{"id":258682,"date":"2025-12-13T08:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T13:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=258682"},"modified":"2025-12-12T22:08:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T03:08:25","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-week-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/12\/13\/nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-week-15\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Power Rankings: Top 20 Defenses Week 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of the week when we look at which defenses stepped up and which others fell after week 15 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 15 NFL Power Rankings: Defense<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

20. San Francisco 49ers – 335.8 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

After beating the Browns<\/a> before their bye, the Niners<\/a> enjoyed a week of rest. This week, they get the Titans<\/a>, who will come back to reality this week once they step off the plane in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

19. Miami Dolphins – 334.5 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Dolphins<\/a> worked hard to get back on this list, and they’ve done that through sacks and interceptions. With 10 sacks and five turnovers in the past two games, the Dolphins are ready for a cold battle against the Steelers<\/a> on Monday Night Football.<\/p>\n

18. Carolina Panthers – 331.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Panthers<\/a> are fresh off a bye after beating the Rams<\/a>, in which they forced the turnovers and sacked Matthew Stafford twice. This week, they head to New Orleans to battle the Saints<\/a> in a divisional game that could keep their playoff hopes alive.<\/p>\n

17. New York Jets – 329.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Jets<\/a> are a mess at times, and then they surprise you even more with how bad they play. This week, they face the Jaguars<\/a>, who should make quick work of them.<\/p>\n

16. Las Vegas Raiders – 325.8 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

Even though the Raiders<\/a> have had a very questionable year, which included smashing Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers’ dreams of playing for a winning team, the defense keeps them in most games and has had only one game this year without a sack. With the Eagles<\/a> up next, it doesn’t look good for them in any way after Philly got punked by the Chargers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

After you get done here, check out these players who need to step up in Week 15<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

\"Aidan<\/p>\n

15. Detroit Lions – 321.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Lions<\/a> found themselves in a shootout last week against the Cowboys<\/a>, but still recorded five sacks and three turnovers. This week, they face the Rams in what could become the game of the year, with how these two teams move the ball on offense.<\/p>\n

14. Atlanta Falcons – 323.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Falcons<\/a> found out why the Seahawks<\/a> are one of the best teams in the league by giving up 37 points to the NFC West juggernaut. This week, they edged out the Buccaneers<\/a>, a crucial division loss for the Bucs.<\/p>\n

13. Los Angeles Rams – 315 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Rams simply handled business against the Cardinals<\/a> by locking them up and running over them on offense. This week won’t be as easy since Jared Goff and the Lions are coming to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

12. New Orleans Saints – 313.5 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Saints continue to surprise us on defense, which is sad since their offense can’t be consistent. They will face the Panthers, who they shut down in week 10 by holding them to seven points.<\/p>\n

11. Jacksonville Jaguars – 310.4 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Jaguars had it easy against the Colts<\/a> last week, who could only score 19 points after losing quarterback Daniel Jones for the year, during the game. They’ll play the Jets this week, who are about as scary as the abominable snowman in Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, once his tooth was removed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10. Buffalo Bills – 307.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Bills<\/a> found themselves in a shootout in a blizzard against the Bengals<\/a>, in which they barely pulled out in the end. This week, they’ll face their division rivals, the Patriots<\/a>, who are leading the division and are tied for the best record in the NFL.<\/p>\n

9. Kansas City Chiefs – 303.7 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

It’s wild that the Chiefs<\/a> are fighting for their lives to get into the playoffs, but that’s this year’s NFL in a bunch. That won’t get any easier this week with the Chargers next on their plate.<\/p>\n

8. Minnesota Vikings – 299.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Vikings<\/a> are practically like the Saints, where the defense is solid, but they’re a train wreck at quarterback. Hopefully, they can muster some offense in Dallas, because the Cowboys are going to put up points against this defense.<\/p>\n

7. New England Patriots – 296.4 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Patriots are ready to defend their AFC East crown this week against the Bills, who come into this game hungry like a wolf. In their past three games before their bye week, the Patriots defense held their opponents to a total of 43 points.<\/p>\n

6. Seattle Seahawks – 288.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Seahawks<\/a> have had a bad taste in their mouths since losing to the Rams and have only allowed nine points in their past two games. This week they face a Colts team that had to call up Phillip Rivers or of retirement to hopefully save their team.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Houston
Dec 7, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) and Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) celebrate after sacking Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Green Bay Packers – 287.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Packers<\/a> have been in some very hard games recently, with all three opponents being divisional foes. This week, they’ll be in Denver to face the Broncos<\/a> in what should be one of the slowest-moving games this week.<\/p>\n

4. Los Angeles Chargers – 282.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Chargers went to Philly and forced the Eagles into five turnovers, in which four were interceptions. This week, they’ll be in Kansas City facing the Chiefs, who are desperate for a win. With the playoffs on the line, you can expect this game to be another slobberknocker.<\/p>\n

3. Denver Broncos – 282 – Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and it shows in how many times they’ve had to nail the offense out this season. With the Packers next up, you can expect this game to be full of big hits and plenty of sacks.<\/p>\n

2. Cleveland Browns – 272.8 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Browns finally let Shadeur Sanders free, and it has finally paid off with some rest for the defense. However, since their 10 sack game against the Raiders, they have only recorded two sacks, which they’ll need to get back to if they’re going to slow down the Bears offense.<\/p>\n

1. Houston Texans – 266.3 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Texans<\/a> have been the number one defense by a landslide this season, and it showed against the Chiefs. They sacked Patrick Mahomes two times and hurried him into three interceptions, which sealed the deal for the win. This week, they face the Cardinals, who shouldn’t pose a threat to a defense like this.<\/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 15 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5637,"featured_media":258686,"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":[33916],"tags":[2165,2320],"class_list":["post-258682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-power-rankings","tag-defense","tag-nfl-schedule"],"modified_by":"Doug Henderson","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258682","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=258682"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":258688,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258682\/revisions\/258688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/258686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}