The NFL season might still be a few months away, but that does not stop people from making projections. Defense can help teams win a lot of games, earn a lot of points in fantasy football 2013 and make deep runs in the playoffs, so it comes as no surprise that these three teams are all projected to make the playoffs. Here’s an early look at what makes these three the best.
San Francisco 49ers
With just one starter gone from a team that was the third best defense in 2012, the 49ers appear to be more than ready to stop teams from scoring. Their front seven is the best in the NFL, and their balance to stop both the run and the pass makes them hard to get any rhythm on. Eric Reid is a nice piece they picked up in the draft, meaning they could even step up another level in 2013.
Seattle Seahawks
Much like last season, the Seahawks and 49ers will be neck and neck in the NFC West as far as defenses are concerned. Cliff Avril, Antoine Wingfield and Tony McDaniel are the three new faces to the team who are expected to start, and Wingfield is coming off a season in which he was rated as the top cornerback in the game. Seattle is great, but the balance of San Francisco gives them a slight edge right now.
Cincinnati Bengals
The final spot came down to Denver and Cincinnati, but the addition of James Harrison puts Cincinnati slightly ahead at this point. Basically everyone else returns for a team that was nearly top five a season ago. There is always something to be said when it comes to stability, and Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer have clearly defined the roles for each starter on this team. After failing to take that leap and become true Super Bowl contenders, Cincinnati’s defense will help them get to that point this season.
