Jared Goff is tough to figure today. He’s been pretty awful, but he’s playing against a defense that’s on pace to allow the most passing production in NFL history. Seemingly anybody playing against the Cardinals has a chance at 300-plus yards and multiple touchdowns.
If you like bad pass defense, in fact, it’s been your year. The Cardinals, Bucs and Raiders are all on pace to finish with bottom-5 pass defenses of all time. The Lions and Dolphins aren’t far behind, and even the Texans and Jets if you want to dive a little deeper. There are a lot of defenses this year giving up huge amounts of passing yards and touchdowns.
If we suppose 6 points for TD passes and 1 for every 10 yards, the Cardinals right now are on pace to be the worst ever. On the chart below, I’m showing only the teams since 2000 to make it more manageable.
WORST PASS DEFENSES SINCE 2000 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Yards | TDP | Pts |
2019 | Arizona | 316 | 2.64 | 47.4 |
2015 | New Orleans | 297 | 2.81 | 46.6 |
2019 | Tampa Bay | 309 | 2.36 | 45.1 |
2013 | Minnesota | 304 | 2.31 | 44.3 |
2019 | Oakland | 285 | 2.36 | 42.7 |
2013 | Dallas | 302 | 2.06 | 42.6 |
2015 | NY Giants | 308 | 1.94 | 42.4 |
2012 | Tampa Bay | 309 | 1.88 | 42.2 |
2012 | New Orleans | 305 | 1.94 | 42.1 |
2011 | Green Bay | 312 | 1.81 | 42.1 |
2019 | Detroit | 293 | 2.08 | 41.8 |
2015 | Philadelphia | 282 | 2.25 | 41.7 |
2012 | Washington | 295 | 1.94 | 41.1 |
2011 | New England | 311 | 1.63 | 40.9 |
2016 | Green Bay | 288 | 2.00 | 40.8 |
2018 | Kansas City | 295 | 1.88 | 40.8 |
2018 | Cincinnati | 287 | 2.00 | 40.7 |
2009 | Detroit | 275 | 2.19 | 40.6 |
2014 | Chicago | 279 | 2.13 | 40.6 |
2015 | Washington | 274 | 2.19 | 40.6 |
2010 | Houston | 281 | 2.06 | 40.5 |
2019 | Miami | 261 | 2.36 | 40.3 |
2018 | New Orleans | 289 | 1.88 | 40.1 |
2018 | Tampa Bay | 274 | 2.13 | 40.1 |
2013 | Philadelphia | 307 | 1.56 | 40.0 |
2015 | Pittsburgh | 291 | 1.81 | 40.0 |
2011 | Minnesota | 273 | 2.13 | 40.0 |
2014 | Philadelphia | 287 | 1.88 | 40.0 |
At the other end of the spectrum, with the kind of passing numbers that are being put up, it only makes the defensive work of the Patriots and 49ers more impressive. They’re shutting down passing games like no other defense has in the last 10 years.
Here are the best pass defenses of the last 20 years. For the 2019 seasons, the next one that shows up would be Buffalo (currently sitting at 52nd).
BEST PASS DEFENSES SINCE 2000 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Yards | TDP | Pts |
2009 | NY Jets | 169 | .50 | 19.9 |
2019 | New England | 181 | .36 | 20.3 |
2000 | Tennessee | 173 | .63 | 21.0 |
2002 | Tampa Bay | 174 | .63 | 21.2 |
2008 | Indianapolis | 201 | .38 | 22.3 |
2008 | Pittsburgh | 179 | .75 | 22.4 |
2000 | Washington | 182 | .75 | 22.7 |
2006 | Oakland | 164 | 1.06 | 22.8 |
2019 | San Francisco | 169 | 1.00 | 22.9 |
2006 | Indianapolis | 169 | 1.00 | 22.9 |
2005 | Chicago | 197 | .63 | 23.4 |
2003 | Cleveland | 191 | .81 | 23.9 |
2000 | Baltimore | 198 | .69 | 24.0 |
2011 | Pittsburgh | 186 | .94 | 24.3 |
2007 | Indianapolis | 183 | 1.00 | 24.3 |
2004 | Pittsburgh | 191 | .88 | 24.4 |
2003 | Dallas | 176 | 1.13 | 24.4 |
2003 | Tampa Bay | 184 | 1.00 | 24.4 |
2001 | Philadelphia | 197 | .81 | 24.5 |
2000 | Philadelphia | 205 | .69 | 24.6 |
2000 | Miami | 198 | .81 | 24.7 |
2005 | NY Jets | 184 | 1.06 | 24.8 |
2009 | Buffalo | 196 | .88 | 24.9 |
2016 | Denver | 200 | .81 | 24.9 |
2006 | Jacksonville | 205 | .75 | 25.0 |
2013 | Seattle | 191 | 1.00 | 25.1 |
2001 | NY Jets | 198 | .88 | 25.1 |
2007 | Tampa Bay | 183 | 1.13 | 25.1 |
2004 | Miami | 176 | 1.25 | 25.1 |
2003 | Buffalo | 184 | 1.13 | 25.1 |
—Ian Allan