This page lists DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) for total defense as well as rushing and passing defense separated. The DVOA system is explained here [1]. All numbers below are adjusted to an average schedule of opponents and an average percentage of fumbles recovered by the defense. The exceptions are the three columns marked NON-ADJUSTED. Rushing includes all rushing, not just running backs.
LAST YEAR represents 2008 rank. WEIGHTED DEFENSE is adjusted so that earlier games in the season become gradually less important. It better reflects how the team was playing at the end of the season.
VARIANCE [2] measures the statistical variance of the team's weekly DVOA performance. Teams are ranked from most consistent (#1, lowest variance) to least consistent (#32, highest variance).
Remember, since positive numbers represent more scoring, defense is better when it is NEGATIVE.
| TEAM |
DEF. DVOA |
LAST YEAR |
WEIGHTED DEFENSE |
RANK |
PASS DEF. |
PASS RANK |
RUSH DEF. |
RUSH RANK |
NON-ADJUSTED | VAR. | RANK | |||
| TOTAL | PASS | RUSH | ||||||||||||
| 1 | NYJ | -23.4% | 14 | -27.1% | 1 | -34.2% | 1 | -12.0% | 8 | -22.7% | -32.6% | -12.3% | 14.7% | 32 |
| 2 | GB | -14.0% | 12 | -18.0% | 3 | -13.8% | 4 | -14.4% | 5 | -20.7% | -21.5% | -19.6% | 12.5% | 31 |
| 3 | SF | -11.8% | 18 | -14.5% | 4 | -9.7% | 7 | -14.5% | 4 | -12.8% | -10.3% | -16.2% | 8.5% | 28 |
| 4 | BAL | -11.8% | 2 | -11.0% | 5 | -9.2% | 8 | -14.7% | 3 | -12.8% | -9.2% | -17.1% | 7.1% | 22 |
| 5 | CAR | -10.9% | 13 | -18.1% | 2 | -21.5% | 2 | 0.1% | 19 | -5.2% | -12.5% | 2.2% | 5.1% | 13 |
| 6 | PHI | -10.7% | 3 | -4.3% | 9 | -12.9% | 5 | -7.6% | 13 | -11.7% | -11.7% | -11.8% | 7.1% | 21 |
| 7 | DEN | -7.3% | 31 | -1.4% | 10 | -12.7% | 6 | -1.5% | 18 | -5.9% | -7.6% | -4.1% | 7.4% | 23 |
| 8 | BUF | -6.5% | 22 | -9.8% | 6 | -21.3% | 3 | 6.8% | 27 | -1.7% | -13.9% | 9.3% | 4.8% | 7 |
| 9 | PIT | -2.1% | 1 | -4.6% | 8 | 4.0% | 14 | -11.1% | 9 | -4.8% | -1.6% | -9.4% | 6.5% | 19 |
| 10 | WAS | -0.1% | 11 | -1.2% | 11 | 13.2% | 20 | -14.3% | 6 | 3.1% | 17.6% | -12.4% | 3.5% | 3 |
| 11 | ARI | 0.3% | 23 | 1.3% | 14 | 3.7% | 12 | -4.6% | 14 | -2.7% | -2.7% | -2.7% | 8.2% | 26 |
| 12 | DAL | 0.4% | 9 | -7.5% | 7 | 6.2% | 15 | -8.2% | 11 | 0.3% | 8.3% | -11.3% | 5.1% | 12 |
| 13 | CIN | 0.8% | 16 | 1.3% | 15 | 1.3% | 10 | 0.3% | 21 | -1.0% | 0.7% | -3.1% | 3.5% | 2 |
| 14 | NO | 1.5% | 26 | 8.8% | 23 | -3.8% | 9 | 7.7% | 29 | -2.2% | -9.9% | 7.0% | 5.9% | 15 |
| 15 | IND | 1.7% | 10 | 5.2% | 19 | 2.9% | 11 | 0.2% | 20 | 0.9% | 2.3% | -0.7% | 5.3% | 14 |
| 16 | NE | 1.7% | 21 | 0.2% | 13 | 9.4% | 16 | -7.8% | 12 | 4.4% | 13.5% | -7.1% | 11.5% | 30 |
| TEAM |
DEF. DVOA |
LAST YEAR |
WEIGHTED DEFENSE |
RANK |
PASS DEF. |
PASS RANK |
RUSH DEF. |
RUSH RANK |
NON-ADJUSTED | VAR. | RANK | |||
| TOTAL | PASS | RUSH | ||||||||||||
| 17 | MIN | 1.8% | 4 | 4.2% | 17 | 15.2% | 22 | -17.9% | 1 | -3.4% | 10.0% | -23.0% | 6.2% | 16 |
| 18 | MIA | 4.3% | 15 | 3.2% | 16 | 3.7% | 13 | 5.0% | 24 | 8.3% | 12.4% | 3.7% | 8.6% | 29 |
| 19 | HOU | 6.0% | 29 | 0.0% | 12 | 12.7% | 18 | -2.9% | 16 | 3.0% | 6.6% | -1.7% | 6.2% | 17 |
| 20 | ATL | 6.1% | 25 | 7.2% | 21 | 25.1% | 27 | -16.1% | 2 | 6.0% | 23.2% | -14.1% | 4.9% | 9 |
| 21 | NYG | 6.4% | 8 | 14.9% | 27 | 11.3% | 17 | 0.9% | 22 | 12.7% | 19.9% | 4.7% | 8.2% | 27 |
| 22 | CHI | 7.1% | 7 | 8.8% | 22 | 16.5% | 24 | -2.9% | 15 | 8.6% | 14.7% | 2.2% | 8.0% | 25 |
| 23 | SD | 9.6% | 20 | 6.3% | 20 | 14.2% | 21 | 4.4% | 23 | 7.7% | 11.6% | 3.3% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 24 | OAK | 10.6% | 19 | 11.9% | 25 | 17.8% | 26 | 5.1% | 25 | 12.7% | 25.1% | 3.3% | 6.4% | 18 |
| 25 | TB | 11.3% | 6 | 5.0% | 18 | 15.6% | 23 | 7.6% | 28 | 14.4% | 22.4% | 7.4% | 3.7% | 4 |
| 26 | KC | 11.9% | 28 | 10.2% | 24 | 13.1% | 19 | 10.7% | 31 | 11.4% | 15.4% | 7.8% | 3.7% | 5 |
| 27 | TEN | 12.7% | 5 | 12.9% | 26 | 17.5% | 25 | 5.8% | 26 | 15.0% | 22.0% | 5.1% | 7.8% | 24 |
| 28 | JAC | 14.1% | 24 | 15.3% | 28 | 39.8% | 31 | -12.0% | 7 | 13.5% | 38.3% | -11.8% | 4.6% | 6 |
| 29 | SEA | 14.9% | 27 | 19.8% | 31 | 34.0% | 30 | -8.9% | 10 | 13.3% | 30.0% | -7.7% | 5.1% | 11 |
| 30 | CLE | 18.7% | 17 | 18.5% | 30 | 28.8% | 28 | 8.4% | 30 | 17.7% | 26.3% | 8.9% | 7.0% | 20 |
| 31 | STL | 20.3% | 30 | 18.1% | 29 | 30.3% | 29 | 10.8% | 32 | 19.5% | 30.6% | 8.9% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 32 | DET | 21.2% | 32 | 20.5% | 32 | 40.1% | 32 | -1.7% | 17 | 22.5% | 40.1% | 1.1% | 4.9% | 8 |
DVOA ratings represent value from the point of view of the defense, not fantasy football players, and include items that have no impact on fantasy football (such as how many interceptions are caught on passes intended to certain receivers). DVOA of defense against receivers does not include sacks or passes with no intended receiver listed. Passes per game and yards per game are more useful for fantasy football players. These numbers are adjusted based on the opposing offenses and include defensive pass interference.
Note that our decision of which receiver is 'number one' and which receiver is 'number two' is somewhat subjective. Teams are ranked in order of general passing defense DVOA.
Numbers in red represent NFL averages for the season.
| vs. #1 WR | vs. #2 WR | vs. Other WR | vs. TE | vs. RB | |||||||||||||||||
| Rk | Team | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G |
| 1 | NYJ | -39.6% | 1 | 7.2 | 29.4 | -20.4% | 6 | 6.3 | 44.4 | -29.9% | 3 | 4.9 | 28.7 | -21.3% | 4 | 6.4 | 39.2 | -20.9% | 2 | 6.0 | 33.8 |
| 2 | CAR | -27.9% | 7 | 7.1 | 51.9 | -21.4% | 5 | 5.6 | 43.3 | -27.8% | 5 | 4.5 | 31.0 | 13.8% | 22 | 6.6 | 43.8 | -18.1% | 5 | 7.0 | 34.2 |
| 3 | BUF | -30.0% | 4 | 7.6 | 57.9 | -8.3% | 10 | 5.8 | 38.4 | -33.4% | 1 | 4.3 | 22.3 | -8.7% | 8 | 6.9 | 49.8 | -12.1% | 8 | 7.4 | 37.5 |
| 4 | GB | -29.2% | 6 | 8.2 | 51.6 | -5.0% | 15 | 6.5 | 42.6 | -17.1% | 8 | 6.2 | 50.5 | -21.7% | 3 | 6.9 | 50.2 | -12.4% | 7 | 7.0 | 36.6 |
| 5 | PHI | -30.0% | 3 | 8.9 | 55.3 | 9.0% | 24 | 6.2 | 43.2 | -29.8% | 4 | 4.9 | 34.9 | -9.1% | 7 | 9.1 | 69.4 | -1.9% | 16 | 7.0 | 38.1 |
| 6 | DEN | -5.6% | 11 | 6.9 | 51.7 | -25.7% | 3 | 6.9 | 38.1 | -31.7% | 2 | 6.2 | 40.2 | 21.2% | 25 | 5.6 | 35.1 | -11.7% | 9 | 6.5 | 36.3 |
| 7 | SF | 5.9% | 17 | 9.4 | 85.0 | -33.2% | 1 | 5.8 | 34.3 | -18.9% | 6 | 5.3 | 36.7 | -13.3% | 6 | 7.2 | 49.6 | 15.5% | 23 | 7.6 | 48.2 |
| 8 | BAL | -19.9% | 8 | 8.6 | 67.3 | -5.7% | 13 | 6.8 | 57.6 | 7.1% | 20 | 5.1 | 43.7 | -26.4% | 1 | 6.2 | 34.6 | -19.3% | 3 | 6.7 | 31.3 |
| 9 | NO | -34.9% | 2 | 8.5 | 68.3 | 9.2% | 25 | 5.8 | 46.9 | 9.7% | 21 | 7.2 | 55.3 | -17.8% | 5 | 7.1 | 50.5 | 6.5% | 19 | 6.8 | 39.0 |
| 10 | CIN | -29.8% | 5 | 7.9 | 48.5 | -21.5% | 4 | 7.0 | 42.8 | 22.9% | 31 | 4.8 | 42.3 | -25.7% | 2 | 7.4 | 39.6 | 22.2% | 27 | 6.4 | 48.4 |
| 11 | IND | -0.9% | 14 | 10.8 | 87.7 | 4.1% | 20 | 5.9 | 44.0 | -1.0% | 15 | 5.6 | 36.5 | -0.5% | 13 | 6.8 | 33.0 | -6.2% | 12 | 7.0 | 32.9 |
| 12 | ARI | 19.7% | 25 | 9.9 | 80.1 | -26.4% | 2 | 7.5 | 48.5 | -14.1% | 9 | 6.6 | 50.5 | -3.2% | 11 | 6.9 | 48.2 | 0.5% | 17 | 6.6 | 38.5 |
| 13 | MIA | 15.2% | 21 | 7.1 | 68.4 | 2.7% | 19 | 5.5 | 45.7 | -1.5% | 14 | 5.3 | 38.6 | 16.9% | 24 | 6.4 | 62.9 | -2.8% | 15 | 6.3 | 35.2 |
| 14 | PIT | 8.3% | 18 | 8.1 | 70.4 | -6.0% | 12 | 6.9 | 50.6 | -3.5% | 11 | 7.0 | 51.2 | 21.7% | 26 | 6.3 | 43.6 | -6.3% | 11 | 5.4 | 31.2 |
| 15 | DAL | -10.3% | 10 | 7.9 | 57.3 | -8.7% | 9 | 8.1 | 56.3 | 13.0% | 26 | 5.7 | 38.4 | 22.1% | 27 | 6.2 | 46.4 | 16.1% | 24 | 7.3 | 45.1 |
| 16 | NE | 20.1% | 26 | 7.3 | 62.5 | -14.0% | 8 | 7.4 | 51.3 | -6.8% | 10 | 6.7 | 44.8 | 12.2% | 21 | 6.1 | 42.5 | 20.1% | 26 | 5.3 | 34.9 |
| x | NFL | 0.7% | x | 8.0 | 64.0 | -1.3% | x | 6.3 | 47.9 | -1.3% | x | 5.2 | 38.9 | 5.2% | x | 7.0 | 49.4 | 3.0% | x | 6.7 | 38.2 | vs. #1 WR | vs. #2 WR | vs. Other WR | vs. TE | vs. RB |
| Rk | Team | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G | DVOA | Rk | Pa/G | Yd/G |
| 17 | NYG | 24.6% | 30 | 6.9 | 65.9 | -0.6% | 18 | 6.0 | 38.7 | 1.9% | 17 | 4.7 | 30.5 | 7.9% | 18 | 8.3 | 65.5 | -4.2% | 14 | 5.6 | 25.9 |
| 18 | HOU | 13.4% | 19 | 7.5 | 58.8 | 5.7% | 23 | 6.1 | 46.2 | -1.8% | 13 | 6.7 | 55.2 | 24.7% | 29 | 7.2 | 52.8 | -36.3% | 1 | 7.1 | 36.1 |
| 19 | KC | -18.0% | 9 | 7.3 | 53.2 | 26.3% | 30 | 7.9 | 83.4 | -17.5% | 7 | 3.5 | 23.3 | -1.1% | 12 | 6.5 | 43.4 | 5.4% | 18 | 6.1 | 32.8 |
| 20 | WAS | 3.7% | 15 | 7.0 | 55.3 | 10.6% | 26 | 6.2 | 44.4 | -2.5% | 12 | 4.7 | 32.6 | 0.8% | 14 | 6.5 | 43.8 | 17.1% | 25 | 7.6 | 41.4 |
| 21 | SD | -2.4% | 12 | 7.1 | 47.5 | 4.5% | 21 | 6.3 | 43.5 | 3.6% | 18 | 6.0 | 50.0 | -7.8% | 9 | 7.0 | 45.9 | 36.4% | 32 | 7.1 | 47.1 |
| 22 | MIN | 19.2% | 24 | 8.4 | 74.5 | -7.5% | 11 | 5.6 | 37.7 | 19.7% | 29 | 4.5 | 35.3 | 16.6% | 23 | 7.7 | 63.2 | 6.7% | 20 | 6.9 | 39.9 |
| 23 | TB | 4.2% | 16 | 6.9 | 56.6 | -5.1% | 14 | 5.7 | 51.2 | 11.0% | 23 | 3.5 | 26.8 | 7.0% | 17 | 8.0 | 53.3 | -9.7% | 10 | 5.8 | 27.5 |
| 24 | CHI | 13.8% | 20 | 9.3 | 78.9 | 5.4% | 22 | 6.0 | 41.8 | -0.2% | 16 | 4.0 | 26.9 | -5.9% | 10 | 7.9 | 46.8 | 13.2% | 22 | 6.4 | 37.5 |
| 25 | TEN | -1.6% | 13 | 8.3 | 68.7 | -0.7% | 17 | 6.4 | 58.1 | 10.6% | 22 | 6.7 | 48.3 | 37.8% | 31 | 7.1 | 53.1 | -18.1% | 4 | 9.2 | 43.5 |
| 26 | OAK | 28.3% | 32 | 7.1 | 70.8 | 22.3% | 28 | 4.5 | 39.6 | 4.5% | 19 | 4.3 | 28.8 | 1.6% | 16 | 5.8 | 43.4 | -4.6% | 13 | 5.9 | 34.9 |
| 27 | ATL | 28.2% | 31 | 8.3 | 74.0 | -1.2% | 16 | 6.2 | 46.5 | 20.5% | 30 | 4.4 | 32.0 | 1.6% | 15 | 7.6 | 60.7 | 24.5% | 28 | 7.1 | 45.7 |
| 28 | CLE | 18.3% | 23 | 7.3 | 65.3 | -20.1% | 7 | 6.4 | 45.2 | 14.5% | 28 | 4.2 | 37.5 | 47.1% | 32 | 8.2 | 67.3 | 34.1% | 31 | 6.3 | 48.5 |
| 29 | STL | 21.0% | 29 | 6.9 | 67.6 | 22.7% | 29 | 6.9 | 63.7 | 12.5% | 25 | 5.0 | 37.6 | 22.8% | 28 | 6.5 | 49.6 | -15.3% | 6 | 5.5 | 35.2 |
| 30 | SEA | 20.7% | 28 | 9.9 | 80.6 | 16.2% | 27 | 5.7 | 47.0 | 23.0% | 32 | 5.3 | 49.3 | 11.5% | 20 | 7.1 | 55.2 | 31.0% | 30 | 6.9 | 41.4 |
| 31 | JAC | 20.1% | 27 | 7.3 | 71.4 | 29.2% | 31 | 6.3 | 55.1 | 13.5% | 27 | 5.6 | 45.7 | 11.2% | 19 | 6.7 | 46.7 | 10.8% | 21 | 5.4 | 28.6 |
| 32 | DET | 18.2% | 22 | 8.0 | 65.6 | 34.2% | 32 | 6.3 | 63.4 | 11.5% | 24 | 4.7 | 38.5 | 34.2% | 30 | 7.3 | 52.3 | 24.6% | 29 | 8.0 | 55.5 | x | NFL | 0.7% | x | 8.0 | 64.0 | -1.3% | x | 6.3 | 47.9 | -1.3% | x | 5.2 | 38.9 | 5.2% | x | 7.0 | 49.4 | 3.0% | x | 6.7 | 38.2 |
Links:
[1] http://www.footballoutsiders.com/info/methods
[2] http://www.footballoutsiders.com/info/glossary#variance