Defensive Rankings Week Sixteen

Updated: Thursday, 22 Dec 2011, 1:42 PM CST
Published : Thursday, 22 Dec 2011, 1:42 PM CST

Blair Reynolds

Ravens vs. Browns
After getting torched by the Chargers a week ago, the Ravens need their defense to come up big to help their chances of winning the division. A visit from a sub-par Browns offense should do the trick. While Baltimore has only seven sacks and forced just two turnovers in the past three weeks, the Browns come to the crab cake capitol of the world at the right time. Browns’ quarterback Colt McCoy is expected to miss this game with a concussion, so expect journeyman Seneca Wallace to get the start. Wallace was decent last week, but he’s never faced as desperate a defense as he is about to this week.

49ers at Seahawks
If you didn’t believe in the 49ers defense before they held the Steelers to three points last week on national television, you have to believe in them now. They have 11 sacks and 14 forced turnovers in their past five games. Seahawks quarterback Tavaris Jackson has been sacked 34 times this season and has thrown as many picks, 12, as he has thrown touchdown passes. In week one the 49ers sacked Jackson five times, registered an interception and scored on both a kick and punt return.

Steelers vs. Rams
In their past five games the Steelers are allowing less than eight points per game, which could spell trouble for an anemic Rams offense that has thrown for no more than 210 yards in their past six contests. The Steelers haven’t posted huge numbers when it comes to turnovers and defensive scores lately, but with a defense so constricting, mistakes are bound to happen. The Rams are more inept than Kim Kardashian’s track record with men, so playing the Steelers is a no-brainer.

Packers vs. Bears
Last week’s loss by the Packers wasn’t the defense’s fault. Allowing 19 points, even to one of the worst teams in the league is hardly a sin. However, the NFL leader in interceptions shouldn’t have been shutout against Kyle Orton and company. Green Bay needs to step it up and a home game on Christmas night against newly minted starter Josh McCown, who has completed two passes in the past three seasons, could do the trick. Without a running game, the Bears will have to throw and as long as the ball is in McCown’s rusty hands, the Packers should give fantasy players a nice gift.

Seahawks vs. 49ers
The Seahawks are the hottest thing to come out of Seattle since grunge bands and Starbucks. In their last three games they have nine interceptions and three defensive scores. And while they only garnered one turnover in week one against the 49ers, this defense has made great strides since then. The Niners have allowed 39 sacks, good for worst in the NFL. The Seahawks will be challenged this week by a 49ers offense that keeps its hands on the ball. In his past five games, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith has thrown just two picks.

Texans at Colts
This is a tricky one. The Texans have a very good defense that should give the 1-13 Colts fits all game. However with injuries and the fact the team is already in the playoffs, the Texans may play more of their defensive roster than usual. The Colts are throwing caution to the wind and chucking the ball on nearly 75 percent of their plays as of the past four weeks. With a track record like the one the Texans have built this season, we see them putting a nice day together as long as they come to play and not pass time until the playoffs commence.

Jaguars at Titans
Despite being a crappy team without much to play for, the Jaguars have decided to keep trying as the sun sets on another poor season. They have two defense scores to go with seven turnovers in their past three games. This week they head to Nashville to face a Titans team that looks like it will be known more for being the only team to lose to the Colts than the team to allow an impressive 18 sacks in 14 games. With Jake Locker looking as though he will get the “future is now” start, the Jags ball-hawking ways could continue in the Music City.

Broncos at Bills
Forget for a moment that the Broncos gave up 41 points and almost 500 yards of total offense last week against New England. Instead, consider their recent track record and that of their opponent this week. Denver is just one of a handful of teams to have scored a defensive touchdown in the past three weeks. Plus, they are averaging three sacks per game in their last five outings. Nobody will ever confuse the Bills with the Patriots. Bills’ quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown seven picks to just six touchdowns in his past five games. And last, but certainly not least, the Broncos have something to play for this week, while the Bills are counting the days until the season ends.

Eagles at Cowboys
The Eagles head to Big D with a Big D of their own. The Eagles have 16 sacks in their past three outings to go with seven turnovers and a defensive score. Philly crushed the Cowboys in week eight and registered four sacks and two turnovers in the contest. Without a legitimate running game, the Cowboys are living and dying by the pass as of late. That

dedication to the air and an Eagles “Dream Team” showing glimpses of their preseason projections could mean a big day for Philly.

Patriots vs. Dolphins
The Patriots defense, who has eight sacks and five fumble recoveries in their past three games is a quiet, but important reason why the team is in contention for the number one seed in the AFC playoffs. Dolphins’ quarterback Matt Moore has been hot in his last five games, throwing eight scores to just one pick. However, this is the Dolphins and in their last three matchups against New England they have allowed 11 sacks, nine interceptions and three defensive/special teams scores.

Sleepers

Chiefs vs. Raiders
In week seven the Chiefs returned two Raiders’ passes for touchdowns. Plus, they registered four additional picks and a sack in the shutout victory. A lot of time has passed since then, but the Chiefs’ defense continues to be surprisingly consistent. Over the past five games they have posted 18 sacks and seven turnovers. While they probably won’t match their numbers from their first meeting with Oakland, they still could turn in a very good performance against Carson Palmer who has thrown more interceptions in the past month than he has touchdowns.

Lions vs. Chargers
With two defensive scores in their past three games, the Lions are statistically the third best fantasy defense since Thanksgiving. But remember this; both of those scores came against the Minnesota Vikings, who give the ball away like a mall Santa hands out cheap, tasteless candy canes. However, the Lions continue to be near the top in sacks registered as well as turnovers forced. This week they get the pass-happy Chargers, who a few weeks ago were Vikings-like in terms of turnovers, but have tightened things up considerably. Still, with a good pass rush, the Lions could make Phillip Rivers become mistake prone.

Raiders at Chiefs
With 16 sacks the Raiders rank third in the league over the past five games. What’s more, they have forced 10 turnovers, registered a safety and scored a defensive touchdown during that span. The Chiefs, with Kyle Orton under center, provide little if any offensive punch. In 32 passing attempts as a Chief, Orton has yet to throw a touchdown or an interception. When these two teams met back in week seven, the Raiders didn’t score a point but their defense had a decent day forcing four turnovers and getting to the Chiefs quarterback twice.

Chargers at Lions
It isn’t just the Chargers’ offense that has done a 180 over the past few weeks. The Bolts’ defense has registered 10 sacks, six interceptions and a defensive touchdown in its past three games. The Chargers’ highly touted secondary all of a sudden is playing up to its potential and a trip indoors to Ford Field should help them in a late-season affair. Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford has the second most passing attempts in the NFL over the past five games. However, despite a gaudy 13 touchdowns during this time against teams like the Raiders and Vikings, he has also thrown seven picks. Without a running game, the Lions are forced to throw and with those passes come more chances for Chargers turnovers.

Redskins vs. Vikings
The Redskins’ Christmas present is something purple with white horns and a generous spirit. No, it’s not Barney. It’s the Vikings, a team with more weaknesses than an old lady with brittle bone disease. Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is averaging two picks a game in his past three contests. The Skins don’t have great numbers on the year or even in their past three games, where they have just five turnovers and four sacks, but any team that faces the Vikings deserves a look.