playNFL NationOct 13, 2026, 06:20 AM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsNFL teams are averaging 23.3 points in the 2026 season. Though some of those points have come from defensive touchdowns (but surprisingly no return TDs), it’s mostly an indicator that offenses are getting into scoring territory a lot.So why are defenses struggling so much? In addition to our updated 1-32 rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick out the biggest defensive issue for each team.
From secondary depth to third-down defense, what is causing each team to falter?To form the list, our power panel of more than a dozen NFL analysts evaluates how all 32 teams stack up against one another. Here are a few highlights from this week’s rankings:The Patriots have returned to the top 10 after back-to-back wins over the Bills and Raiders. Sunday’s win was catalyzed by another strong performance from quarterback Drake Maye, who led the team to its most points (45) and yards (536) in a game since 2021. The Patriots could continue their hot streak with matchups against the Jets and Dolphins in two of the next three weeks.The Packers are also climbing back up our list after two losses in their first three games.
Green Bay entered Sunday’s matchup against Chicago as 1.5-point underdogs, but it completely dominated to avenge its wild-card loss last season. Quarterback Jordan Love’s 367 passing yards were the second most by any QB in Bears-Packers series history, per ESPN Research.The bottom three teams in our rankings (Chargers, Titans and Dolphins) are all 0-5. It’s the fifth time since the 1970 merger that three teams from the same conference have started a season with that record, per ESPN Research. Los Angeles had the most excruciating loss of the bunch this past weekend, dropping a seven-point lead with nine minutes left against the Broncos.Let’s get into the full list, starting with the same No. 1 team from last week.Previous rankings: Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5Jump to a team: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH1.
San Francisco 49ers (5-0)Week 5 result: Beat the Seahawks 32-29 Week 5 ranking: 1Biggest issue on defense: Third-down efficiencyUnder new coordinator Raheem Morris, the Niners rank fifth in yards per play allowed (4.7) and have limited big plays as well as any team in the league. But they have struggled to get off the field consistently. The Niners rank 20th in third-down defense, giving up a first down on 40.8% of their opportunities. That has led to their defense being on the field for 31 minutes, 12 seconds per game, which ranks 23rd in the NFL. — Nick Wagoner2.
Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)Week 5 result: Bye Week 5 ranking: 2Biggest issue on defense: Not enough sacksThe Chiefs can generate pressure on the quarterback, whether it’s via Chris Jones, George Karlaftis or rookie R Mason Thomas. But they have one of the biggest statistical anomalies of the 2026 season: zero sacks in the first month. Before their bye week, they couldn’t put Raiders QB Kirk Cousins on the turf despite a season-high 21 pressures. If the Chiefs can start collecting sacks, their defense could be a top unit in the second half of the season. — Nate Taylor3.
Buffalo Bills (4-1)Week 5 result: Beat the Rams 37-34 (OT) Week 5 ranking: 4Biggest issue on defense: Letting offenses off the hookThe Bills haven’t had much issue pushing offenses backward on first down. But opponents have had far too much success extending drives in second-and-long and third-and-long situations. Plenty of this has to do with the Bills’ dwindling cornerback depth, but that’s hardly an excuse for how C.J. Stroud, Jared Goff, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford completed 74.6% of their passes for 558 yards and five touchdowns (80.8 QBR) on second downs against the Bills. — Nick Suss4.
Seattle Seahawks (3-2)Week 5 result: Lost to the 49ers 32-29 Week 5 ranking: 3Biggest issue on defense: Not enough stops in the red zoneThe biggest problem for the Seahawks’ defense might actually be Seattle’s offense; the 44 points they’ve given up off turnovers is tied for most in the NFL. You have to look hard to find a true weakness with a unit that ranks second in both defensive EPA and ESPN’s defensive efficiency metric, but the Seahawks are 27th in opponent red zone efficiency (75%) and tied for last in opponent goal-to-go efficiency (100%). Granted, they haven’t allowed offenses to get that far down the field often — only 12 times inside their 20 (tied for fifth fewest) and seven times inside their 10 (tied for seventh fewest). — Brady Henderson5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1)Week 5 result: Beat the Eagles 19-17 Week 5 ranking: 5Biggest issue on defense: Finishing with the pass rushIt’s nitpicky, considering the Jaguars are No. 1 in run defense and second in scoring defense, but they could do a better job of getting sacks.
Their 80 QB pressures are tied for sixth and 11 sacks rank ninth, but edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker only have 3.5 sacks combined. They each had 1.5 sacks in the season opener against the Browns but a half sack since (Walker last Sunday). Both are a large part of the run defense (63.8 yards per game) by setting the edge, but their sack production needs to increase. — Michael DiRocco6. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)Week 5 result: Beat the Saints 23-13 Week 5 ranking: 9Biggest issue on defense: Depth not tested yetIt’s not easy to find a negative indicator from a defense that has been the league’s best this season, based on NFL Next Gen Stats’ expected point average.
But because the Vikings have been almost entirely healthy, their depth at multiple positions is untested. In fact, eight defensive players have been on the field for at least 80% of the snaps. That doesn’t mean the backups would falter in more prominent roles. It’s just hard to judge based on game reps. — Kevin Seifert7.
Baltimore Ravens (4-1)Week 5 result: Beat the Falcons 30-23 (OT) Week 5 ranking: 6Biggest issue on defense: Getting stops on third downThe Ravens are allowing teams to convert 41.5% of their third downs, which ranks 20th in the NFL. It’s frustrating because Baltimore seems as if it’s winning on the early downs before giving up a big play on third down. Quarterbacks are averaging 8.7 yards per attempt on third down, the fifth highest in the league. The Ravens gave up nine third-down conversions Sunday, which are the most they’ve given up in a game in two seasons.
“It obviously feels a lot better fixing those mistakes with a win,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “I might be a little too cynical or critical, but we can be better.” — Jamison Hensley8. Los Angeles Rams (2-3)Week 5 result: Lost to the Bills 37-34 (OT) Week 5 ranking: 7Biggest issue on defense: Missing Myles GarrettThe Rams’ defense has been inconsistent at times, and it has only eight sacks this season (tied for sixth fewest in the NFL). But Los Angeles should get more sack production once the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is back on the field.
Garrett, who had knee surgery in mid-September, is eligible to return to practice this week. Rams coach Sean McVay said the team is unlikely to open Garrett’s 21-day practice window this week, but that the pass rusher is making “good progress.” — Sarah Barshop9. New England Patriots (3-2)Week 5 result: Beat the Raiders 45-17 Week 5 ranking: 14Biggest issue on defense: Cornerback depthThey played with only three healthy CBs on Sunday, as starters Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and Carlton Davis III (neck) were inactive, and rookie backups Karon Prunty and Channing Canada were unavailable because of hamstring injuries. When fill-in starter Charles Woods left the gam
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