As preseason gets rolling, the conversation around the NFL’s best teams starts where it usually should: on defense. The league just watched the Seattle Seahawks ride a shutdown unit past the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl title in 2025, and the numbers backed up the lesson.
Eight of the 10 best scoring defenses in the league made the playoffs, and nine of those 10 finished above .500. Seattle and New England both finished as top-4 teams in points allowed per game.
So with preseason action about to start, here’s a look at the defenses that stand out near the top of the league.
The Kansas City Chiefs come in at No. 8, and the ranking comes with some real skepticism about the roster. Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Bryan Cook are all gone from the secondary, and Leo Chenal is now with the Washington Commanders.
Even with those departures, there’s still plenty of confidence in Steve Spagnuolo, whose ability to keep offenses guessing has long been a calling card. The issue is that, on paper, this group doesn’t look as strong as it has in recent seasons.
At No. 7, the Minnesota Vikings slot in after finishing seventh in points allowed per game in 2025. There has been some turnover on the defensive line, but rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange have been drawing plenty of attention and could carve out roles for Brian Flores in 2026. Flores remains one of the league’s most aggressive coordinators, and if Minnesota gets competent quarterback play, that would ease the pressure on the defense and could help this unit climb even higher this season.
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JJ McCarthy Trade Buzz Could Set Up A Familiar Reunion
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That has opened the door to trade chatter, and Chris Spiering of ClutchPoints floated one destination that would come with plenty of familiarity. The idea is more than just a football fit, because a move there would bring McCarthy back into a setting tied to an old relationship from his college days, giving the speculation a little extra intrigue while the Vikings wait to see how serious the market really is. [Read more 🡒]