The NFL season is near, and the preseason has begun. Each team and its fanbase eagerly await the start of the 2025 NFL season.
Despite the league’s shift towards offense, the team that won the Super Bowl last year ranked first in points allowed per game and takeaways per game.
Below, we’ll break down our prediction for the top five NFL defenses in 2025.
Which NFL Defenses Missed The Cut In 2025?
Before getting into the top five, these are five teams that just missed out on cracking the top five list:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New York Giants
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens ranked in the top 10 in points allowed per game and sacks per game last season.
John Harbaugh and the Ravens always feature a strong defense. The Ravens are always elite against the run. They were first in the league last season in rushing yards allowed per game.
Baltimore also ranked in the top 10 in points allowed per game and sacks per game.
However, what is keeping Baltimore off the top-five list is that they struggled to take the ball away from opposing teams, and their pass defense was beatable. They ranked 27th in takeaways per game and passing yards allowed per game.
Despite having a weaker secondary, the Ravens possess a good defense.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs rode a strong defense to the Super Bowl.
They were not elite in sacks or taking the ball away, but what they were good at was stopping teams from scoring.
The Chiefs ranked sixth in points allowed per game last season.
They were the definition of bend but don’t break.
Kansas City will need to generate more of a pass rush and take the ball away more to be a top-five unit, but they are still a good defense.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay had an underrated defense last season. They were not elite, but they were very good.
Green Bay ranked in the top 10 in points allowed per game, sacks per game, takeaways per game, and passing yards and rushing yards allowed per game.
This is a good defense that could improve even more in 2025.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota is another team that was very good in most stats defensively.
They ranked in the top 10 in points allowed per game, sacks per game, takeaways per game, and rushing yards allowed per game.
The one area the Vikings struggled with last season was against the pass. The secondary was beatable for Minnesota.
Despite a leaky secondary, the Vikings possess a formidable defense.
New York Giants
The New York Giants have a very talented front seven. They will be able to generate a pass rush better than most teams in the league can.
Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and the newly added Abdul Carter pose a major threat to opposing teams.
While the secondary remains a weakness on defense, with as talented a front 7 as the Giants have, they can cover up a weaker secondary by generating a lot of pressure on opposing QBs.
The Giants may surprise a lot of people and have an elite defense in 2025.
Predicting The Top Five NFL Defenses In 2025
Being able to generate a pass rush and taking the ball away is mandatory for any successful defense.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers can generate a pass rush and take the ball away from opposing teams better than most teams can.
T.J. Watt signed a new deal, and his health is what will decide Pittsburgh’s defense. When healthy, he is arguably the best pass rusher in the game. However, when Watt misses a game, the Steelers struggle mightily on defense.
Pittsburgh brought in Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay to boost their secondary and pass defense.
If Watt remains healthy in 2025, the Steelers’ defense will be elite.
4. Houston Texans
Similar to the Steelers, the Texans can generate a pass rush and take the ball away from opposing teams better than most teams can.
Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter are an excellent pass-rush duo.
Derek Stingley Jr. is one of the best corners in the league.
Houston has playmakers on each level of defense and will be an elite unit in 2025.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
What Jim Harbaugh did for the Chargers’ defense can not be stated enough.
He took an average to below average unit to become one of the best defenses last season. They ranked second in points allowed per game, seventh in sacks per game, 11th in takeaways per game, seventh in passing yards allowed per game, and 14th in rushing yards allowed per game.
In year two of Harbaugh, the Chargers look to be even better on defense.
This will be an elite defensive unit.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
The Super Bowl champion Eagles had an elite defense last year, which led them to win the Lombardi trophy.
For all the praise Saquon Barkley received last year, which was deserved, the defense was incredible for Philly.
They ranked first in points allowed per game and takeaways per game. Philly ranked second in passing yards allowed per game and fourth in rushing yards allowed per game.
Philadelphia drafts defensive players very well. Jalen Carter has the talent to be the best defensive lineman in the league.
The Eagles are stacked on defense and will once again be an elite unit.
1. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos had an elite defensive squad last season and will be even better in 2025.
They ranked third in points allowed per game, first in sacks per game, 10th in takeaways per game, and fifth in rushing yards allowed per game.
The secondary was a bit of a weakness, ranking 20th in passing yards allowed per game. However, they have one of the best shutdown CBs in the league in Pat Surtaiin II.
Denver’s defense took a huge step forward from 2023 to 2024 and will do so once again in 2025.
The Broncos have the talent to be the best all-around defense in the league.
