NFL’s Scariest Defenses Analyzed: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Seattle, Dallas #1-5
Defensive players know that a bit of intimidation goes a long way, keeping offenses on edge and helping secure those all-important wins. But, what is the scariest defense in the NFL?
To answer this question, the Action Network analyzed every NFL defense over the past 10 years, focusing on four key areas: defensive fines, average points allowed per game, and the average height and weight of each team
With all that factored in, the Green Bay Packers defense claimed the #3 position with a total score of 6.79 out of 10!
Here are some of their key stats:
- The average weight of the team’s defense comes in at an whopping 260.7 lbs – the 2nd heaviest team overall.
- Opponents can expect players with an average height of 75.2 inches – the 2nd tallest team overall.
- The Packers have totaled 39 defensive fines over the past ten years
- The defense allows an average of 22.9 points per game.
The NFL’s scariest defenses:
| Rank | Team | Score (Out of 10) |
| 1 | Baltimore Ravens | 7.18 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6.86 |
| 3 | Green Bay Packers | 6.79 |
| 4 | Seattle Seahawks | 6.51 |
| 5 | Dallas Cowboys | 6.09 |
See all the data from the study onsite here: https://www.actionnetwork.com/nfl/ranking-the-nfls-scariest-defenses.
Methodology:
To identify the NFL’s scariest defenses over the last 10 years, the Action Network team analyzed a mix of scarily good stats, including temperament, discipline, and physical stature of each franchise in the league.
We assessed these dimensions using four relevant metrics, detailed below, with their assigned index weights. Each metric was rated on a 10-point scale, where a score of 10 denotes the highest level of scariness.
We calculated each team’s weighted average across all metrics to determine the overall ranking and summed these scores to produce a final indexed score.
- (3 points) Defensive Fines/Suspensions – The total number of fines and suspensions for defensive players over the last 10 years involved fighting, late hits, unsportsmanlike behavior, roughing the passer, and more.
- (3 points) Average Opponent Points per Game – The average number of points conceded per game over the last 10 years.
- (2 points) Average Weight of Defense (lbs) – The average weight of the franchise’s defense over the last 10 years.
- (2 points) Average Height of Defense (Inches) – The average height of the franchise’s defense over the last 10 years.
Data correct as of October 16, 2024.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
