NFL Analysis
1/17/24
7 min read
Power Ranking Every Defense Remaining In 2024 NFL Playoffs
Wild-card weekend has come and gone, and the Divisional Round is upon us. Preparing for a slate of premier matchups, on the heels of a slew of elite defensive performances in Round 1, it’s a perfect time to rank the remaining NFL defenses.
Power Ranking Divisional Round Defenses
1. Baltimore Ravens 
When digging into the metrics, the Baltimore Ravens' defense ranks lower than you might expect. Coming in at eighth in EPA/play and 17th in success rate since Week 11, the Ravens still have one of the most feared defenses in the NFL.
Baltimore wins by playing fast, physical and assignment-sound football. They have the personnel to execute that strategy at all three levels of their defense.
Starting with the Ravens' defensive line, the unit's depth — with productive players such as Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington, Jadeveon Clowney, Brent Urban, Odafe Oweh and Travis Jones — allows defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to play his front in waves without missing much of a beat. The Ravens have not been quite as good at stopping the run since Week 11 but remain one of the better pass defenses in the NFL.
The second level is where Baltimore makes its money, thanks to Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen. The addition of Smith at the 2022 trade deadline allowed the Ravens' defense to reach another level against the pass and the run.
On the back end, the Ravens are not quite as deep, but Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Williams allow the Baltimore defense to disguise coverages and make life difficult on opposing offenses.
It’s all tied together by Macdonald, a first-year defensive coordinator and hot head-coaching candidate. He has done a tremendous job with this unit, the top defense remaining in the playoffs.
2. San Francisco 49ers 
Deciding between the San Francisco 49ers and the Ravens for the top spot wasn’t as tough as I thought it would be. Both teams earned a bye week in Round 1, so much of this breakdown relies on what these two defenses did during the second half of the regular season.
Since Week 11, the 49ers' defense ranks 19th in EPA/play and 22nd in success rate. While the numbers for Baltimore weren't as impressive as expected, San Francisco ranked lower in all major categories.
Despite subpar advanced metrics heading into the playoffs, the 49ers' defense has played extremely well in the postseason over the past three years, allowing more than 20 points just twice in the team's last six playoff games.
San Francisco will have its hands full with Jordan Love and coach Matt LaFleur this weekend. Although the 49ers are the heavy favorite, don’t be surprised if this game is much closer than expected. The Green Bay Packers are playing great on offense, and San Francisco's defense has struggled to stop the run over the last eight weeks.
3. Buffalo Bills 
The Buffalo Bills' defense has had one of the NFL’s biggest turnarounds.
After starting the season as one of the league’s more disappointing units, Sean McDermott and the Buffalo defense turned it around down the stretch. The Bills didn't have much of a test in the wild-card round because the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense has struggled for most of the season.
But when looking at the overall landscape of Buffalo's defense since the the team's Week 13 bye, the unit should be getting much more attention for turning around the team's season and winning the AFC East.
Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense get a ton of credit, but the Bills wouldn't be in the position they are now without holding the Kansas City Chiefs to 17 points, the Dallas Cowboys to 10 points and the Miami Dolphins to 14 points in three of final five games of the regular season.
4. Kansas City Chiefs 
Due to the weather in Kansas City last weekend, it’s tough to tell if the Kansas City Chiefs' defense was that dominant or if the Dolphins were incapable of playing in those conditions.
Nevertheless, betting on Steve Spagnoulo in the playoffs is never a bad idea. Over the past six games, the Chiefs' defense hasn't given up more than 20 points and has made life difficult on some good offenses in Miami and Buffalo.
Kansas City will have its hands full this weekend as they head to Buffalo to take on the Bills, who are playing some of their best ball of the season. The Chiefs will need big games from DT Chris Jones, CB L’Jarius Snead and LB Nick Bolton to win their first road playoff game since 2015.
5. Houston Texans 
In case you weren’t aware, the Houston Texans are legit. While C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense get much of the attention right now (deservedly so), Houston’s defense is no slouch.
Headlined by CB Derek Stingley and rookie DE Will Anderson Jr., the Texans' defense lacks veteran star power but collectively plays as one of the best units in football. DeMeco Ryans has prepared this young defense and has done an excellent job adjusting to opponents' offenses over the past month.
While the Houston defense doesn't have the names or money invested in it that some of the other teams above it do, the Texans are one of the better-constructed and -coached defenses remaining. Houston could make life difficult on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore offense.
6. Green Bay Packers 
One of the most impressive showings of wild-card weekend came from the Green Bay Packers' defense.
Despite having defensive struggles for most of the regular seasons, Joe Barry’s unit came to play as the underdog at AT&T Stadium last week. CB Jaire Alexander was banged up, but the Packers did an excellent job of being physical with the Dallas receivers. The passing game was a constant struggle for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
The Packers are riding high, coming off a big road win in the first round of the playoffs. But Barry and Green Bay’s defense have another challenging task this weekend: They’ll be asked to slow down Kyle Shanahan’s offense in San Francisco.
Taming Shanahan will be much more complicated than taming Mike McCarthy was.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
It’s fitting that the two worst defenses will meet in the NFC Divisional Round to see who will make a trip to the NFC Championship game: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Lions.
The Buccaneers dominated the Philadelphia Eagles this past weekend with pressure, something the Eagles have struggled with all season.
Fortunately for Tampa Bay, Lions QB Jared Goff is a completely different quarterback when facing the heat, and that’s something Todd Bowles’ defense does well. Even after a strong outing against Philadelphia, the Buccaneers' defense will have a much stronger matchup this weekend against an offense that can attack you through the air or ground in multiple ways.
8. Detroit Lions 
One of the few shocks of wild-card weekend was how well the Detroit Lions defended the Los Angeles Rams in the red zone.
The unit gave up just 23 points in what many thought would be a high-scoring shootout, which helped the Lions to win their first playoff game since 1991.
Even after a strong outing against the Rams, Detroit has a tough road ahead, especially on defense. The Lions will rely heavily on Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil in their front seven. Detroit will hope Brian Branch and company in the secondary can hold up against Baker Mayfield, Rachaad White, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on Sunday.
