“Defense wins championships.” That is the cliche phrase that is said around the sports world and a practice that some live by. In the NFL, defense can be the main proponent of a team winning games. We have seen it with the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose defense has not only kept them in games but won games. Here are the top five defenses in the NFL through five weeks this season.
5. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions might have come away with a win against Carolina last week, but it was anything but pretty from a defensive standpoint. They allowed 342 yards of offense and 24 points despite scoring 42 themselves. Through the first four weeks, they have allowed just 280.5 yards and nine touchdowns. As a team, they have 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, five interceptions, and one touchdown. The front seven have also secured 24 tackles for a loss. They will look to bounce back this week against Tampa Bay.
4. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens allowed just four touchdowns through four weeks averaging one per game with 260.8 yards per game. Last week, their defense did everything they could to keep them in the game but the offense was not clicking. They allowed 289 yards to the Steelers giving up 17 points on just one touchdown. They have held teams to under 10 points twice this season while also allowing over 20 points twice as well. The front group has 18 sacks with 25 tackles for a loss while the secondary has four interceptions. The team also has two forced fumbles with a recovery. They will have a good matchup with Tennessee this week.
3. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills might be the team to beat in the AFC after dominating teams through the first five weeks. In the first four weeks of the season, the team allowed just 288 yards of offense to opposing teams while giving up just six touchdowns. Last week, the team lost in London to Jacksonville giving up 474 yards of offense and 29 first downs. That was the team’s first 400-yard game given up this season. On top of that, they have 21 sacks, eight force fumbles with five recovered, eight interceptions, and one touchdown. They also have 29 tackles for a loss up front.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are all around the best team in football on both the offense and defensive side of the ball. The 49ers have averaged 284.3 yards of offense to opposing teams while giving up six touchdowns in four weeks. Last week, they allowed just 197 yards of offense to Dallas while gaining four turnovers and allowing just eight first downs. This defense has 12 sacks, one forced fumble and recovery, eight interceptions, and 23 tackles for a loss. However, they have allowed just 68 points in five weeks which averages out to 13.6 points per week conceded.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys’ defense had a rough go at it in Week 5 against the best offense in the NFL. They allowed 421 yards and six touchdowns. However, that should not overshadow the fact that this defense also allowed just an average of 259.8 yards per game to opposing teams and only allowed four touchdowns through four weeks before the meeting with San Francisco. All together this season, Dallas has 15 sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumbles recoveries, 30 tackles for a loss, and seven interceptions. They also have three touchdowns and have given up 260 yards of offense just two times in five weeks.
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