Rich’s Power Rankings: the NFL’s Top Ten Defenses Post-Myles Garrett Trade

Rich's number one defense in the NFL is the Seattle Seahawks, the team that, as he put it, had a defense that was "stupid. Off the charts." He landed there at the top of a full top-ten countdown he built off "numbers, facts, and gut feel. And a set of eyes."

When somebody on set asked what his criteria was, the answer was simple. This was not a big analytics exercise, just the head and the gut. Then he counted it down.

He started at the bottom on purpose, with two teams that weren't anywhere near the top last year, because "there's always something to improve upon."

**10. Baltimore Ravens.** Rich is banking on B.K. coming back, plus the staff in place. "I think the Ravens are going to be a top 10 defense again."

**9. Dallas Cowboys.** A bold one. Dallas was, in Rich's words, "DFL last year," 30th in yards allowed and giving up 30.1 points per game. "I love what the Cowboys are cooking," he said. "I'm calling my shot." He loves Caleb Downs on the back end as a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, Overshown healthy in the middle "running like a deer, sideline to sideline," and the front-and-back-end marriage Warren Sapp once preached to him. "Front and back end in the defense play together. They're married. That's what you got to do."

**8. Minnesota Vikings.** They lost Jonathan Greenard, but they kept Brian Flores. "I still think they've got a top 10 defense." The Vikings were third in yards allowed last year.

**7. Los Angeles Chargers.** They lost Jesse Minter, "but the Chargers are still the Chargers," and they still have Derwin James, "who's been pizzed off." Ninth in points per game allowed last year at an even 20.

**6. Philadelphia Eagles.** Fifth overall last year at 19.1 points per game. "The Philadelphia Eagles are still pretty damn good on that side of the ball." Cooper DeJean and the interior hold up, and Rich noted Howie Roseman will simply flip a third-rounder for pass rush every year and recoup a comp pick. "He does it every year."

**5. New England Patriots.** "Everybody watched them improve game to game to game last year." Rich thinks Christian Gonzalez "might be a defensive player of the year candidate this time around." Fourth last year at 18.8 points per game.

**4. Denver Broncos.** "Man, are they freaking good." The team that, as Rich said, "beat a lot of people up defensively."

**3. Los Angeles Rams.** Tenth overall last year at 20.4 points per game, but the math changed. "Myles Garrett is on this team now." With Garrett added up front, "I think the Rams are now in the top five defensively."

**2. Houston Texans.** "The Texans are unbelievable. And they're young, and they're good, and they're just gunning for you, and they're trying to make your life miserable."

**1. Seattle Seahawks.** The defending Super Bowl champs. Rich pointed out the construction was deliberate, an AFC team and an NFC team at the top "just to kind of give people an idea of where I'm thinking for a Super Bowl matchup." On Seattle's defense: "stupid. Off the charts." He acknowledged the offseason losses but is betting John Schneider "got a couple draft picks right."

That's the full ten. He got through every one.