The 5 Best NFL Defenses Through Week 5

Seattle Seahawks

Adjusted Defensive NEP/P: -0.030 (5th)
Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP/P: 0.058 (12th)
Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP/P: -0.144 (2nd)

Surprise, surprise. Look who finds themselves in the top five of the league in defensive efficiency, once again.

What is a surprise, however, is that while this team is the league's fifth most efficient unit overall, owning the second most efficient defense against the rush, teams have actually had some success moving the ball against this team's secondary.

But "success" can be a relative term.

Seattle's defense still has the 12th most efficient defense against the pass this season and, with Kam Chancellor returning in Week 3 against the Bears, has shown signs of improvement in each week since then, holding Jimmy Clausen and Matthew Stafford to just 63 and 203 passing yards, respectively.

And while Richard Sherman and company showed a few chinks in the armor in Week 5 against Andy Dalton, surrendering 331 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns to the Bengals' quarterback, they did generate a fumble for a touchdown, an interception, and four sacks on the day.

While this unit may not be at the same elite level that led them to a Super Bowl title in 2013, and may be without All Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner for potentially a few weeks, it still has enough playmakers to continue to be a top-tier unit in this league.