Chip Kelly may have set out to build an offensive powerhouse, but the Philadelphia Eagles are winning games recently more because of their top-notch defense.
After stifling Drew Brees and Eli Manning in consecutive weeks, the Eagles are back in first place in the NFC East. Defensive end Fletcher Cox is terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, and he’s on his way to his first Pro Bowl. Nose tackle Bennie Logan is the unsung hero of the three-man front, and the depth at inside linebacker has created what will be an almost-logjam when Mychal Kendricks and Kiko Alonso are healthy again.
So how good is this Eagles’ front seven? Is it one of the best in the NFL or merely a ‘good’ group of players? Here’s a power ranking of the NFL’s 12 best front sevens to see how the Eagles compare. Rankings factored in defensive performance so far, looking at rankings like total defense, scoring defense, team sacks, performance against the run, and others, but potential was also included, as was the case for several underwhelming teams with the ability to perform much better.
12. Buffalo Bills
Starters: DE Mario Williams, DT Marcell Dareus, DT Kyle Williams, DE Jerry Hughes, OLB Manny Lawson, MLB Preston Brown, OLB Nigel Bradham
Key Contributors: DE Corbin Bryant, DT Stefan Charles
This defensive line has the raw talent to lead the NFL in sacks, which is why the Buffalo Bills’ defensive performance this season has been so disappointing. The club is just 25th in sacks (9.0). They’re in the middle of the pack in points allowed and yards allowed, and Mario Williams is the only player with multiple sacks.
Still, the run defense has been strong. The team is fourth in rushing yards allowed and sixth in rushing touchdowns allowed. When the pass rush picks it up, it may be enough to get Buffalo into the playoffs.
11. Houston Texans
Starters: DE J.J. Watt, NT Vince Wilfork, DE Jared Crick, OLB Whitney Mercilus, ILB Benardrick McKinney, ILB Brian Cushing, OLB Jadeveon Clowney
Key Contributors: OLB John Simon, ILB Akeem Dent
This Houston Texans front seven hasn’t performed as well as the caliber of the big names it has.
J.J. Watt’s production has dropped slightly from his record-breaking 2014 campaign, but he’s still the best defensive player in the game. Last year’s first overall pick, Jadeveon Clowney, doesn’t have the sack total to match his play, but he’s registering quarterback pressures at an impressive rate. And veteran Pro Bowl inside linebacker Brian Cushing leads the team in tackles (35) and defensive stops (25).
Still, the Texans should rate better than they do in many key defensive statistics. They’re just 22nd in points scored, despite being 11th in total yards allowed. Houston is tied for 25th in sacks (9) and near the middle of the pack in rushing yards allowed (109 per game). It’s enough to put them on this list’s top 10, but not much higher.
10. New England Patriots
Starters: DE Rob Ninkovich, DT Alan Branch, DT Seaver Siliga, DE Chandler Jones, OLB Jamie Collins, MLB Jerod Mayo, OLB Dont’a Hightower
Key Contributors: DE Jabaal Sheard, DT Dominique Easley, DT Malcom Brown
This is the NFL’s most athletic group of linebackers. Jamie Collins is an athletic freak who can play inside and outside, rush the passer, stop the run, and cover tight ends and running backs. Dont’a Hightower was the AFC’s highest-rated inside linebacker a year ago, per PFF. And Jerod Mayo, while injury-prone as of late, is a two-time Pro Bowler and the captain of Bill Belichick’s defense.
Unheralded free-agent acquisitions like Jabaal Sheard make Belichick a great GM; Sheard has four sacks in six games and has thrived off the edge, and he’s helped the New England Patriots to the third-best sack total in the league in 2015.
The Patriots could afford to pay better against the run, and that’s what keeps this unit from ranking higher. DeAngelo Williams ran for 127 yards against this defense, then a Buffalo Bills attack of LeSean McCoy/Tyrod Taylor put up 160 and two touchdowns the following week.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Starters: DE Mike Devito, NT Dontari Poe, DE Allen Bailey, OLB Justin Houston, ILB Josh Mauga, ILB Derrick Johnson, OLB Tamba Hali
Key Contributors: NT Jaye Howard, ILB Ramik Wilson
There have been some growing pains this year for the Kansas City Chiefs, namely five straight losses after a 1-0 start. Still, the talent on the front seven is inevitable.
Justin Houston is arguably the best edge rusher in the game, fresh off a 22-sack season. He’s flanked on the opposite side by four-time Pro Bowler, Tamba Hali, and on the inside with three-time Pro Bowler, Derrick Johnson. The line is a stout group, with Allen Bailey, Mike Devito, and Dontari Poe composing a tough three-man front, and versatile backup Jaye Howard filling in at both end and tackle.
The problem is the Chiefs don’t rate as well as they should in key defensive statistics. They’re tied for 13th in sacks, 12th in rushing defense, and ninth in Cold Hard Football Facts’ Defensive Hog Index.
8. Green Bay Packers
Starters: DE Mike Pennel, NT B.J. Raji, DE Mike Daniels, OLB Julius Peppers, ILB Clay Matthews, ILB Nate Palmer, OLB Nick Perry
Key Contributors: DE Datone Jones, NT Letroy Guion, OLB Mike Neal
When the best quarterback is flanked by a strong front seven, it makes for a pretty good team. The 6-0 Green Bay Packers lead all NFC teams in sacks (23). Eight-time Pro Bowler Julius Peppers has made a seamless transition to outside linebacker, and he’s tied for second in sacks (5.5). Clay Matthews, at 4.5 sacks, can line up at both inside and outside ‘backer, which makes him one of the most versatile defensive players in the league. All 23 of Green Bay’s sacks have come from front seven players.
The team is vulnerable against the run, as they rate just 24th in rushing yards allowed and 27th in rushing yards allowed per attempt, and that’s why they’re lower on this list than their pass-rushing numbers suggest. But still, the defense is third overall in points allowed, and their pass-rushing prowess will come in handy in the playoffs.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
Starters: DE Cameron Heyward, NT Steve McLendon, DE Stephon Tuitt, OLB James Harrison, ILB Ryan Shazier, ILB Lawrence Timmons, OLB Arthur Moats
Key Contributors: OLB Bud Dupree, ILB Sean Spence, OLB Jarvis Jones, ILB Vince Williams
With Ben Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell having combined to miss five games this season, it was essential that the defense step up in their absence. So it’s been a revelation that this front seven has turned into one of the NFL’s finest units.
Newly-extended defensive end Cameron Heyward is a future All-Pro. The ageless James Harrison has been the team’s best pass-rusher. And the Pittsburgh Steelers rank high in several key defensive statistics – tied-seventh in sacks, sixth in rushing defense, fifth in total points allowed and CHFF’s Defensive Hog Index, and first in rushing touchdowns allowed.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Starters: DE Cedric Thornton, NT Bennie Logan, DE Fletcher Cox, OLB Brandon Graham, ILB DeMeco Ryans, ILB Jordan Hicks, OLB Connor Barwin
Key Contributors: DE/OLB Vinny Curry, ILB Mychal Kendricks (injured), ILB Kiko Alonso (injured), NT Beau Allen
After an 0-2 and 1-3 start to their 2015 season, the Philadelphia Eagles are starting to hit their stride, and much of it has to do with the remarkable front seven.
The Eagles are third in the NFL in turnovers forced (16), and they registered seven in the last two games against Drew Brees and Eli Manning. Fletcher Cox is becoming the best defensive player in the NFC East, but every starter on this front seven is a formidable player. Even with Mychal Kendricks and Kiko Alonso out due to injuries, the Eagles have gotten a Pro Bowl-quality contribution from rookie Jordan Hicks.
Philadelphia’s rushing defense is its best feature, as the Eagles haven’t allowed a single rushing touchdown to a running back, and they’re third in rushing yards allowed per attempt.
5. Carolina Panthers
Starters: DE Kony Ealy, DT Star Lotulelei, DT Kawann Short, DE Charles Johnson, OLB Shaq Thompson, MLB Luke Kuechly, OLB Thomas Davis
Key Contributors: DE Mario Addison, DT Kyle Love, MLB A.J. Klein
One of the NFL’s lone undefeated teams is winning football games thanks to Cam Newton, the front seven, and All-Pro cornerback-in-the-making Josh Norman.
Carolina is in the top eight in the league in points allowed, yards allowed, and turnovers forced. The competition hasn’t been the stiffest, but still, a win over Seattle solidified the Panthers – and the defense – as legitimate.
Star Lotulelei was the team’s first-round pick in 2013, but second-rounder Kawann Short has overtaken him as the team’s top interior pass-rusher. Newly-drafted first-rounder Shaq Thompson is an athletic playmaker who should have a bright future, and everything starts and ends with middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Starters: DE Michael Bennett, DT Ahytba Rubin, DT Brandon Mebane, DE Cliff Avril, OLB Bruce Irvin, MLB Bobby Wagner, OLB K.J. Wright
Key Contributors: DT Jordan Hill, DE Frank Clark
The two-time defending NFC champions (and one-time Super Bowl champions) are just 3-4 on the season, but their defense is still among the league’s best units.
Seattle is sixth in points allowed and third in total yards allowed. They’re tied for third in the NFL in sacks at 19, and the pressure off the edge with Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett is as fearsome a defensive end duo as there is in this league.
Bennett is tied for the NFL lead in sacks (6.5). Avril is PFF’s top-rated 4-3 end this season (+23.5). Pro Bowl middle linebacker Bobby Wagner hasn’t been his usual stout self, but he’s still one of the best in the game at his position.
With a top-5 defensive front to go with a playmaking quarterback and elite secondary, Seattle could still turn it around and be an NFC contender this season.
3. St. Louis Rams
Starters: DE Robert Quinn, DT Aaron Donald, DT Michael Brockers, DE Chris Long, OLB Akeem Ayers, MLB James Laurinaitis, OLB Mark Barron
Key Contributors: DE William Hayes, DE Eugene Sims, DT Nick Fairley, DT Ethan Westbrooks, OLB Alec Ogletree
This is arguably the NFL’s finest four-man front, led by the dominating pass-rushing duo of Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald. Quinn has averaged 13 sacks per season since 2012, and Donald is Pro Football Focus’s highest-rated defensive lineman in ’15.
Remarkably, every single starter on the Rams’ front seven was drafted in the first two rounds, even including injured linebacker, Alec Ogletree. St. Louis’s prowess is the pass rush, as the Rams rank tied for third in the NFL with 19 sacks. The linebacker corps doesn’t match up to the defensive line, which may explain subpar ranks in rushing defense (21st in yards allowed and 20th in average rushing yards allowed per attempt), but this is still a top-5 front seven in the NFL.
2. New York Jets
Starters: DE Sheldon Richardson, DT Damon Harrison, DT Leonard Williams, DE Muhammad Wilkerson, OLB Calvin Pace, ILB Demario Davis, ILB David Harris
Key Contributors: OLB Quinton Coples, DE Leger Douzable
It was interesting to see what the New York Jets would do when Sheldon Richardson returned from his four-game suspension. Would Todd Bowles bench first-round pick Leonard Williams, who has thrived in Richardson’s absence? Or would he find a way to get Richardson, Williams, and Muhammad Wilkerson all on the field at the same time?
That’s exactly what Bowles did. The Jets typically run a 3-4 defense, but lined up Williams and nose tackle Damon Harrison next to each other on the interior, with Wilkerson and Richardson on the edge. That’s a defensive front that is all but unblockable.
Veteran inside linebacker David Harris is a force in the middle, as he can play the run and the pass. As a result, the Jets rate second in Cold Hard Football Facts’ Defensive Hog Index measure. The pass rush is lacking, as backup Trevor Reilly (one sack), is the only outside linebacker with a single sack.
But the formula is working for the Jets. The defensive line is as dominant as any in the league, and with all-world cover corner Darrelle Revis in the secondary, the Jets’ No. 1-ranked defense (in both total yards AND points) may carry this team to the postseason.
1. Denver Broncos
Starters: DE Derek Wolfe, NT Sylvester Williams, DE Malik Jackson, OLB Von Miller, ILB Brandon Marshall, ILB Danny Trevathan, OLB DeMarcus Ware
Key Contributors: OLB Shaquil Barrett, DE Vance Walker, OLB Shane Ray
The Denver Broncos aren’t winning football games because of their future Hall of Fame quarterback; rather they’re winning because of an absolutely dominant defense. The Broncos are led by arguably the second-best defensive player in football (Von Miller), but the entire front seven is a force.
DeMarcus Ware is still playing at an elite level at age 33, as he’s on pace for his ninth double-digit sack campaign. Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson are an underrated group of 5-technique ends, each of whom can play tackle or end, and 2013 first-rounder Sylvester Williams is finally showing some signs of life after a disappointing start to his career.
Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan are an athletic group of playmakers on the inside, and both this year’s first-rounder, Shane Ray, and undrafted edge rusher, Shaquil Barrett, are contributors against the pass.
As a result, the Broncos are in the top four in the league in both points allowed and total yards allowed. They’re first in a whole bunch of numbers – average net passing yards allowed per attempt (4.7), sacks (26), forced fumbles (13), fumble recoveries (8), touchdown passes allowed (5), defensive touchdowns scored (4), and Cold Hard Football Facts’ Defensive Hog Index statistic – plus fifth in rushing yards allowed. The secondary is certainly a contributor in that, but the pressure off the edge is the main reason why the Broncos are winning football games.
