Fantasy Index

Factoid

Sack happy defenses

When looking at fantasy defenses, there's a lot to be said for simply chasing sacks. Get after the quarterback successfully and you'll generally come away with not only sacks but turnovers on rushed passes or disrupted plays. Interceptions, fumbles, defensive touchdowns -- they don't always follow, statistically, but it's nice to take your chances with a defense that can harass opposing quarterbacks.

Over the last 20 years, 44 defenses have recorded at least 50 sacks -- so, an average of just over 2 per season. Two of the top 10 performances in that time period came last year: Carolina (60) and Buffalo (57). There have been offseason changes and preseason injuries affecting those teams, but we expect them to be among the league leaders in sacks yet again.

All of the 50-sack seasons by defenses in the last 20 years are presented below, with 2013 teams in bold.

50-SACK SEASONS, 1994-2013
YearTeamSack
2000New Orleans66
2006San Diego61
2013Carolina60
2006Baltimore60
1996Carolina60
2008Dallas59
1997New Orleans59
2013Buffalo57
1999St. Louis57
1999Jacksonville57
2002Philadelphia56
2001Pittsburgh55
2000Tampa Bay55
2000Tennessee55
1997Atlanta55
1994Pittsburgh55
1999Tennessee54
1998NY Giants54
1997NY Giants54
1997San Francisco54
1997Kansas City54
2013St. Louis53
2007NY Giants53
2001New Orleans53
1998Seattle53
2012Denver52
2012St. Louis52
2002Carolina52
2001Green Bay52
2012Cincinnati51
2008Pittsburgh51
2000St. Louis51
2000Kansas City51
1998San Francisco51
1996Pittsburgh51
2011Philadelphia50
2011Minnesota50
2005Seattle50
2002Pittsburgh50
2000Philadelphia50
1999Detroit50
1999Denver50
1998St. Louis50
1998Green Bay50

--Andy Richardson

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