NFL Power Ranking: Five Best Defenses in NFL History

2 of 6

Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; A general view of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet on the field at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

5. 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stats: 252.8 yards allowed per game, 12.2 points allowed per game

We kick things off with a defense that carried the Tampa Bay franchise to the biggest moment in franchise history. The Buccaneers franchise is stocked with embarrassing moments and loads of losses, but the 2002 edition erased those ugly moments for a season at least.

More from NFL Mocks

A unit with Hall-of-Famers including LB Derrick Brooks and DT Warren Sapp, guys on the cusp of being Hall-of-Famers in SS John Lynch and CB Ronde Barber and key role players such as DE Simeon Rice, LB Shelton Quarles, and FS Dexter Jackson.

That Bucs team held seven regular season opponents to nine points or less and allowed only 37 points during the entire playoffs. Not to mention one of the best performances in Super Bowl history with five interceptions, with three of them being returned for touchdowns.

That same Bucs team totaled seven games during the regular season in which they forced at least three turnovers and also forced 13 turnovers in their three playoff games. Simply put, this defensive unit made you forget about the creamsicle jerseys of the 70s and 80s along with the countless losing seasons. While also earning a level of respectability.

Next: Purple People Eaters

Home/NFL Hot Takes