Dominant defenses have carried some
NFL teams this season
[November 21, 2025]
By ROB MAADD
Dominant defenses still can carry teams in the NFL.
The Houston Texans proved it again Thursday night with another
smothering performance against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in a
23-19 victory.
Despite allowing the Bills to convert a fourth-and-27 on a perfectly
executed hook-and-lateral play in the final minute, Houston’s
defense tightened up and held at their own 17.
The Texans (6-5) are back in the playoff picture with three straight
wins behind backup quarterback Davis Mills, who has filled in for
C.J. Stroud while he recovers from a concussion.
A stingy defense has helped Houston overcome an 0-3 start. The
Texans entered Week 12 leading the NFL in scoring defense (16.3
points per game) and overall defense (258.1 yards).
Special teams gave up a kickoff return touchdown so Houston’s
defense held the Bills to 13 points. Buffalo was averaging 29.2,
tied for third-best in the NFL.
Allen was sacked a career-high eight times and never looked
comfortable being chased by a fierce pass rush.
“Just the defense staying disciplined, keeping him contained in the
pocket and we did a good job,” said Danielle Hunter, who had two
sacks.
Just four days after Allen had six touchdowns — three passing and
three rushing — in a 44-32 win over Tampa Bay, the Texans frustrated
the reigning NFL MVP throughout the game. He threw two interceptions
and didn’t have any TDs.
“Everybody hunted tonight,” said Will Anderson Jr., who had 2 1/2
sacks and batted down a pass on third-and-1 from the 17 that would
have gone for a first down and perhaps a score. “We were talking
about being relentless, empty the tank. We got a long break.
Everybody give it all you got.”
Houston’s performance was reminiscent of Philadelphia’s dominant
defensive effort against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs
in the Super Bowl nine months ago.
The Eagles have carried that defensive success over into this
season. They just beat the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in
consecutive games while scoring just 26 points because the defense
allowed one touchdown and three field goals.
The Texans have held nine opponents to 20 points or less this
season.
“When you have a defense like that, you’re in every game so you have
to take advantage of your opportunities and play a clean game,”
Mills said.
Quarterbacks make the most money, wide receivers get much of the
attention and offenses grab the headlines.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is sacked by Houston
Texans linebacker Henry To'oTo'o (39) in the second half of an NFL
football game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley
Landis)
But defenses still win games.
The top 16 teams in scoring defense each have a winning record.
Eight of the top 10 teams in overall defense have a winning record.
The Denver Broncos are 9-2 despite an inconsistent offense because
they have a ferocious defense that’s third in yards (274.4) and
scoring (17.5).
They just held Mahomes and the Chiefs to 311 yards in a 22-19
victory last week.
“They just play hard and tough,” Broncos QB Bo Nix said about his
team’s defense. “I think you can just take a few drives; they may
give up an explosive, miss out on a tough penalty, but they bow up.
If you’re going to get in the red zone, we’re going to keep you to a
field goal. If you struggle, if we get you behind the sticks, you’re
going to have to punt. V.J. (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph), he
does a great job with the scheme and then our guys play well in that
scheme. They just play really hard and they’re resilient. I think
they’re really confident and they know that they are good. They know
that they can rely on the front and our guys just get after the
quarterback, and it makes it tough on the opposing team.”
The 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens are top
examples of teams that relied on defense to win Super Bowls. There’s
also the Pittsburgh Steelers and the “Steel Curtain” defenses in the
1970s that won four Super Bowls. The New England Patriots won three
of their first six Super Bowl titles with Tom Brady on the strength
of Bill Belichick’s defense.
The 2013 Seattle Seahawks and the “Legion of Boom” defense held
Denver’s record-setting offense led by Peyton Manning to just eight
points. The 2015 Broncos with Manning became champions thanks to
their defense. The 1990 New York Giants are another example.
Football has evolved over the years. Rules have changed to protect
players and help offenses score more points to make games more
exciting.
Still, it’s tough to beat a nasty defense.
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