th in sacks last year with 47 and that number will likely go up this season. The front seven was the biggest strength of the team last season but that didn’t stop them from using their first round draft pick on linebacker Jamin Davis out of Kentucky. As long as they can keep this unit together, WFT will have one of the top defenses for many years to come.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

The center piece to their defense, linebacker Devin Bush, only played in five games last season due to injury but the Steelers still ranked 3rd in both scoring and total defense with 19.5 and 305.8 respectively. They did lose pass rusher Bud Dupree to free agency but replaced him with a very capable veteran in Melvin Ingram. He was plagued by injuries last season, but from 2015 to 2019 he recorded 43 total sacks with the Chargers. He will pair with one of the best EDGE players in the NFL in TJ Watt, whose 15 sacks helped the Steelers lead the league in team sacks last year with a massive 56 total. In just four seasons, Watt has already accumulated 49.5 sacks and 17 forced fumbles. The Steelers have an absolute stud at all three levels of their defense, with Minkah Fitzpatrick on the back end to go with Watt on the EDGE and Bush in the middle.

1. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams were the most dominant defense in the NFL last season. Their 281.9 yards per game allowed was best in the league by a very wide margin of more than 22 yards per game. In addition, they lead the NFL in scoring defense at 18.5 points allowed per game and were second in team sacks with 53 total. They have, arguably, the best cornerback in the entire NFL in Jalen Ramsey and he’s not even their best defensive player. That is, of course, Aaron Donald. He is not only the best defensive player in the NFL but he very well may be the best overall player period. In seven season with Rams he has only missed two games total while accumulating 85.5 sacks, 19 forced fumbles, and 6 recovered fumbles despite being double or triple teamed on every single play. He is the “favorite” to once again win the Defensive Player of the Year award this season, as he should be favored every year. Based on their dominance last season, as long as they have Donald and Ramsey then there is no real reason to believe that they will regress as a defensive unit.

The post Predicting the Top 5 defenses this season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ian Evans (@ianacevans)

The 2021-2022 NFL season is quickly drawing near as kickoff is just three weeks away. We have already seen teams trying to decide which players will make the cut for their 53-man rosters as the preseason is in full swing. We have also seen rookies such as Justin Fields shine and have seen other players turn heads with the reps they have been receiving.

However, every year there are the regular contenders who usually get most of the attention from the media and experts. Teams such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers, and the Buffalo Bills are already seen as the front runners to win Super Bowl LVI. But there are some teams who could shock these contenders during the regular and postseason as some mid-tier teams have improved significantly during the offseason.

There are some teams that made changes to their roster in hopes of planning for the future, while a few teams made moves to make them playoff contenders or better. But there are some teams who made key acquisitions and roster moves that could disturb the power rankings throughout the duration of next season. With this being said, here are three dark horse teams to look out for the 2021-2022 NFL season. 

1. Arizona Cardinals

Talk about a team with a surprising about of talent and potential. Lead by Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals could make some noise in a competitive NFC West. Lead by speedy and efficient Kyler Murray and arguably the best wide receiver in the league in DeAndre Hopkins, this team’s firepower on both sides of the ball got significantly better. Let’s start with their additions.

Arizona’s team defense ranked 12^th in the league a season ago, but this should change as they acquired J.J. Watt and Malcolm Butler. They also drafted Zaven Collins and brought back Chandler Jones as well. The team added to their rush defense significantly as they ranked 22^nd in rushing yards per game (125.5). Adding that talent to a Cardinals roster that already consists of Markus Golden, the stud sophomore linebacker Isaiah Simmons, and the hard-hitting safety Budda Baker makes this team potentially a top ten defense in the league for the upcoming year. 

For a team that ranked in the top half in yards allowed per game, passing yards per game, and points per game, they are poised to improve on those numbers. Although it will be a tough task to replace Patrick Peterson who left for Minnesota, they have the talent to still be a nightmare to deal with. Their offense also got significantly better as well.

Their already explosive offense that ranked sixth in yards per game (384.6) just got even more explosive. How? They added the long-time Cincinnati Bengal A.J. Green to assist DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk in their receiving core. Arizona also signed James Conner from the Steelers to assist the reliable Chase Edmonds in the backfield. 

Along with drafting the speedy Rondale Moore from Purdue in the draft, Arizona became incredibly dangerous in the passing game. Although they play in a division where they have to face the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks twice, I wouldn’t be surprised if Arizona found themselves in the playoffs and the NFC West had three teams in the playoffs in 2021. Keep an eye out for those birds in the desert.

2. Indianapolis Colts 

Look. I get it. Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson are both nursing a foot injury and their timetable to return is roughly 5-12 weeks. That doesn’t look good for the Colts at all. But there is some optimism regarding their recovery. Head coach Frank Reich explained that he thinks, “Carson and Q have done a good job in the rehab process with the right mentality getting the work done that they need to get done and I think it’s all been good.” Indianapolis could see their starters back by as early as October.

Besides the injuries, they have skilled enough offensive players to make them competitive in the AFC South. With a running back core consisting of the athletic Nyhiem Hines, Jonathan Taylor, and with Marlon Mack returning, there are many offensive packages that Riech can use with these catching backs to thwart defenses. Along with their receivers such as the savvy veteran T.Y. Hilton, the ever-improving Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal, and the promising University of Texas rookie Tarik Black, this receiving core could cause problems for secondaries. I mean this offense was in the top ten in yards per game (378.1) and points per game (28.2) a year ago.

Lastly, the Colts still boast a top-five defense in the NFL. Lead by Darius Leonard, this defense has multiple impact players that can force consecutive three-and-outs. With this defensive roster such as DeForest Buckner, Malik Jefferson, and their freakishly athletic first-round pick Kwity Paye from the University of Michigan in the pass rush is a scary sight for opposing offensive linemen. Their secondary that consists of Xavier Rhodes, Kenny Moore II, Rock Ya-Sin, Julian Blackmon, T.J. Carrie, and Ibraheim Campbell should be solid enough to prevent big plays in the passing game as well. Keep in mind, the Colts were eighth in yards allowed per game (332.1), second in rushing yards allowed per game (90.5), and were tenth in points allowed per game (22.6).

The main concern with this team is Wentz and Nelson, and if their timetable to return is closer to five weeks than 12. But when this team is fully healthy, their potential is through the roof. I wouldn’t count them out just yet.

3. Cleveland Browns

If you told me that the Cleveland Browns would be a dark horse team four years ago, I would have personally checked you into a mental ward. The Browns from 2016 to 2018 only totaled 8 wins. However, after many coaching changes, they had their first winning season since 2007 finishing 11-5, ended the NFL’s longest playoff win drought that dates to the 2002-2003 season, and won their first playoff game since 1994 under head coach Kevin Stefanski. And they added to their depth significantly.

For starters, they had an incredible offseason as they added Jadeveon Clowney, safeties John Johnson III and Troy Hill, Malcolm Smith, Adrian Clayborn, and Takkarist McKinley to a team that ranked 21^st in team defense. They also drafted linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who could have an immediate impact as a rookie. For a team that ranked in the bottom half in points allowed per game (26.2), yards allowed per game (358.4), and passing yards allowed per game (247.6), they adhered to their defensive needs.

On the offensive side of the ball, Cleveland already has one of, if not the best running back duo in the league with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Along with a strong running game, this team has a ridiculous amount of talent in the passing game that consists of Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins, Austin Hooper, and David Njoku. By the way, star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. returns from an ACL injury as well. 

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is also entering a contract year and looks to improve on his 2020 campaign, especially as the Browns ranked in the bottom half in yards per game (369.6) and passing yards per game (221.2). Along with a stout offensive line, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cleveland made it to the AFC championship game. The Dawg Pound should have a lot to be boastful about for this upcoming season with the amount of potential the Browns have as the Brownies shouldn’t be taken lightly at all.

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