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Through Week 3 of the 2026 season, the best NFL defense by EPA per play allowed (lower is better) is the Minnesota Vikings (-0.181), followed by the Las Vegas Raiders (-0.177) and Seattle Seahawks (-0.156). The weakest are the Dallas Cowboys (+0.191), Indianapolis Colts (+0.172) and Miami Dolphins (+0.162).
Updated September 29, 2026 · through Week 3 · 2026 regular season · 3 games per team
Lower EPA per play allowed is better. Rank 1 is the best defense; the table is sorted by that rank. Every team has played 3 games, so a single game is a third of each team’s sample. The per-position view for player props is on the NFL defense vs position page.
2026 NFL defense rankings: all 32 teams
| Rk | Defense | GP | EPA/play ▲ | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Success | Pts/G | Yds/G | Yds/play | Pass yds/G | Rush yds/G | Sacks | Takeaways | 3rd down | Red zone TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings | 3 | -0.181 | -0.108 | -0.324 | 32.5% | 13.7 | 319.7 | 4.77 | 234.0 | 85.7 | 14 | 6 | 22.7% (10/44) | 11.1% (1/9) |
| 2 | Las Vegas Raiders | 3 | -0.177 | -0.119 | -0.270 | 42.4% | 18.0 | 316.7 | 5.16 | 200.3 | 116.3 | 10 | 9 | 41.0% (16/39) | 77.8% (7/9) |
| 3 | Seattle Seahawks | 3 | -0.156 | -0.032 | -0.351 | 35.6% | 16.7 | 228.7 | 3.83 | 141.7 | 87.0 | 7 | 4 | 26.8% (11/41) | 66.7% (4/6) |
| 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 3 | -0.104 | -0.107 | -0.100 | 43.0% | 12.0 | 327.0 | 5.84 | 235.7 | 91.3 | 8 | 6 | 29.0% (9/31) | 20.0% (2/10) |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3 | -0.093 | -0.066 | -0.163 | 41.5% | 21.0 | 355.7 | 5.65 | 260.0 | 95.7 | 10 | 5 | 43.6% (17/39) | 27.3% (3/11) |
| 6 | Kansas City Chiefs | 3 | -0.092 | -0.103 | -0.075 | 38.1% | 16.7 | 278.0 | 4.71 | 178.3 | 99.7 | 4 | 5 | 37.5% (15/40) | 57.1% (4/7) |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 | -0.083 | -0.009 | -0.206 | 38.2% | 26.3 | 282.7 | 4.90 | 206.7 | 76.0 | 6 | 2 | 35.7% (15/42) | 37.5% (3/8) |
| 8 | Los Angeles Rams | 3 | -0.082 | -0.127 | -0.019 | 40.8% | 21.0 | 272.7 | 4.57 | 171.3 | 101.3 | 3 | 3 | 43.6% (17/39) | 62.5% (5/8) |
| 9 | Atlanta Falcons | 3 | -0.050 | +0.013 | -0.234 | 38.8% | 22.7 | 310.7 | 4.98 | 263.0 | 47.7 | 5 | 2 | 35.7% (15/42) | 50.0% (6/12) |
| 10 | Chicago Bears | 3 | -0.044 | -0.063 | -0.014 | 41.2% | 17.7 | 324.0 | 6.08 | 207.0 | 117.0 | 7 | 6 | 29.0% (9/31) | 71.4% (5/7) |
| 11 | New England Patriots | 3 | -0.040 | -0.088 | +0.031 | 42.8% | 17.0 | 278.3 | 4.77 | 170.0 | 108.3 | 7 | 3 | 34.3% (12/35) | 62.5% (5/8) |
| 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 3 | -0.037 | -0.044 | -0.028 | 45.1% | 20.0 | 305.7 | 5.52 | 192.7 | 113.0 | 8 | 6 | 33.3% (12/36) | 33.3% (1/3) |
| 13 | New York Jets | 3 | -0.032 | +0.029 | -0.152 | 46.6% | 20.3 | 258.3 | 4.75 | 171.0 | 87.3 | 8 | 2 | 32.3% (10/31) | 70.0% (7/10) |
| 14 | Carolina Panthers | 3 | -0.028 | -0.015 | -0.045 | 42.4% | 27.7 | 365.7 | 5.49 | 172.3 | 193.3 | 7 | 7 | 45.2% (19/42) | 85.7% (6/7) |
| 15 | San Francisco 49ers | 3 | -0.007 | +0.049 | -0.082 | 46.9% | 16.7 | 313.0 | 4.84 | 207.3 | 105.7 | 6 | 2 | 42.9% (18/42) | 40.0% (4/10) |
| 16 | Houston Texans | 3 | -0.003 | +0.110 | -0.176 | 37.8% | 25.0 | 325.3 | 5.36 | 238.7 | 86.7 | 11 | 3 | 38.5% (15/39) | 42.9% (3/7) |
| 17 | Cleveland Browns | 3 | +0.002 | +0.026 | -0.036 | 43.6% | 23.7 | 344.3 | 5.38 | 224.0 | 120.3 | 7 | 2 | 39.0% (16/41) | 44.4% (4/9) |
| 18 | Baltimore Ravens | 3 | +0.011 | +0.015 | +0.005 | 44.4% | 26.0 | 321.3 | 5.13 | 216.3 | 105.0 | 6 | 3 | 42.1% (16/38) | 70.0% (7/10) |
| 19 | Los Angeles Chargers | 3 | +0.017 | +0.135 | -0.124 | 45.2% | 25.3 | 349.3 | 5.37 | 233.0 | 116.3 | 7 | 6 | 40.0% (16/40) | 58.3% (7/12) |
| 20 | Tennessee Titans | 3 | +0.033 | +0.129 | -0.061 | 42.9% | 19.7 | 315.3 | 4.90 | 189.0 | 126.3 | 6 | 2 | 39.5% (17/43) | 55.6% (5/9) |
| 21 | Denver Broncos | 3 | +0.045 | -0.019 | +0.147 | 42.2% | 23.3 | 380.7 | 5.60 | 237.0 | 143.7 | 8 | 4 | 47.8% (22/46) | 45.5% (5/11) |
| 22 | Green Bay Packers | 3 | +0.056 | +0.134 | -0.034 | 45.6% | 30.3 | 340.7 | 5.14 | 202.0 | 138.7 | 7 | 2 | 50.0% (22/44) | 83.3% (10/12) |
| 23 | Buffalo Bills | 3 | +0.075 | +0.129 | -0.015 | 47.2% | 26.0 | 361.3 | 5.45 | 254.3 | 107.0 | 9 | 3 | 40.5% (17/42) | 61.5% (8/13) |
| 24 | Washington Commanders | 3 | +0.076 | +0.248 | -0.299 | 47.3% | 30.7 | 362.3 | 6.36 | 280.3 | 82.0 | 5 | 3 | 47.1% (16/34) | 75.0% (9/12) |
| 25 | New Orleans Saints | 3 | +0.079 | +0.131 | -0.001 | 50.3% | 27.7 | 340.3 | 5.32 | 211.7 | 128.7 | 7 | 3 | 47.1% (16/34) | 61.5% (8/13) |
| 26 | Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | +0.081 | +0.146 | +0.010 | 45.4% | 23.0 | 320.3 | 5.14 | 193.0 | 127.3 | 3 | 0 | 39.0% (16/41) | 58.3% (7/12) |
| 27 | New York Giants | 3 | +0.117 | +0.218 | -0.055 | 47.3% | 18.3 | 329.0 | 5.84 | 224.7 | 104.3 | 1 | 5 | 54.5% (18/33) | 77.8% (7/9) |
| 28 | Arizona Cardinals | 3 | +0.123 | +0.385 | -0.184 | 47.3% | 27.0 | 362.0 | 6.46 | 234.3 | 127.7 | 4 | 4 | 44.8% (13/29) | 70.0% (7/10) |
| 29 | Detroit Lions | 3 | +0.155 | +0.219 | +0.020 | 48.1% | 31.7 | 416.7 | 5.79 | 299.3 | 117.3 | 12 | 4 | 56.1% (23/41) | 84.6% (11/13) |
| 30 | Miami Dolphins | 3 | +0.162 | +0.482 | -0.166 | 50.0% | 28.7 | 335.3 | 6.10 | 231.0 | 104.3 | 0 | 3 | 48.1% (13/27) | 78.6% (11/14) |
| 31 | Indianapolis Colts | 3 | +0.172 | +0.234 | +0.083 | 49.7% | 30.3 | 417.3 | 6.49 | 276.0 | 141.3 | 7 | 1 | 36.4% (12/33) | 66.7% (8/12) |
| 32 | Dallas Cowboys | 3 | +0.191 | +0.426 | -0.053 | 53.7% | 27.3 | 387.0 | 6.02 | 207.3 | 179.7 | 2 | 2 | 58.8% (20/34) | 69.2% (9/13) |
EPA/play, Pass EPA and Success use regular-season passes, sacks, scrambles and designed runs (penalty-nullified plays, kneels and spikes excluded); Pass EPA is per dropback (sacks and scrambles included), Rush EPA per designed run. Yards follow official scoring: passing yards are net of sacks and QB scrambles count as rushing. Takeaways = interceptions + opponent fumbles recovered (special teams included). 3rd down = conversions/attempts allowed. Red zone TD = opponent drives that reached inside the 20 and ended in a touchdown. Source: nflverse play-by-play.
How to use this for player props
- Start with EPA, not yards. A defense can allow few yards because opponents run the ball late with a lead. Pass EPA and Rush EPA tell you which unit is actually getting beaten.
- Match the split to the prop. A passing-yard or receiving-yard over fits a defense near the bottom in Pass EPA and pass yards per game; a rushing-yard over fits a weak Rush EPA and rush yards per game.
- Check the game script. Pair a weak defense with the game total and spread on NFL implied team totals before trusting the matchup.
- Red-zone TD rate feeds touchdown props. Defenses that give up touchdowns on most red-zone trips are where anytime touchdown scorer props get interesting.
- Then check the price. A soft matchup is only an edge if the line has not already moved. Compare live lines on the PropsBot NFL board, and see NFL player props and NFL picks today.
NFL defense rankings FAQ
What is the best NFL defense in 2026 so far?
Through Week 3, the Minnesota Vikings rank first in EPA per play allowed at -0.181, and they allow 13.7 points and 319.7 yards per game. The Las Vegas Raiders (-0.177) and Seattle Seahawks (-0.156) are second and third. Every team has played 3 games, so these ranks can still move a lot.
Which NFL defense allows the fewest points per game?
The Jacksonville Jaguars allows the fewest points per game through Week 3, at 12.0. Points allowed include every point the opponent scored, including return and defensive touchdowns given up by the offense, so EPA per play is the cleaner measure of the defense itself.
Which NFL defenses are best and worst against the pass and the run?
By EPA per dropback allowed, the Los Angeles Rams are the best pass defense (-0.127) and the Miami Dolphins the worst (+0.482). By EPA per designed run allowed, the Seattle Seahawks lead (-0.351) and the Denver Broncos trail (+0.147).
Which defense has the most sacks and takeaways?
The Minnesota Vikings leads the NFL with 14 sacks through Week 3. The Las Vegas Raiders leads in takeaways with 9 (interceptions plus opponent fumbles recovered, special teams included).
How are these NFL defense rankings calculated?
The overall rank is EPA (expected points added) per play allowed on regular-season passes, sacks, scrambles and designed runs, where a lower number means a better defense. Yards, points, sacks, takeaways, third-down and red-zone rates are shown beside it. All figures are computed from nflverse public play-by-play data.
How often are the defense rankings updated?
Every Tuesday during the regular season, after the Monday night game is final and the nflverse play-by-play files have refreshed. The date and the last completed week are printed above the table.
Small sample: 3 games per team. Data: nflverse public play-by-play (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), regular season only. Model output is research, not a guarantee. 21+.
