Who Will boast the best NFL defense for 2013?

[kidhawk]

This question was asked and answered by 6 "experts" from NFL.com. The teams listed are Seattle (of course), Pittsburgh, Houston & Cincinnati (also a nod to the Rams as an up and comer). Of course 3 of the 6 say Seattle and the other 3 are split

[urltargetblank]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000213469/article/nfls-best-defense-texans-seahawks-are-in-the-conversation[/urltargetblank]

 

[RolandDeschain]

I was surprised that none of them picked the 49ers. I agree that they're going to slide down a bit, but they'll still be formidable.

 

[kidhawk]

I was surprised that none of them picked the 49ers. I agree that they're going to slide down a bit, but they'll still be formidable.

I agree...I'd definitely rank them above the Bengals for sure. Maybe they just figure 2 games against our offense is too much for any defense to handle :stirthepot:

 

[kearly]

How is Chicago not at least nominated? For me it's a two horse race between Chicago and Seattle, with the Bengals being a team the 49ers would need to keep an eye on for 3rd place.

 

[Largent80]

It's like handicapping a horse race based upon past performances.

Until the "proof is in the puddin'" rises I would say the Hawks should be regarded highly.

 

[Subzero717]

Why are the Steelers on that list and the 49ers and Chicago not?

The Texans have a huge advantage of playing against the Jags and the Titans 4 games a year. I think the Bears are cursed by playing the Packers and Lions 4 games a year. I'll go with us because no matter who the division opponent is they have to play at the Clink.

 

[bestfightstory]

Chicago is a joke. I don't understand why you rate them so highly, kearly. Both in this thread AND in the NFCWEST vs NFCSOUTH thread. As for Cincinatti's D. It's definitely in the conversation and on the rise. They were pretty incredible down the stretch-Chicago was not.

I would put Cleveland alongside StLou as sleepers.

 

[hawker84]

SF's D > CHI & CIN , and the rams definitely need to be in the talks above Cinci....

 

[NinerBuff]

Every year new defenses rise up. After all, you guys weren't as much of a juggernaut before the year as you are now. We made the leap when we got Aldon's consistent pass rush.

Offense is easier to forecast because good offenses have good QBs. But elite Ds are more fickle.

 

[RolandDeschain]

How is Chicago not at least nominated? For me it's a two horse race between Chicago and Seattle, with the Bengals being a team the 49ers would need to keep an eye on for 3rd place.

Their second half of the season defensive stats are paled by the first half's. 4 of their last 8 games of the regular season had negative grades for the overall defensive performance for those games per PFF, and only one of the four positive grades was an actual "good" one, the rest were like +4.0, (remember it's a cumulative list for the defense, +4.0 for a player is a very good grade, but the total positive from each defensive player equalling that is very low) +5.9, etc.

Comparatively to the first half of the season, the Bears defense only had 2 of the first 8 games with a negative grade, and they were only negative by small numbers; -3.8 @ Packers, and -1.1 against the Colts.

I was about to say add in losing Brian Urlacher, but that's a good thing. Holy smokes. He played in 12 games last year, and had a positive grade in only three of them; and two of those positive grades were miniscule. +0.1 in week 3, +0.5 in week 5, and the only good grade he had all year, +4.8 in week 9. He had four games in which he scored -2.9 or worse.

It's a good thing he retired, whoever he would have gone to would have regretted it, I think.

 

[Blitzer88]

San Fran not being on there or anyone even choosing them is very weird to me.

 

[loafoftatupu]

I was surprised that none of them picked the 49ers. I agree that they're going to slide down a bit, but they'll still be formidable.

Agreed, with that front 7, the Niners are an automatic top defense. They lost Goldson and did give up passing yards at the end of the season last year, but I think that had more to do with the front than the back. I think the Niners will start slow on defense next year, but come on strong as the season goes.

 

[Hawks46]

Chicago is an aging team and they've had some turnover on that side of the ball.

I agree that the 49ers have to be in that conversation.

The only thing the Steelers are good at is limiting yardage. They're usually the tops in the league in yardage, but they allow more points.

I'd say the Hawks allow the least points this year, and that is the most important stat for me.

edit: I wouldn't say any of them were idiots on their assessments, or even wrong....it seems like to me the general sentiment was "Seattle obviously has the best defense, but I'll go with this team to make it interesting". Even the guy that picked the Rams flat out said that