NFL Defenses Are Broken

NFL defenses got so obsessed with stopping the pass that they broke something else and offenses are about to expose it. For years, teams drafted smaller, faster linebackers to stop the passing game cuz that's where the league was trending. And that worked in coverage, but it opened a new weakness. Those lighter defenses are much easier to attack on the ground. And this shift has already started. Offenses are using more tight ends, extra offensive lineman, and multiple running backs. In 2025, defenses used heavier personnel on nearly 30% of snaps, which is the highest rate we have seen in years.

But, the biggest indicator for me came from teams that were still playing in January. Seattle could lean on Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The Rams had Blake Corum and Kyren Williams. And the Patriots had Rhamondre Stevenson and Trayveon Henderson. And let's be honest, the NFL is not going to stop passing, but teams are going to punish defenses that got too small trying to defend it. And this is one of the biggest NFL trends that I'll be tracking this season through Data Streak. Link's in my bio.

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