|
TOP 30 DEFENSES |
|
Rank |
Team |
Comments |
|
1 |
Carolina Panthers |
Special teams separate Carolina
from Tampa Bay and give them our #1 spot |
|
2 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Will be hard to repeat the superb
defensive effort of the Super Bowl Champions |
|
3 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Defense is one of the best
in football but doubtful they'll repeat their 2002 year |
|
4 |
Miami Dolphins |
Junior Seau and Sammy Knight should give an
already good defense a boost |
|
5 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Along with Carolina, one of the most improved
defenses over the last year |
|
6 |
Baltimore Ravens |
Ray Lewis is back and this team that has
improved dramatically the past year |
|
7 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Ranked 4th with 47 sacks last year but
secondary keeps them from the top 5 |
|
8 |
New England Patriots |
Inconsistency keeps a good defense from being
ranked at the top of the heap |
|
9 |
Green Bay Packers |
Most takeaways last year and second most
defensive touchdowns in 2002 |
|
10 |
New York Giants |
One of the toughest defenses in the league,
what will missing Sehorn do? |
|
11 |
Oakland Raiders |
Third best run defense in the league last year
as well as in the top 10 in sacks |
|
12 |
Tennessee Titans |
Could move up the defensive ranks if Kearsey
returns healthy to help Carter |
|
13 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Terrence Newman and Roy Williams
will anchor this young defensive team |
|
14 |
Washington Redskins |
The Redskins trio of linebackers could vault
this defense into the top 10 |
|
15 |
St. Louis Rams |
A lot of new talent will have to
help Aeneas Williams if this team is to gel |
|
16 |
Indianapolis Colts |
Lack of turnovers lower the
Colts despite their 8th ranked total defense in 2002 |
|
17 |
San Diego Chargers |
Losing Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison hurts,
but the front line is solid |
|
18 |
New York Jets |
The line is loaded but lack of turnovers,
sacks, and defensive scores hurts |
|
19 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Pretty good against the run, but some young
questionable talent is a concern |
|
20 |
New Orleans Saints |
A young defense with a lot of questions
lowers the Saints to this spot |
|
21 |
Denver Broncos |
Improving turnovers is a key to go along with
an impressive run defense |
|
22 |
Buffalo Bills |
Dead last in takeaways will kill any defense
but they are starting to add speed |
|
23 |
Chicago Bears |
Injuries plagued this team in 2002 but
they're still good as stopping the run |
|
24 |
Cleveland Browns |
Another team bit by the injury bug should be
improved under Dave Campo |
|
25 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Last in yards allowed will have to be
improved along with a healthy Ryan Sims |
|
26 |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
No defensive scores push an average defense
low on our charts |
|
27 |
Seattle Seahawks |
A young team terrible against the run will
get a boost from Ray Rhodes |
|
28 |
Minnesota Vikings |
A lowly secondary and no pass rush move the
Vikings to the bottom of the list |
|
29 |
Houston
Texans |
This young defensive team will have to hope
OL Charlie Clemons can help |
|
30 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Worst points against in 2002 says it all but
Kevin Hardy will improve this team |
