The best defenses from 2024 the Steelers are set to face in 2025

After taking a look at some of the best offensive and defensive players at their positions in 2024 who the Steelers are scheduled to face in 2025, it’s time to finish up with the best offensive and defensive ranks as a team. Before moving on, here are all the groups who have been covered so far:

Rushers
Receivers
Quarterbacks
Tight Ends
Pass Rushers
Pass Defenders
Tacklers

Today it’s time to check out teams who ranked at the top in the NFL in defense for 2024 who are on the Steelers schedule for 2025. The two categories for defensive rank will be yardage surrendered and points surrendered. Teams who finished in the top 10 in either category will be listed as well as their place in the other category even if it isn’t in the top 10.

Of course there have been a number of departures and arrivals for each defense the Steelers will face this season. Some of the key player movements will be noted in each description. Of the more than a dozen teams who appear in the top 10 of one of the two categories, the Steelers are set to face seven of them this season.

New York Jets (3rd yardage, 20th points)
Week 1

It was a pretty big discrepancy between the New York Jets yardage surrendered compared to how many points they gave up in 2024. Even though it’s yardage as to what makes a team officially the best defense, points are arguably much more important. Somehow the Jets managed to keep their yardage low as they surrendered 313.8 yards per game in 2024 while surrendering 23.8 points per game. But their defense saw a lot of turnover. Although they added cornerback of Brandon Stephens from the Ravens and safety Andre Cisco from the Jaguars, they lost a number of key pieces who went on to sign significant contracts. Cornerback D.J. Reed went to the Detroit Lions while defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw exited for Washington. Linebacker Haason Reddick signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers while another defensive lineman, Solomon Thomas, went to the Cowboys. Even the Steelers were in on the Jets defenders exodus as they signed cornerback Brandin Echols.

Miami Dolphins (4th yardage, 10th points)
Week 15

It might be surprising to some how it was the Miami Dolphins defense that landed in the top 10 in both of these categories in 2024. The Dolphins gave up 314.4 yards per game and surrendered only 21.4 points per game. But much like the Jets, they experienced more losses than additions for 2025. Cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu was signed by the Dolphins after playing for the Lions in 2024, but they also lost safety Javon Holland to the New York Giants. Other losses include defensive ends Calais Campbell and Emmanuel Ogbah.

Green Bay Packers (5th yardage, 6th points)
Week 8

Another consistently good defense from 2024 was the Green Bay Packers who gave up 314.5 yards per game while surrendering 19.9 points per game. The Packers kept their unit intact mostly as they signed cornerback Nate Hobbs from the Las Vegas Raiders which allowed them to release cornerback Jaire Alexander. A great player when he was on the field, Alexander simply missed too much time to go along with his contract and is now a member of the Baltimore Ravens. The Packers also lost defensive tackle to Daryl Slaton who signed with the Bengals.

Baltimore Ravens (10th yardage, 9th points)
Week 14, Week 17

The Ravens saw a significant fall off from their NFL rankings from 2023 but still managed to be just inside the top 10 of both yardage and points. Giving up 324.2 yards per game and 21.2 points per game, many are looking at the Ravens complete roster as being this perfect specimen. Although they did add many pieces in the draft, the Ravens were not big players on defense in free agency as signing cornerback Jaire Alexander after being released from the Packers was about their only big move. The Ravens needed to do something after losing cornerbacks Brandon Stevens and Tre’Davious White who left for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills respectively.

Los Angeles Chargers (11th yardage, 1st points)
Week 10

Despite missing the top 10 in yards surrender as the Chargers gave up 324.4 yards per game, they were the top defensive unit in points surrendered in 2024 giving up only an average of 17.7 points per game. On defense, the Chargers didn’t make much splash in free agency as their biggest signing was cornerback Dante Jackson from the Steelers. But when it came to players finding other homes, Joey Bosa is now in Buffalo and cornerback Christian Fulton left for Kansas City. Additionally, defensive tackle Poona Ford went to the Rams while staying in LA and linebacker Nick Niemann departed for the Houston Texans.

Minnesota Vikings (16th yardage, 5th points)
Week 4

Despite being in the middle of the road in the NFL when it came to yardage surrendered, the Vikings were a top 5 team in points surrendered last year. The Vikings gave up 335.4 yards per game while keeping their opponents in check on the scoreboard by only giving up 19.5 points per game. The Vikings made some big moves on the defensive line by acquiring Jonathan Allen from Washington and Javon Hargrave from San Francisco. The Vikings also signed cornerback Isaiah Rodgers from the Eagles, but their biggest signing might have been keeping cornerback Byron Murphy who was set to become a free agent. Still, the Vikings did have a few losses in safety Cameron Bynum to the Colts and linebacker Patrick Jones to the Panthers.

Detroit Lions (20th yardage, 7th points)
Week 16

Despite all of the injuries the Lions had on defense in 2024, they still ended up in the top 10 in points surrendered despite being in the bottom half of the NFL in yardage. The Lions may have given up 342.4 yards per game, but they were only surrendering 20.1 points per game. The Lions didn’t add many high priced free agents this offseason but did acquire cornerback D.J. Reed from the New York Jets along with defensive tackle Roy Lopez from the Cardinals. The biggest losses the Lions saw from their defense was cornerback Carlton Davis going to the Patriots as well as cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu going to the Dolphins. More than anything, the Lions will be getting players back from injury from last year.