{"id":259780,"date":"2025-12-20T08:00:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T13:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=259780"},"modified":"2025-12-19T18:11:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T23:11:54","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-week-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/12\/20\/nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-week-16\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Power Rankings: Top 20 Defenses Week 16"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of the week when we look at which defenses stepped up and which others fell after Week 16 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 16 NFL Power Rankings: Top 20 Defenses<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

20. New York Jets – 337.4 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

It’s surprising to see the Jets<\/a> even in the top 20 with how bad they are. This week, they get the hapless Saints<\/a>, whose defense should be able to contain the Jets’ horrible offense.<\/p>\n

19. Miami Dolphins – 334.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

Like the Jets, the Dolphins<\/a> are a mess, and after benching Tua Tagovailoa, they’re looking to the future. The Dolphins defense had been solid up until the Steelers<\/a> game on Monday. This week, they have the Bengals<\/a>, who will show them no mercy as well.<\/p>\n

18. San Francisco 49ers – 333.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Niners<\/a> were plagued by injuries all year, and it’s finally slowed up to bite them recently against the Titans<\/a>. This week, they head to Indianapolis to face the Colts<\/a>, who are trying to find an identity after losing Daniel Jones to injury.<\/p>\n

17. Carolina Panthers – 331.5 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Panthers<\/a> had their playoff hopes all but shattered after losing to the Saints last week. This week, they’ll be in a shootout as they get ready to face the Buccaneers<\/a> at home.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

16. Las Vegas Raiders – 330.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

If there are a few things that the Raiders<\/a> have, it’s a good defense, Ashton Jeanty, and Brock Bowers. This week, they face the Texans<\/a>, which will not end well for them at all.<\/p>\n

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

The Falcons<\/a> have had so many ups and downs this season, it’s crazy. This week, they’ll be playing the Cardinals<\/a>, who can beat them, but Atlanta should be able to overcome them in the end.<\/p>\n

14. Philadelphia Eagles – 322.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

Even though the Eagles<\/a> have pitched it up since losing to the Bears<\/a>. In the past two games, the Eagles have 11 sacks and three turnovers, which will help them dispatch the Commanders<\/a> easily.<\/p>\n

13. Los Angeles Rams – 320.8 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Rams<\/a> are fresh out of a shootout against the Lions<\/a>, in which they won in the end. This week, they’ll be facing the Seahawks<\/a>, which could determine the NFC’s number one seed and the divisional winner of the NFC West.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Chris
Photo Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12. Buffalo Bills – 312.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Bills<\/a> looked like they were about to get run out of New England when the Patriots<\/a> took a big lead before halftime. However, after halftime, Super Allen showed up and took them apart for another Bills win.<\/p>\n

11. New Orleans Saints – 311.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Saints have been a laughing stock at times this year but last week they showed the Panthers what’s up. This week, they’ll feast on the Jets, who play like football like a college team at times. Look for the Saints to win this game and send the Jets back to New York with another loss.<\/p>\n

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – 308.5 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Jaguars<\/a> beat up the Jets last week with the sacks and three turnovers in what turned out to be a blowout. This week, they’ll have a real challenge as they face the Broncos<\/a> in Denver this week.<\/p>\n

9. Minnesota Vikings – 307.9 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Vikings<\/a> had their hands full with the Cowboys<\/a>, but only sacked Dak Prescott twice. They’ll need a better effort this week against the Giants<\/a>, who aren’t that good, but have a defense that could cause problems for the Vikings.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Week
Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Kansas City Chiefs – 303.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Chiefs<\/a> were not only eliminated from the playoffs, but also lost Patrick Mahomes for the year to a torn ACL. They have the Titans this week who pose no threat as long as Gardner Minshew keeps his turnovers in check.<\/p>\n

7. New England Patriots – 300.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Patriots still have a bad taste in their mouths after giving up a big lead to the Bills. This week, they have Lamar Jackson and the Ravens<\/a> next up, who are fighting for their lives to get into the playoffs. This game is going to be huge for both teams and could help the Steelers<\/a> win the AFC North if the Ravens lose.<\/p>\n

6. Green Bay Packers – 294.6 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Packers<\/a> are moving on from losing Micah Parsons to an ACL injury for the year. Regardless, they will face the Bears<\/a>, who are having one of their best seasons in years. Expect a shootout as both teams look to win the NFC North.<\/p>\n

5. Denver Broncos – 287.7 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Broncos showed why they’re one of the best teams in the league when Bo Nix woke up and torched the Packers last week. This week, they’ll be facing the Jaguars, which could be a game that doesn’t see more than 40 points scored between both teams.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Houston
Photo Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Seattle Seahawks – 283 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Seahawks<\/a> are still angry after getting trounced by the Rams in Los Angeles most recently. The Rams put up a big lead, which they held for the entire game. This time, the Seahawks will need to rely on ball control because even though the Rams don’t have Devante Adams, they can still score over 20 points on them again.<\/p>\n

3. Cleveland Browns – 279.1 – Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Browns<\/a> defense has given up 31 points in each of their last two games and has only recorded five sacks in three games after their 10-sack explosion. I don’t see them sacking Josh Allen that much, which means the Bills should dominate the Browns in a battle for the best team on Lake Erie. I mean, the Browns need a Super Bowl of some sort, and this could be it.<\/p>\n

2. Los Angeles Chargers – 279.1 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Chargers<\/a> continually lock up teams and did that to the Chiefs last week with five sacks and two turnovers. This week, they face the Cowboys, who have an offense that will test the Chargers defense on all levels.<\/p>\n

1. Houston Texans – 269.2 Total Yards Against<\/h4>\n

The Texans continue to buff their stats since their competition has been sub-par recently. They get another lay-up against the Raiders, who may not even gain 200 yards in this game, cementing the Texans as the number one defense again, next week.<\/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 16 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":235675,"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-259780","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\/259780","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=259780"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":259787,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259780\/revisions\/259787"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/235675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}