Since it is difficult to quantify value for defenses aside from defensive touchdowns and considering the varying ways individual leagues score defense, I assigned a point total to each defense based on last season, while rankings reflect potential for 2009.

For each sack, fumble recovered or interception I assigned one point and then added them to get a final number. Defensive TD (DTD) are listed separately. How important is a defensive TD in the NFL? In 2008 when a defensive unit scored a TD, that team won that game 76% of the time.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers - 80 (3)

2. Baltimore Ravens - 68 (6)

3. New York Giants - 64 (2)

4. Minnesota Vikings - 70 (2)

5. New York Jets - 71 (5)

6. San Diego Chargers - 52 (3)

7. Chicago Bears - 60 (3)

8. Philadelphia Eagles - 77 (5)

9. Green Bay Packers- 55 (7)

10. Tennessee Titans - 75 (3)

11. New England Patriots - 53 (0)

12. Dallas Cowboys - 81 (1)

13. Arizona Cardinals - 61 (3)

14. Carolina Panthers - 62 (2)

15. Washington Redskins - 42 (0)

16. Miami Dolphins - 70 (2)

17. Indianapolis Colts - 56 (4)

18. Atlanta Falcons - 52 (2)

19. Buffalo Bills - 46 (3)

20. Houston Texans - 47 (1)

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 59 (7)

22. Seattle Seahawks - 55 (3)

23. Jacksonville Jaguars - 52 (3)

24. San Francisco 49ers - 48 (4)

25. Oakland Raiders - 55 (5)

26. Detroit Lions - 51 (1)

27. Cincinnati Bengals - 41 (3)

28. New Orleans Saints - 50 (3)

29. Cleveland Browns - 49 (3)

30. Kansas City Chiefs - 39 (3)

31. St. Louis Rams - 56 (1)

32. Denver Broncos - 38 (2)