https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2020/2019-defeats
2019 Defeats.
Football Outsiders
Our look back at 2019 data continues today with a look at defeats, one of our favorite stats for defensive players. We have lots of statistics to measure quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, even kickers, but our numbers for individual defensive players are a lot more limited. Defeats are one way to account for defenders who make frequent appearances on highlight reels. As a reminder, a defender is credited with a defeat any time he makes one of the following plays:
A tackle that results in a loss of yardage, including sacks.
Any play that results in a turnover, including tipped passes which are then intercepted.
Any tackle or tipped pass that leads to a stop on third or fourth down.
The Steelers made 203 total defeats, tied with the Buffalo Bills for most in the league. The Bills were especially effective against the pass, where they led the NFL with 138 pass defeats. The only Buffalo defender to come up in conversation so far has been Tre'Davious White, but defensive linemen Jordan Phillips and Ed Oliver; edge rusher Shaq Lawson; linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano; and safety Jordan Poyer each made the leaderboards at their positions too. (The Rams also had seven players in the leaderboards, but still barely made the top 10 in team totals.)
No defense had more run defeats than the Jets, who had 85. We have barely talked about the Jets so far, but safety Jamal Adams (11 run defeats), linebacker James Burgess (10), and defensive lineman Kyle Phillips (nine) were their leaders against the run. They might have had more names rank higher as individuals if their front seven hadn't been ravaged by injuries.
In last place, we have the Oakland Raiders with 81 pass defeats; the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins tied with 39 run defeats; and the Detroit Lions with 124 total defeats.
