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Over the last five weeks, we have covered the top offenses and defenses using different categories. For offense, we graded and ranked passing offense, run offense, run blocking, and pass blocking. On the defensive side of the football, we graded and ranked the top pass-rush, run stop, and pass coverage defenses. The results of each, when combined, provide us with a preseason situational analysis grade for both the offense and defense of every NFL team that we use to determine NFL power rankings, the strength of schedule for all teams, and projected win totals.
Check Out Our Previous Analysis
About The Analysis
Today's analysis wraps up our total defensive team grades combining pass rush, run stop, and pass coverage team grades. The average for each team determines how a team will be ranked heading into the 2021 NFL season.
The Grade Scale
The team grades use the individual player grades to get an average for each category. For offense, it's passing, run offense, run blocking, and pass blocking. As mentioned above, we use pass rush, run stop, and pass coverage for the defense. The scale is a 1 to 10 rating scale, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest. On average, based on preliminary analysis, a grade of 6 to 6.99 is a playoff-caliber position group, or if the entire offensive grade is in the area of 6 to 6.99, that will represent a playoff-caliber offense. A seven or higher average represents a Super Bowl Caliber offense, defense, or position group.
You can find all of our preseason NFL team grades by visiting our beta version of the Team and Player Grade Dashboard.
Top Ten Projected NFL Defenses Heading Into 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 1ST
RUN D 6TH
PASS COV 2ND
PASS RUSH 1ST
Los Angeles Rams
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 2ND
RUN D: 2ND
PASS COV: 8TH
PASS RUSH: 4TH
Pittsburgh Steelers
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 3RD
RUN D: 3RD
PASS COV: 11TH
PASS RUSH: 3RD
Washington Football Team
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 4TH
RUN D: 5TH
PASS COV 21
PASS RUSH: 2ND
New Orleans Saints
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 5TH
RUN D: 1ST
PASS COV: 24TH
PASS RUSH: 8TH
Cleveland Browns
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 6TH
RUN D: 10TH
PASS COV: 4TH
PASS RUSH: 7TH
Denver Broncos
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 7TH
RUN D: 4TH
PASS COV: 1ST
PASS RUSH: 13TH
San Francisco 49ers
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 8TH
RUN D: 7TH
PASS COV: 14TH
PASS RUSH: 9TH
Baltimore Ravens
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 9TH
RUN D: 3RD
PASS COV: 3RD
PASS RUSH: 14TH
New York Jets
TOTAL DEFENSE RANK: 10TH
RUN D: 11TH
PASS COV: 30TH
PASS RUSH: 5TH