In sports like basketball or hockey, teams act more like one solid unit that moves together. The difference between offense and defense is not as severe as it is in NFL, and thus, defensive players are often overlooked in other sports. In football, however, the defense truly gets to shine in every game.
For fans, a good defense adds so much excitement to the game. When a defensive line can completely shut down the opposing team, it is one of the most thrilling things to see. To get an idea of the defensive prowess of each team, fans are constantly paying attention to rumors, injury reports, and looking for the most competitive odds available before upcoming games. While no one can deny the importance of a good offense, as they say, “defense wins championships.” Let’s take the opportunity to appreciate the greatest defenses in the sport today, and give shine to the players that leave it all out on the field, every game.
Buffalo Bills
For years now, it seems the Bills’ defense has been top contenders in the league. In past seasons, they have had defensive standouts like Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus and oftentimes been the leader in sacks for the NFL. As far as coaches are concerned, the Bills have a love affair with defensive-minded coaches. Current coach Sean Mcdermott previously served as defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers before moving on to Buffalo, and the Bills last coach, Rex Ryan, was well renowned for his complex defensive plays. For many years, the highlight of the Bills has been their defensive presence, with many suggesting that their defense is what brought them to the playoffs this past season.
The Bills have some standout defensive players that make up the core of the squad. Cornerback Tre’Davious White is not only the best defensive player on the Bills but also one of the best cornerbacks in the entire league. With 58 tackles and 6 interceptions for the season, he was regularly shutting down the wide receiver on the opposing team. Jordan Phillips also had a great season in the defensive tackle position. After stepping up for an injured Harrison Phillips, he finished the year with an impressive 9.5 sacks, and provided constant pressure on the defensive line, collapsing the pocket of opposing quarterbacks. The Bills are looking to be in great shape heading into the 2020 season, and could potentially be the best defensive team in the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens
While most defenses have certain holes or vulnerabilities that can be exploited, when you look over the Ravens defense, nothing really stands out as a weakness. Overall, they have one of the most solid and consistent defenses in the league. The Ravens have an answer to both rushing and passing threats and stay aggressive throughout the whole game without letting up on the pressure. The cornerback position has morphed into an incredibly important position in the modern NFL as a result of the constant emphasis on deep-ball threats. The Ravens have two excellent players in this position, all-pros Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, and have decided to retain Jimmy Smith as well. Tavon Young is also returning in 2020 from a neck injury, so the Ravens have a stacked secondary as far as cornerbacks are concerned.
The Ravens landed two huge names in free agency that show they will make a serious run for the Super Bowl this season. The trade for Calais Campbell is huge news. He is a dominant defensive lineman with 88 sacks over his career alongside 14 forced fumbles. Also picking up defensive end Derek Wolfe, the Ravens are looking very strong going into the 2020 season and will have a defense that does not know when to quit.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mid-season trades can often be hit or miss. When they turn out to be bad, everyone jumps at the chance to criticize. When they’re good, they often go unnoticed to everyone but the home fans. Regardless, the Steelers made one of the best mid-season trades in recent history in 2019 when they picked up safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami. Fitzpatrick has single-handedly turned the Steelers’ defense around and is on track to possibly be the best defensive player in the NFL. In 2019, he put up 57 tackles and 5 interceptions, returning one for a 96-yard touchdown. He is a defensive powerhouse going into 2020 and shows what a difference one player can make.
This is the best the Steelers’ defense has looked in years. After leading the league in sacks last year, it’s possible that after building on what they did well this past season, they could possibly be the best defense in the NFL in 2020. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt is showing that the defensive ability runs in the family and is playing respectively compared to his brother J.J. Watt from Houston. Keep an eye on the Steelers this season as they could be the standout team this year.
San Francisco 49ers
By now the word is out in the NFL, when you play against the 49ers’ defense, prepare to be absolutely suffocated. When we talk about a star-studded team, it’s truly hard to beat San Francisco. The rookie defensive end Nick Bosa has shown that he is worth the 2nd overall draft pick they spent on him and then some. In 2019, he amassed 9 sacks and 2 fumbles and had a big presence every time he stepped on the field. Nearly all of the defensive line members on the 49ers are former first-round picks, showing that this is a team that values and wants to invest in their defensive line for the foreseeable future. With all eyes on the 49ers this upcoming season, it may finally be their time for another championship.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were in a tough spot after moving back to Los Angeles. It was unclear if the California market would welcome them back, or if they really needed another team at all. It could have ended catastrophically for the former St. Louis squad. Instead, the Rams faced the adversity head-on and have won the respect out of the entire NFL football market. With the dark years in St. Louis well behind them, the Rams have become one of the best teams, and one of the best defenses in the NFC. Since coming to the Rams, the standout defensive lineman Aaron Donald has shown that he is truly one of the most dominant forces in football today. With 12.5 sacks in 2019 alone and 20.5 in 2018, he has certainly carried his weight and jump-started the Rams defense. He was awarded defensive player of the year in 2019 for his incredible season. Alongside Greg Gaines and Sebastian Joseph-Day, the Rams have the depth and talent they need to be a hard-hitting force on defense again this year.
