The 10 best defensive teams in the NFL
No. 6: San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers were better than the number six defense last season. However, some key injury loses may cause them to fall just short of being truly elite again this season. All world linebacker NaVorro Bowman is starting the season on the PUP list so the best case scenario for him would be to return in week seven. They lost their starting nose tackle Glenn Dorsey for the season during training camp as well. You add to that the fact that they had to overhaul their secondary this offseason, Justin Smith is getting up in age, and pass rusher Aldon Smith could be facing a possible suspension and suddenly things look a little shaky for this once dominant unit.
All hope is not lost though. The 49ers still have Patrick Willis roaming the middle of the field and a pretty decent supporting cast around him. If Bowman is able to come back and play like himself in the second half of the season and Aldon Smith’s “issues” are behind him at that point this defense could really start to come together heading down the home stretch of the season. If the new secondary can gel around safety Eric Reid this group should still be one of the better defenses in football, even if they fall a little short of their rivals in Seattle.