The following chart shows NFL defenses by type halfway through the 2023 season.

Terrible: Poor Against the Run and Pass

• Denver Broncos
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Arizona Cardinals
• Indianapolis Colts
• Washington Commanders

These teams have two things in common:

(1) The linemen of these teams might be the stars when it comes to delivering pressure/getting sacks, but struggle to stop the run.

(2) The secondaries routinely get torched week in and week out. These defenses hold up like wet papier-mâché.

Outdated: Stout Against the Run, Poor Against the Pass 

• Los Angeles Chargers
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Chicago Bears
• Philadelphia Eagles

It’s a passing league, not a rushing league. In the yesteryear of the NFL a dominant rush and run unit was enough to fuel the fires of a contender, today that seems like a road to .500 season at best. 

These teams almost sell out on the pass to deliver as much pressure as possible at the line of scrimmage, they struggle when the offensive line is able to withstand the pressure and the QB gets an opportunity to pick apart their weak secondaries. In this passing era, receivers don’t need many opportunities to hurt a team while defenses like the ones above give them plenty of opportunities to make plays.

Modern: Stout Against the Pass, Poor Against the Run

• New York Jets
• Carolina Panthers
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Green Bay Packers
• New York Giants
• Buffalo Bills

These teams are great at limiting passing opportunities for the offense by either playing great coverage or talking the ball away. In the modern NFL which leans so pass heavy, stopping a team’s ability to move the ball through the air almost disarms the opposing offense.

Elite: Stout Against the Run and Pass 

• Cleveland Browns
• Baltimore Ravens
• Atlanta Falcons
• Dallas Cowboys 
• New Orleans Saints

In this passing era these teams have figured out how best to limit an offense and consist of pass rushes that deliver consistent pressure, solid open field tacklers and the ability to force turnovers. 

The Baltimore Ravens are not only the best example of this group, but are also the best defense in the NFL today. The Ravens have a defensive frontline that is almost unblockable, their linebacker unit flies all over the field and takes the ball away in so many varied ways. The Ravens  are great at forcing the QB to make uncomfortable throws to well-covered receivers. Star linebacker Roquan Smith is the future of NFL linebackers, an absurd athlete who is as disruptive in both the run game and  passing game.

The following chart shows Points Allowed Per Game vs Yards Per Play.

From this chart we can garner some additional categories.

Cream of the Crop 

• Baltimore Ravens
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Dallas Cowboys

Best of the Rest

• New York Jets
• San Francisco 49ers
• Houston Texans
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Detroit Lions
• Atlanta Falcons
• Cleveland Browns
• New Orleans Saints
• Seattle Seahawks
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Minnesota Vikings
  
  

Inconsistent

• Cincinnati Bengals
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Buffalo Bills
• Tennessee Titans
• Pittsburgh Steelers

Unlucky 

• New England Patriots
• Miami Dolphins
• Carolina Panthers
  

Outright Terrible

• Denver Broncos
• Washington Commanders
• Green Bay Packers
• Chicago Bears
• Arizona Cardinals
• Indianapolis Colts
• Los Angeles Rams
• Los Angeles Chargers
• New York Giants
• Las Vegas Raiders