While the Redskins' defense has gained plenty of attention for its second-overall ranking in the NFL, many of its other accomplishments have gone overlooked. It continues to lead the NFL is average yards per play allowing, yielding just 4.38, and is suffocating against the run, holding teams to a league-low 3.1 yards per carry.
However, they have also allowed just seven rushing touchdowns through 14 games and no run longer than 26 yards. They have not allowed an opponent to score over 17 points in the last four games and have allowed the fewest first downs in the NFL. They are also holding opponents to converting just 29.9 percent of third-down opportunities, second best in the league, and they are holding opposing passers to a miserable rating of 60.8. To put that mark in perspective, former Redskins backup quarterback Mark Brunell, who completed less than 50 percent of his passes with just seven touchdown and six interceptions in his nine starts and averaged just 133 yards passing per game, still posted a rating of 63.9, which was worst in the NFL.
Washington has not allowed a 300 yard passer all season and only four teams have run for over 100 net yards on them thus far. Only twice this season has an opponent averaged over 4.0 yards per carry in a game. For as much criticism as the Redskins' passing game has absorbed this season, the club has still thrown 15 touchdown passes this season; the defense has allowed only 14.
-- Jason LaCanfora
