NFL Third Down Defense Rankings 2026

All 32 NFL teams ranked on third-down conversion rate allowed for the 2026 regular season, 1st to 32nd, with every other defense stat and its league rank beside it. The Chicago Bears lead the league in third-down conversion rate allowed at 22.8%; the Dallas Cowboys rank last at 48.3%.

RankTeamPoints Allowed / GTotal Yds Allowed / GPass Yds Allowed / GYds / Att AllowedRush Yds Allowed / G3rd Down % AllowedTakeawaysSacks
1Chicago Bears20.4 (9th)326.7 (9th)235.6 (15th)8.2 (32nd)91.1 (6th)22.8% (1st)13 (6th)26 (4th)
2Seattle Seahawks18 (4th)257.9 (1st)168.8 (1st)5.5 (1st)89.1 (4th)30.6% (2nd)13 (5th)21 (13th)
3Minnesota Vikings14.5 (1st)305.8 (4th)186.9 (2nd)6.4 (5th)118.9 (18th)31.2% (3rd)13 (8th)29 (2nd)
4Los Angeles Rams20.1 (8th)312.9 (5th)209.1 (4th)6.4 (8th)103.8 (14th)31.6% (4th)10 (19th)16 (24th)
5Indianapolis Colts27.7 (30th)375.3 (26th)238.3 (17th)8.1 (30th)137 (30th)32.4% (5th)6 (31st)19 (16th)
6Jacksonville Jaguars15.1 (2nd)327.6 (10th)238.4 (18th)7.3 (21st)89.3 (5th)34% (6th)15 (3rd)16 (25th)
7Pittsburgh Steelers18 (5th)325.9 (8th)242 (22nd)6.9 (14th)83.9 (3rd)34.3% (7th)13 (7th)26 (6th)
8Los Angeles Chargers27.4 (28th)352.6 (18th)230.6 (12th)7.9 (26th)122 (20th)34.3% (8th)12 (11th)13 (30th)
9Tampa Bay Buccaneers19.8 (7th)305.8 (3rd)226.7 (11th)6.6 (10th)79.1 (1st)34.5% (9th)21 (1st)17 (21st)
10Kansas City Chiefs17.9 (3rd)318 (7th)220.5 (7th)6.4 (6th)97.5 (10th)36.7% (10th)11 (18th)14 (29th)
11New York Giants21.5 (12th)312.9 (6th)189.3 (3rd)6 (2nd)123.6 (21st)37.3% (11th)10 (21st)16 (27th)
12New England Patriots23 (15th)347.3 (16th)250.7 (26th)7.9 (25th)96.7 (9th)38% (12th)8 (25th)25 (9th)
13Buffalo Bills23.4 (16th)344.4 (15th)252.8 (27th)6.7 (12th)91.6 (7th)38.6% (13th)12 (10th)17 (19th)
14Houston Texans24 (18th)360 (23rd)257 (30th)7.4 (22nd)103 (13th)38.7% (14th)8 (27th)29 (1st)
15Baltimore Ravens26.2 (25th)341.8 (14th)241.9 (21st)7.6 (23rd)99.9 (11th)39% (15th)9 (23rd)17 (20th)
16Cleveland Browns21.8 (13th)350.8 (17th)220.2 (6th)6.7 (11th)130.6 (27th)39.4% (16th)12 (14th)26 (7th)
17Washington Commanders25.3 (24th)358.3 (21st)256 (29th)6.9 (15th)102.3 (12th)40% (17th)12 (13th)17 (22nd)
18San Francisco 49ers19.5 (6th)303.8 (2nd)222.9 (9th)6.4 (3rd)80.9 (2nd)40.4% (18th)12 (9th)15 (28th)
19Philadelphia Eagles24.6 (19th)365 (24th)238.9 (19th)7.2 (17th)126.1 (24th)40.6% (19th)5 (32nd)16 (26th)
20Arizona Cardinals28.3 (31st)352.6 (19th)230.7 (13th)8 (29th)121.9 (19th)40.7% (20th)8 (28th)19 (17th)
21Denver Broncos20.7 (10th)374.2 (25th)249.9 (25th)6.5 (9th)124.3 (23rd)41.2% (21st)12 (15th)26 (8th)
22Green Bay Packers21.2 (11th)340.9 (13th)231.9 (14th)6.4 (7th)109 (15th)41.7% (22nd)19 (2nd)26 (5th)
23New York Jets24.8 (21st)340.1 (12th)212.1 (5th)7.1 (16th)128 (26th)42.3% (23rd)10 (20th)22 (12th)
24Atlanta Falcons24.8 (20th)360 (22nd)241.2 (20th)6.8 (13th)118.8 (17th)42.6% (24th)9 (22nd)20 (14th)
25Tennessee Titans24.9 (22nd)396.9 (31st)272.8 (31st)8 (27th)124.1 (22nd)43.6% (25th)11 (17th)20 (15th)
26Las Vegas Raiders29.8 (32nd)399.9 (32nd)248.7 (24th)8 (28th)151.2 (32nd)44% (26th)14 (4th)19 (18th)
27Detroit Lions23.6 (17th)377.3 (28th)283.1 (32nd)7.2 (19th)94.1 (8th)44.4% (27th)8 (26th)27 (3rd)
28New Orleans Saints27 (27th)389.5 (30th)255.6 (28th)7.8 (24th)133.9 (29th)47.2% (28th)9 (24th)23 (11th)
29Miami Dolphins25 (23rd)336.4 (11th)224.6 (10th)8.1 (31st)111.8 (16th)47.4% (29th)7 (30th)12 (31st)
30Cincinnati Bengals21.9 (14th)375.3 (27th)248.6 (23rd)7.3 (20th)126.6 (25th)47.5% (30th)12 (12th)23 (10th)
31Carolina Panthers27.4 (29th)355.1 (20th)221.8 (8th)6.4 (4th)133.4 (28th)47.7% (31st)11 (16th)12 (32nd)
32Dallas Cowboys26.2 (26th)384.4 (29th)237 (16th)7.2 (18th)147.4 (31st)48.3% (32nd)8 (29th)17 (23rd)

NFL defense rankings · NFL total defense rankings · NFL pass defense rankings · NFL yards per pass allowed rankings · NFL run defense rankings · NFL takeaway rankings · NFL sack rankings · NFL offense rankings · NFL special teams rankings · NFL team rankings

Frequently asked questions

Which NFL defense is best on third down in 2026?

The Bears, 1st in third-down conversion rate allowed at 22.8%, then the Seahawks (30.6%) and the Vikings (31.2%).

Which NFL defense is worst on third down in 2026?

The Cowboys, last of 32 in third-down conversion rate allowed at 48.3%, then the Panthers (47.7%).

How are the NFL third down defense rankings worked out?

Each team is ranked 1 to 32 on every stat from its regular-season games: the most of a good number and the fewest of a bad one rank first, so the fewest yards allowed and the most sacks both rank 1st.

Can I see the NFL third down defense rankings for past seasons?

Yes: choose the season at the top of the table, back to the earliest season we hold.

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