NFL Elite: Greatest Single-Season Performances On Defense

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The old adage states that “defense wins championships”. On this list, some of these franchise defenses needed to overcome awful offenses.

For as long as the NFL players, defense, the collective tasked with disrupting offenses remains vitally integral. In a league where flashy stats and highlight catches rule the day, the eleven athletes paid to stop them go mostly unnoticed. For every seventy kids dreaming of emulating Randy Moss, not many envisioned toiling in the trenches on cold days. Defense is a thinking man’s pursuit. Defenders need to anticipate, read an offense, and be able to win snaps all day long. Which single-season NFL defenses stand above all others?

5. 1991 Philadelphia Eagles

Of all the teams on this list, this incarnation of The Iggles possesses the worst luck. In the first game of the season, they lose their quarterback Randall Cunningham to injury From there, four other passers took snaps. Meanwhile, the other side of the ball allowed Philly to remain in games. Imagine a front four that not only stifled the pass but smothered the run. In sixteen games, since they didn’t make the playoffs, the Eagles only allowed two one-hundred-yard rushing games. Three of their starting defensive linemen tallied more than one hundred tackles, a feat unrepeated. Yes, Clyde Simmons, Reggie White, and Mike Pitts logged a hundred stops. Not to mention, three other players also entered that exclusive club. Six defenders with one hundred tackles. Furthermore, twenty-six interceptions and fifty-five sacks for a unit that did not play in the NFL postseason.

4. 1986 New York Giants

Imagine playing quarterback in the NFC East during the 1980s. Within the 3-4 defense, you face Carl Banks on one side and Lawrence Taylor on the other. Moreover, Leonard Marshall, a five-technique gathered twelve sacks. Two teams during the 1986 season scored over twenty-one points versus New York. The Giants swarmed to the ball and their front seven, carried the back four, and rumbled through the regular season. Then, like the proverbial light bulb, New flipped the switch in the playoffs. That group only allowed twenty-three points in twelve quarters of playoff play. Dominant from September to January, the group brought toughness and awareness along with arrogance knowing that they were about to destroy offenses.

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3. 1969 Kansas City Chiefs

When people look back at the 1960s Chiefs, they think of a prolific offense that racked up wins with high scores. Yet, their defense mauled opponents. In allowing 12.6 points per game, the Chiefs, then of the AFL, set a standard for defensive excellence rarely seen. Additionally, the ability to create turnovers made this unit the best in AFL history. During that magical season, Kansas City forced three or more turnovers ten separate times, including a mind-boggling nine versus the Houston Oilers. At the line of scrimmage, the front four of Mays, Brown, Culp, and Buchanan obliterated passing games with forty sacks and six fumble recoveries. Behind Willie Lanier and Emmitt Thomas, future Hall of Famers at linebacker and corner, pulled town twelve interceptions between them. After a regular season loss to Oakland, the unit didn’t allow a postseason opponent over ninety rushing yards.

2. 1985 Chicago Bears

A popular choice, but probably an unpopular ranking. The Bears, for twenty-five years, could boast the all-time greatest defense. In 1985, the NFL was not prepared for the 46 defense. The brainchild of Buddy Ryan, the scheme placed intense pressure on the line of scrimmage. The defense would mask where the heat would start. As a result, opponents never knew what was coming. The defense turned defense into offense. Their fifty-four sacks halted drives and demoralized blockers. Next, thirty-four interceptions set the offense up to score. Richard Dent and Mike Singletary led the defense. However, the Bears’ success was an eleven-man job. Allowing ten total points in the playoffs, on their way to obliterating the Patriots in Super Bowl XX, the Bears were hell on Earth for their opponents. 12.8 points a game, with that elite defense.

1. 2000 Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens sit atop this list for several reasons. Baltimore shut out four opponents that season. Next, they allowed only 165 total points, which is a league-low for sixteen games. Next, they surrendered 970 total rushing yards, also a league low. After that, five rushing touchdowns were allowed, twenty-three picks, nineteen forced fumbles, and just thirty-five sacks. While other teams on this list enjoyed a superior pass rush, Baltimore relied on their players to play not only disciplined but aggressively in pursuit. With Lewis, Sharper, Boulware, Woodson, Starks, and Burnett, this unit practically won every game for Baltimore. In their four losses, the Baltimore offense did not score a single touchdown. Not to mention, the offense didn’t complete sixty percent of its passes and threw just one more touchdown than interception. Meanwhile, allowing 4.3 yards per play and 5.6 yards per attempt along with everything mentioned certifies the 2000 Baltimore Ravens as the greatest single-season defense.