Washington’s defense allowed opposing quarterbacks to compile a 108.3 passer rating last year. That’s the 2nd-worst in NFL history, trailing only the 0-16 Lions of 2008. This was simply a terrible defense, and they also got hit with injuries.
So no surprise that Washington is starting over. Jim Haslett is gone, and they’re replacing him with Joe Barry. Barry was the linebackers coach in San Diego last year.
But I have to chuckle when I am reminded that Barry has been a defensive coordinator in the past. His last job? Detroit. In 2008.
The Lions fired Barry, so he didn’t get the chance to come back and fix that previously horrible pass defense. But he’ll get that opportunity this year.
Here are the 18 defenses all-time that have allowed passer ratings over 98. It’s getting easier to pass nowadays with rules changes, and I’ve got the 2014 teams in bold.
WORST PASSER RATINGS (Defenses) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Yd/G | Pct | TD | Int | Rating |
2008 | Detroit Lions | 244 | 68.4% | 25 | 4 | 110.9 |
2014 | Washington | 264 | 66.5% | 35 | 7 | 108.3 |
2011 | Minnesota Vikings | 273 | 68.2% | 34 | 8 | 107.6 |
1982 | Houston Oilers | 273 | 63.0% | 18 | 3 | 107.3 |
2009 | Detroit Lions | 275 | 68.1% | 35 | 9 | 107.0 |
2013 | Oakland Raiders | 272 | 68.1% | 33 | 9 | 105.1 |
1984 | Minnesota Vikings | 247 | 65.1% | 35 | 11 | 104.4 |
2011 | Indianapolis Colts | 239 | 71.2% | 25 | 8 | 103.9 |
2013 | Atlanta Falcons | 258 | 66.1% | 31 | 10 | 102.4 |
2014 | Chicago Bears | 279 | 66.8% | 34 | 14 | 101.7 |
2014 | New York Jets | 254 | 64.1% | 31 | 6 | 101.5 |
2005 | Tennessee Titans | 216 | 63.0% | 33 | 9 | 100.7 |
1981 | Baltimore Colts | 264 | 61.3% | 37 | 16 | 100.6 |
1996 | Atlanta Falcons | 247 | 62.3% | 26 | 6 | 100.6 |
2010 | Houston Texans | 281 | 64.7% | 33 | 13 | 100.5 |
2005 | Houston Texans | 233 | 64.8% | 24 | 7 | 100.0 |
2012 | Kansas City | 231 | 60.1% | 29 | 7 | 99.9 |
2002 | Cincinnati Bengals | 213 | 63.2% | 30 | 9 | 99.9 |
1999 | San Francisco 49ers | 268 | 60.8% | 36 | 13 | 99.8 |
2012 | Philadelphia Eagles | 229 | 60.2% | 33 | 8 | 99.6 |
2004 | Oakland Raiders | 257 | 61.8% | 30 | 9 | 99.4 |
2004 | Green Bay Packers | 246 | 60.6% | 33 | 8 | 99.1 |
2014 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 261 | 65.6% | 24 | 6 | 99.1 |
2013 | Minnesota Vikings | 304 | 64.7% | 37 | 12 | 98.6 |
2008 | Denver Broncos | 237 | 67.3% | 20 | 6 | 98.5 |
2010 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 262 | 65.0% | 28 | 13 | 98.5 |
2014 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 265 | 64.5% | 30 | 11 | 98.3 |
2011 | Carolina Panthers | 257 | 64.9% | 28 | 14 | 98.3 |
—Ian Allan