Factoid
Pittsburgh and San Francisco each allowed under 15 points per game last year. With scoring production at an all-time high, that’s remarkable.
While both of those defenses rank just outside the top 30 all-time in fewer points allowed (in a 16-game season), when you account for how good offenses are nowadays, they were pretty special.
Both Pittsburgh and San Francisco rank in the top 14 when their points allowed are viewed relative to other defenses in the league.
The No. 1 defense of all time (at least in a 16-game schedule) still clearly looks like the Baltimore Ravens of 2000. They not only allowed a record-low 165 points, but that was slightly less than half of the league average that year – way below any other defense of the last 30-plus years.
Fewest Points Allowed (relative to league average)
Pts Avg Pct Year
165 330.8 50% 2000 Baltimore Ravens
196 346.8 57% 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
187 328.3 57% 1986 Chicago Bears
198 344.5 57% 1985 Chicago Bears
191 330.8 58% 2000 Tennessee Titans
201 330.5 61% 2006 Baltimore Ravens
202 329.9 61% 2005 Chicago Bears
203 323.4 63% 2001 Chicago Bears
204 324.1 63% 1994 Cleveland Browns
223 352.3 63% 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers
227 354.9 64% 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers
210 326.8 64% 1996 Green Bay Packers
208 323.4 64% 2001 Philadelphia Eagles
229 354.9 65% 2011 San Francisco 49ers
217 333.0 65% 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars
211 322.0 66% 1990 New York Giants
212 323.4 66% 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers
232 352.7 66% 2010 Pittsburgh Steelers
215 324.1 66% 1988 Chicago Bears
234 352.3 66% 2008 Tennessee Titans
195 293.3 66% 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers
218 326.8 67% 1996 Carolina Panthers
221 330.8 67% 1981 Philadelphia Eagles
227 339.4 67% 1984 San Francisco 49ers
202 299.7 67% 1992 New Orleans Saints
198 293.3 68% 1978 Denver Broncos
222 327.8 68% 1980 Philadelphia Eagles
233 343.3 68% 2009 New York Jets
240 352.7 68% 2010 Green Bay Packers
226 330.8 68% 2000 Miami Dolphins
—Ian Allan
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