Engine of Pressure: How the Pass Rush Drives NFL Defenses Success
The pass rush is the most crucial part of the defense. Being able to shut down a quarterback or running back before the play develops is huge. As highlighted in part one, no other player embodies this more than Myles Garrett. Garrett is having a phenomenal season, but he isn’t the only one. Several teams have spent big on their push rush, and the fruits of their labor are finally coming to fruition.
New York Giants
The Giants have silently built one of the best defensive lines in the league. Often overlooked because of their consistently lackluster offense, the Giants' defense is having a phenomenal season. Starting with the 2022 NFL Draft, they took Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth overall pick. Then, in the 2024 offseason, they went big, managing to land one of the hottest free agents, Brian Burns. To cap off their overhauled defense, they drafted Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, together, they form a three-headed monster wreaking havoc on quarterbacks. The Giants rank ninth in the league for quarterback pressures at 118. The three-headed monster accounts for 93 of 118 pressures on its own. Individually, they are performing spectacularly as well, with Burns leading the way. The former Panther is leading the league in sacks with 11, paired with 42 tackles. Thibodeaux is finally coming into his own, with 22 tackles and two sacks. Rounding out the three-headed monster is the rookie Carter. Carter leads them in pressures with 34, 22 tackles, but no sacks. The sacks will come as he continues to get to quarterbacks. Currently, the former Nittany Lion is the frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He absolutely deserves it and, barring an injury, has it in the bag.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks' pass rush is fierce. Currently, they rank third in the league in quarterback pressures, with 140; they pressure quarterbacks at an astounding 40%. Unlike the Giants, the Seahawks are spread out with their pass rushers. The mastermind behind the defensive resurgence is head coach Mike Macdonald. The longtime Ravens coach took full advantage of his big shot in 2022 when he took over as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator. Since taking over the Seahawks in 2024, he has made full use of the personnel he inherited and the players he drafted. Five players have over 20 quarterback pressures. An outlandish number, these five players are the key to the Seahawks' defense. Leading the charge is long-time Seahawk, Uchenna Nwosu, and second-year player Byron Murphy. Both of them also lead the team in sacks with five each. Rounding out this stellar line are DeMarcus Lawrence, Leonard Williams, and Boye Mafe. This unit is ruthless and is deadly efficient. The defense as a whole has its struggles, but the pass rush is its saving grace, making it one of the best in the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have been a long-standing force on defense and are only improving their status as a stalwart. Following up from a deep playoff run in 2024, the Bucs' pass rush has been stellar this season. The Bucs aren’t as top-heavy as the Giants, but they aren’t as widespread as the Seahawks. YaYa Diaby leads the way in his third year. After a second-year breakout, the former Cardinal is building upon this with a strong season, leading the Bucs with 33 quarterback pressures, four sacks, and a 15% pressure rate. Alongside Diaby are long-time NFL veterans Haason Reddick and Vita Vea. Reddick and Vea have 25 and 19 pressures, respectively. Rounding out the pass rush are Elijah Roberts, Anthony Nelson, and SirVocea Dennis, each with 10 or more pressures. Together with a solid secondary, this defense is scary. The Bucs are poised for another deep playoff run, and their pass rush is going to get them there.
Conclusion
The pass rush will continue to have the most impact on defense. Teams will always pay big for top-end pass rushers as they continue to break the market. The teams highlighted here aren’t even the best in the league; that's just how deep the pass rush has gotten. I am excited to see how the rest of the season plays out and who will separate themselves from the pack.
