It’s that time of the week when we look at which defenses stepped up and which others fell after Week 17 in the NFL. With this being the final week of the year, I want to say thank you to everyone who followed this article since its inception. It’s wild that the NFL’s regular season is over, but here we are. After you get done with the defensive power rankings, head on over and check out the first overall power rankings of 2026. Have a great day, everyone, and may the tackles be with you.
Week 18 NFL Power Rankings: Top 20 Defenses
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 340.5 Total Yards Against
Isn’t it ironic that the Buccaneers take over the 20th spot from the Dolphins after beating them in Week 17? This week, they’ll be at home against the Panthers to see who will win the NFC South this year.
19. San Francisco 49ers – 338.9 Total Yards Against
The Niners took care of business against the Bears by not only defeating them, but also making it possible to win the NFC West and be the number one seed in the NFC. They’ll have to do that at home against the Seahawks, who hold all of those accolades right now.
18. Detroit Lions – 335.8 Total Yards Against
After the Vikings eliminated the Lions from the playoffs, the Lions players now find themselves only playing for personal goals. They’ll be playing against the Bears this week in a game where I could see some players being pulled early, so they don’t get hurt playing for nothing.
17. Los Angeles Rams – 328.2 Total Yards Against
The Rams had higher hopes for seeding and a draft pick going into Monday night’s game against the Falcons. Instead, they lost a close game in which Bijan Robinson tore them up for over 225 all-purpose yards.
