{"id":256664,"date":"2025-11-29T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T13:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=256664"},"modified":"2025-12-01T08:40:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T13:40:33","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-week-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/11\/29\/nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-week-13\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Power Rankings: Top 20 Defenses Week 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of the week when we look at which defenses stepped up and which others fell after week 12 in the NFL. That means we could have some new teams on this list,so let’s get to this week’s top defenses in the NFL. Have a great day, everyone, and may the tackles be with you.<\/p>\n

Week 13 NFL Power Rankings – Defenses<\/h2>\n
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Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

20. Philadelphia Eagles – 340.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Eagles<\/a> are coming off a loss to the Cowboys<\/a> and are looking to get back on track for Week 13. As I write this, they are losing a tough game against the Bears<\/a> on Black Friday. The defense is doing its job despite being down in the game.<\/p>\n

19. Arizona Cardinals – 337 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Cardinals<\/a> made me look like a hero last week by dismantling the Jaguars with three sacks and four turnovers. This week, they’ll be heading to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers<\/a>, who are getting back some players from injury.<\/p>\n

18. Carolina Panthers – 327 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Panthers<\/a> intercepted Brock Purdy three times last week as they gave the Niners<\/a> all they had. This week, that won’t matter since they’ll have the Rams<\/a> coming to town, who should be able to do anything they want with this defense.<\/p>\n

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Also make sure to check out our overall NFL Power Rankings for Week 13<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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17. Jacksonville Jaguars – 323.8 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Jaguars<\/a> may not be the best defense in the NFL, but when you get six sacks against a mobile quarterback, you’re doing something right. This week, they’ll be facing the Titans<\/a>, who are a train wreck, giving the Jaguars another chance at four or more sacks in this game.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

16. Atlanta Falcons – 323.5 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Falcons<\/a> defense dominated the Saints<\/a> by recording five sacks and two turnovers. The Jets<\/a> are their next victim. The Jets are done with Justin Fields and going with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback.<\/p>\n

15. New York Jets – 321.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

Speaking of the Jets, they did nothing impressive against the Ravens<\/a>, with only one sack. Since they’ll be playing the Falcons this week, I don’t see anything changing for them anytime soon, as they struggle to find an identity.<\/p>\n

14. Las Vegas Raiders – 321.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Raiders<\/a>\u2019 defense always seems to make games competitive, but with how bad their offense is at times, it always feels like a one-legged man in a kickball contest. The Chargers<\/a> will be their next opponent, who are fresh off a bye and should beat their division rival pretty easily.<\/p>\n

13. Buffalo Bills – 317.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Bills<\/a> have become the laughing stock of the NFL as they continue to lose games, solidifying the Patriots<\/a> as the best team in the AFC. They’ll be heading to Pittsburgh this week to play the Steelers<\/a>, who will be inspired after watching the Ravens lose on Thanksgiving Day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Aidan
Photo Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12. Detroit Lions – 316.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Lions<\/a> were manhandled by the\u00a0Giants<\/a>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0Week 12 and did nothing defensively while giving up 27 points. They lost to the Packers on Thanksgiving, in a game they really needed to win.<\/p>\n

11. New Orleans Saints – 316.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

Here’s another team that only had one leg to stand on when it comes to how they play in the NFL. The Saints<\/a> always try to stay in the game, and maybe they’ll get lucky against the Dolphins<\/a> this week, since at times they are also a streaky team that isn’t really playing for anything this season.<\/p>\n

10. Minnesota Vikings – 314.8 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

It is rumored that J.J. McCarthy may not play this week, which will put a lot on the Vikings<\/a> defense in Week 13. That doesn’t bode well for them since the Seahawks<\/a> will be looking to keep up with the Rams in their division.<\/p>\n

9. Los Angeles Rams – 311.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

Speaking of the NFL’s best team, the Rams destroyed the Buccaneers in Week 12. This week, they get to face the Panthers, who should be no threat for one of the league’s most explosive offenses.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Khalil
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Kansas City Chiefs – 306.7 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Chiefs<\/a> defense is giving them the best chance to make the playoffs, since they find themselves in a hole in the standings. They were looking to get back on track this week against the Cowboys, whose season was on the line<\/a>, but Kansas City laid an egg in Dallas on Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

7. New England Patriots – 301.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

In Week 12, the Patriots took apart the Bengals<\/a> both offensively and defensively. This week, they’ll be facing the Giants, who pose no threat, but could have Jaxson Dart back.<\/p>\n

6. Seattle Seahawks – 301 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Seahawks got back on track against the Titans<\/a> after having the Rams give them a good thumping in Los Angeles. This week, they’ll be playing the Vikings, who are desperate, but the Seahawks should be able to win this game on their home field.<\/p>\n

5. Los Angeles Chargers – 286.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Chargers are fresh off a bye week after getting destroyed by the Jaguars. However, since they’ll be playing the Raiders, they shouldn’t have much to worry about for Week 13.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Myles<\/p>\n

4. Green Bay Packers – 284.8 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Packers annihilated the Vikings with five sacks and three turnovers, while holding them to six points. This week, they’ll be facing the Lions in a huge game for playoff seeding on Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

3. Denver Broncos – 274.4 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Broncos<\/a> are coming off a bye and getting an early Christmas present wrapped with a bow, since they’ll be playing the Commanders<\/a>. This should be an easy game for them since the Commanders are another team that needs help on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

2. Cleveland Browns – 273 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Browns<\/a> finally unleashed Shadeur Sanders, which made their offense viable for once this season. Since their bye, the Browns have accumulated 18 sacks, including 10 in their game last week against the Raiders. With the Niners coming to town this week, look for that total to come down in what could be a very low-scoring game.<\/p>\n

1. Houston Texans – 264.3 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Texans showed why they’re the best defense in the NFL by thwarting the Bills in Houston in Week 12. This week, they’re headed to Indianapolis to face the Colts<\/a>, which could end up deciding the division in the future. Look for a hard-nosed game as they dig in to stop Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones, who come into the game a little banged up.<\/p>\n

For more great football analysis, check out DrRoto.com<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of the week when we look at which defenses stepped up and which others fell after week 12 in the NFL. That means we could have some new teams on this list,so let’s get to this week’s top defenses in the NFL. Have a great day, everyone, and may the tackles be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5637,"featured_media":255333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,33,3,8,15,24,25,14,16,17,18,34,26,5,28,6,6431,21,33916,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-256664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-cardinals","category-bills","category-browns","category-broncos","category-lions","category-packers","category-texans","category-chiefs","category-raiders","category-chargers","category-rams","category-vikings","category-patriots","category-saints","category-jets","category-nfl-teams","category-eagles","category-power-rankings","category-seahawks"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5637"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256664"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":256683,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256664\/revisions\/256683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}