The 10 Best NFL Defenses Over the Last Decade
3. 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers
Only one team over the last 10 seasons allowed fewer points per game than Pittsburgh’s 13.9 in 2008, and no team allowed fewer yards per game than Pittsburgh’s 237.2. They held their opponents to 10 or fewer points in eight games.
This defense racked up 51 sacks, with three players amassing at least 5.5 apiece.
| Player | Sacks | 2008 NFL Rank |
|---|---|---|
| James Harrison | 16 | T-4th |
| LaMarr Woodley | 11.5 | T-9th |
| Aaron Smith | 5.5 | T-36th |
James Harrison added 101 tackles, 7 forced fumbles, and an interception to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors. James Farrior racked up 133 tackles himself, good enough for sixth-most in the NFL that year. And Troy Polamalu’s seven interceptions were second in the league.
Three of the Steelers’ four losses came against teams who won at least 12 games during the regular season, including the Colts led by NFL MVP Peyton Manning. The other loss came against the fifth best defense on this list -- the Philadelphia Eagles -- in a game that saw the Steelers’ offense put up only six points. All four teams to defeat Pittsburgh had offenses ranked in the top half of the league in Adjusted NEP.
| Team | Record | Adj NEP | 2008 NFL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 12-4 | 157.12 | 2nd |
| Indianapolis Colts | 12-4 | 137.95 | 3rd |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9-6-1 | 54.79 | 13th |
| Tennessee Titans | 13-3 | 45.99 | 15th |
The Steelers’ dominance continued through the postseason, as they forced 8 turnovers in three playoff games en route to a Super Bowl victory.
