Not a dynasty in the 1950s Cleveland Browns way, but a dynasty of the modern game, where free agency and a salary cap can eat a team alive. The guy that bettors are scrambling to back for Most Valuable Player threw for an average of 149.5 yards per game in 2022. --Adam Teicher, Defensive efficiency:69.1 When Adams and Hunter Renfrow collided on the subsequent fourth-and-1 pass attempt, it was a fitting end to an infuriating night -- another chapter in an infuriating season -- for the team from the desert. ThePats are a Week 6 win over the Browns away from getting back to even ground at .500. League rank: 26th. Cincinnati has one of the best defenses in the NFL. Add it all up, and the Cowboys are looking at a top-five draft pick next spring. Even that's a reach, as corners Darius Slay (forearm) and Avonte Maddox (right ankle) are expected back soon. The defense bounced back from Week 4's humbling prime-time loss to the Chiefs, but a fourth-quarter letdown was halted by an absurdly generous roughing-the-passer call that kept Tom Brady on the field and allowed the home team to run out the clock in a 21-15 win over Atlanta. Can't say I'm totally on board with the Never Cover Travis Kelce strategy deployed by the Raiders on the goal line, but the Chiefs weren't complaining after their star tight end gobbled up all four of Patrick Mahomes' short touchdown passes in a 30-29 prime-time win at Arrowhead. Bills, Titans, Bengals, and Ravens this week all have a claim for the best team in the AFC. But injuries to key players have made it difficult for the unit to develop an identity through four games. The Giants aren't the most talented team in the NFC, and they're far from the healthiest, but they compete like hell and put themselves in the best position to win each week. Head coach Anthony Lynn has had to assume control of that unit. Special teams: 17, The Colts -- yes, the Colts -- are being led by their defense. But it's Mahomes who makes this team a dynasty. The circumstances on Monday night were particularly cruel: Josh Jacobs came up inches short on a 2-point conversion try that would have put the Raiders ahead with 4:27 to play. --Rob Demovsky, Defensive efficiency:46.2 Brandon Staley owes Cade York a beer. The turnovers are the red-alert number. Whenit was over, the Colts were celebrating in Denver on Thursday night -- even if the result didnt quite make sense. Opponent Fourth Down Conversion Percentage. Check out Dan Hanzus' full league pecking order, 1 to 32. There is Justin Herbert with the Chargers and Trevor Lawrence on his way in Jacksonville. Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offense seemed well set up to shred a Ravens defense that entered Sunday Night Football allowing more passing yardage than any team in football. 2 overall pick in Chase Young, that's how it should be. Without either, the Browns couldn't get pressure, while the Falcons ran the ball at will. But what has helped them win four of their past five games is that the defense has forced 22 turnovers, which puts the Colts second in the league this season. Week 3. League rank: 4th. What's to think they can't keep this going? 2021 FANTASY FOOTBALL D/ST RANKINGS: WEEK 17. It's the truth -- and it gives the Ravens a huge advantage in every close contest they're a part of. Tom Brady's career might never be matched. That's not to oversimplify what's gone wrong for Seattle's defense, which has had all sorts of issues during another awful start. CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND The quarterback, who had struggled mightily through the first four weeks of his second season, caught fire in the second half, finishing 12 of 13 for 135 yards and a touchdown in the final two quarters. Although their defense began the season hemorrhaging yards, it has regained its 2018 and 2019 form over the past few weeks. Full schedule | Standings San Francisco also finished the game without star pass rusher Nick Bosa (groin) and kicker Robbie Gould (knee). Particularly disappointing is their defensive rank. -- Lindsey Thiry, Russell Wilson was the MVP front-runner for much of the first half of the season, which the Seahawks needed, with their defense getting gashed at a historic rate. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, past performance was not indicative of future results. One of this year's most intriguing defensive backs prospects is @AlabamaFTBL 's Brian Branch. The results were as one-sided as you might expect: a 38-3 Bills victory that put Buffalo back in sole possession of first place in the AFC East. Who has the most career 300 passing yard games? Mahomes became more patient, became a better passer. CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND The pass rush is anemic (16 sacks), DE Josh Allen (2.5 sacks) has had a disappointing season and is now on IR, and injuries have decimated the secondary (at one point, the Jaguars were down four of their top five corners). The blowout was on! League rank: 23rd. Dan Hanzus takes stock of the Power Rankings hierarchy. Here's our new No. The interception total, even with none against the Panthers on Sunday, is five more than that of the next-worst team. Frank Reich is in as the head coach, but he has to find a quarterback or it won't matter who coaches this team. Wasn't that supposed to be their best unit? Kupp's score represents the team's only touchdown in the past nine quarters. They do have to improve their pass rush, but they will be a deep playoff team next season. In the meantime, the Chiefs have made the most of their four turnovers. Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) sat out Sunday's game against the Jets, and backup Teddy Bridgewater lasted one play before he, too, was sidelined after being evaluated for a head injury. Find out who the leaders are in standard scoring formats and see which players are available in your fantasy football league. All 2022 NFL futures odds are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook unless otherwise noted and are current as of Thursday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m. --Ben Baby, Defensive efficiency: 60.8 The Raiders have rebuilt their linebacker corps and secondary to enter the 20s. Special teams: 26, Let's simplify this. Plus, the Jaguars hit the top 10 for the first time this season. Eric Samulski breaks down all 2021 fantasy football Week 1 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. The biggest issue on defense is injuries. There are only three teams allowing more rushing yards after contact than the Packers. Its a start. They hired DeMeco Ryans as coach, which will be a good thing for this franchise. Jalen Hurts showed on the biggest stage that he is their franchise quarterback. New Orleans Saints (vs. Seahawks) 10. After that? Will the Dolphins get a veteran QB? Buffalo coasted from there, but Allen still managed to set a franchise record for passing yardage in a game that ended in regulation (424). The Titans are a team that's still trying to figure things out; luckily, they play in an AFC South that appears more adrift than ever at the moment. Its fair to wonder if Pittsburgh ends this rebuilding campaign with one of the worst records in football. Kansas City dug itself out of a 17-0 first-half hole thanks to a Mahomes-led offense that, when warmed up, operates like a runaway freight train going downhill. Special teams: 30, You don't need analytics to tell you that this season has been bad for the Cowboys. Although there is plenty of blame to spread around, the negative plays brought on by Wentz's turnovers (19) and sacks (50) put the Eagles on bad footing all too frequently. I mean, really trust. Said Lamar Jackson: "We got the G.O.A.T. 2023 NFL combine: Top draft prospect workouts, risers, fastest 40s The Packers survived a scare from Bailey Zappe and the Patriots in Week 4, but Brian Daboll's Giants made them pay with a humbling loss in London. ESPN's weekly defense/special teams (D/ST) fantasy football rankings are an aggregate of our eight rankers, listed alphabetically. The offensive line remains a concern. The Eagles are 5-0 for just the third time in franchise history. 4-1. Kansas City is totaling 115.9 rushing yards per game on offense, which ranks the team 20th in the NFL. injuries. Dan Hanzus updates his Power Rankings, with a notable boost for the surging Green Bay Packers. Brooks was asked if he thought he and Green played a similar game and Brooks . Reed and rookie Sauce Gardner are holding up nicely on the outside, but they're giving up too many chunk plays in the middle of the field. Only four teams have forced fewer turnovers, and all of them have losing records. -- Brady Henderson, Although the Titans are 9-4, their defense has been subpar. Minutes earlier -- in a decision that was gutsy at best and reckless at worst -- Staley opted to keep his offense on the field on fourth-and-2 at his own 45-yard line with just over a minute to play. More NFL coverage , The Dolphins have been great on defense and special teams, scoring a combined three touchdowns with those units this season. Dallas Cowboys (at Rams) The one to note here is the Cowboys they're on the road in LA, but that pass rush is so good! Seattle is still second in offensive scoring, even with Wilson coming back down to earth. The Kansas City Chiefs are champions after Super Bowl LVII. If they do, this is a team that can push the Bills for the AFC East title. The Giants have a top-10 pass defense at the moment. Special teams: 19, The Giants' worst unit is their offense? The Bears spent most of the season struggling to score points, run the football or convert on third down. They did it with a strong defensive effort against the Jaguars, harassing Trevor Lawrence into two interceptions in a 13-6 victory. -- Rich Cimini, Week 15 NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus offense, defense and special-teams rankings, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Opponent First Downs per Play. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, It's no surprise that the Chiefs have the top-ranked offense -- by a wide margin -- given the seasons that Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are having. He wouldn't say it. New England Patriots (vs. Jaguars) The Patriots have routinely destroyed rookie quarterbacks under Bill Belichick and Trevor Lawrence has been a turnover machine this season. The backup QB has played the best football of his career, but each of his three interceptions have come at crucial late junctures to seal -- or help seal -- the Browns' fate in their losses. ", You can flip the calendar and reboot the coaching staff, but some things will never change with a Kirk Cousins-led offense. That showed up Sunday night. The Chiefs have taken the ball from their opponent just four times. But the Niners still have a losing record, despite the generally strong overall rankings, because of the team's inconsistency and turnover problems. Its defense has faced the third-most pass attempts in the NFL this season. It's true that the quarterback is the most important position on an NFL team, which is why pass-rushing matters so much. It's time for Lawrence, touted as a generational talent entering the league, to step up. Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit A big reason for this is the absence of linebacker Shaquille Leonard, who made his short-lived season debut on Sunday, only to leave with a concussion in the second half. The biggest issue on defense is . Guess we just need to sit back, eat some popcorn and wait for it to make sense. But that's not what we've seen on the field this season. I believe we hit rock bottom, so now the only place to go is back up." With an Eagles team that runs the ball effectively in their division, the Cowboys have to get better. A few other popular sleeper defenses that you might have drafted late are definitely off limits in Week 1 . Defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale cooked up a scheme that didn't allow Aaron Rodgers to score chunk plays (Green Bay was shut out on offense in the second half), while the undermanned offense was once again the recipient of multiple impact plays from Saquon Barkley, who absolutely deserves to be in any MVP conversation through five weeks. We saw that again on Sunday in London, where Big Blue scored an eye-opening 27-22 comeback victory over the Packers. Beyond individual development, there isn't anything to point to. Washington has surrendered an NFL-best 12 plays of 30 yards or more -- 10 of those have been pass plays -- often because of blown coverages. A healthy Adams would be making a difference as a run defender and a pass-rusher. The offense went cold, and Minnesota allowed Chicago to crawl back in the game and even take the lead in the fourth quarter. League rank: 25th. The unit that gave up 51 points to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs in January has not improved this season, and even a healthy J.J. Watt can make only so much of a difference. Cornerbacks D.J. Jacoby Brissett is at the center of all the madness. But the defense is why Detroit is in a hole at the moment, getting ready for a complete regime switch in the offseason. Don't forget to check out the NFL Power Rankings Podcast with Dan Hanzus and Colleen Wolfe. Rankings change: Up 1. In the second half, Baltimore has given up an NFL-worst 1,019 yards while allowing 67 points. League rank: 10th. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF Honestly, there's very little to nitpick the Bengals' defense about. The biggest issue on defense is the 49ers' offense. Daniel Jones hasn't made the leap as expected in Year 2, and the Giants are struggling to score points. The problem is the AFC is loaded with those guys. The biggest issue on defense is run defense. 32. The defense has its own injury problems to contend with, in addition to a roster that still needs upgrades. Wilks will begin his run without Mayfield, out indefinitely after suffering a high anklesprain against the Niners. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Barnwell: How Jalen Hurts thrived Sunday, plus four trade destinations for Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts to Philly's rescue? Week 1. If the season were a movie, we'd be just entering the second act, and I'd be whispering to my wife in the crowded theater: She doesn't know. The best kicker in NFL history was at it again on Sunday night, booting a 58-yard field goal in the third quarter, then the game-winner as time expired to lift the Ravens to a critical 19-17win over the rival Bengals. League rank: 28. Carolina fired the head coach on Monday, ending hisrun with the Panthers at 11-27 in two-plus seasons. They can't ask Josh Allen to do it all. 2021 NFL defense rankings espn. Bengals' rebuild not yet complete WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS: Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | Kicker. Rookie Derek Stingley Jr. had one of those picks,his first career interception. TeamRankings.com is not affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or March Madness Athletic Association, neither of which has supplied, reviewed, approved or endorsed the material on this site. Kelce remains at the center of everything, a prodigious producer who always seems to deliver his best moments when the lights are brightest. -- Rob Demovsky, The Bills' offense is a complete turnaround from last season's anemic unit, as Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs have combined to form one of the most potent QB-WR duos in the NFL. Per NFL Media research, Rodgers finished 0-for-6 on deep attempts of at least 20 air yards. There is a lot of young talent on the roster. Detroit will use itsbye to examine everything, including fourth-down decision making: The Lions went for it on fourth down six times on Sunday and failed to convert even once. They have a team that can win a division title with the right quarterback. Its been a mess, and now it becomes the responsibility of defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach Steve Wilks, who was elevated to interim head coach. We hope the Ravens and their fans never take for granted the unprecedented greatness of Justin Tucker. -- Jake Trotter, The Bucs surrounded quarterback Tom Brady with an offense that rivals a championship fantasy roster from 2017. For a variety of reasons (beginning with the Saquon Barkley injury), it's not, and it's at the top of the list of reasons they have a losing record. Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson missed Weeks 1 and 3 after undergoing ankle surgery in August, and when he did give it a go in Week 2, he said he was playing at less than 100 percent. To make College Football Playoff: 0.6%. League rank:3rd. With the Falcons officially eliminated from playoff contention, it's time to turn the focus to 2021 and potentially moving on at quarterback while retooling other areas of the roster. Football Power Index rankings Mampt. They will sign one -- likely Jones -- and tag the other. -- Alaina Getzenberg, Defensive efficiency: 85.7 League rank: 17th. The worst is minus-214, set by the 1976 Jets in a 14-game season. -- Josh Weinfuss, Las Vegas, to paraphrase Mr. Miyagi, needs balance, Raider Nation-san. -- Brooke Pryor, It would have been much easier to identify the Saints' strengths if they hadn't just snapped a nine-game winning streak with Sunday's flop at Philadelphia. The Lions need to make some changes immediately, and head coach Dan Campbell knows it. League rank: 27th. 1 . To say the Raiders have struggled on the defensive side of the ball in the previous decade is a bit of an understatement. Special teams: 22, The Browns' offense has been spearheaded by arguably the top rushing attack in the league, powered by the running back duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and one of the NFL's most improved offensive lines. However, in the Week 4 loss to the Raiders, the Broncos were pushed off the ball far too often in run defense. Per The Athletic, Quenton Nelson had this to say after the 12-9 overtime conquest: Awins a win, but Im kinda also like how?The Colts can thank their defense for keeping the team above water during a brutal opening stretch for an offense that has averaged a league-worst 13.8 points per game. In the latest installment of Dan Hanzus' NFL Power Rankings, the Jets soar into the top 10 while the Packers continue to plummet. -- Shelley Smith, Offense: 31 The focus is solely on Guenther, whose defenses are responsible for two of the eight worst single-season defensive efficiency seasons of the past decade. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Beasley was released, and Clowney is on injured reserve. It ranks first in touchdowns allowed per drive and second in points allowed per drive. After Baltimore totaled 126 yards in the second half in Week 3, and Green Bay totaled 199 yards on 35 carries overall in Week 4, it has exposed a vulnerability for the Patriots. The Niners' defense has been mostly dominant for the season's first month, but the win column doesn't reflect just how good it has been. This calls for an updated set of rankings. Defensive efficiency: 69.1. Make Your Picks, The Falcons have lost six games by a touchdown or less, in large part because their defense has struggled in the red zone (29th of 32 teams) and can't consistently force late-game stops. From the top D/STs to the biggest sleepers and potential breakouts . There are also 15 teams this week that have a 2-2 record. When Justin Herbert's subsequent pass fell incomplete, the Browns looked like a team given an early Christmas gift by the opposing head coach.