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Making a point

Charting the NFL's all-time stingiest defenses

With their 34-20 win against the New York Jets, the Baltimore Ravens broke single-season record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season. How do the Ravens stack up against some of the other top defenses? Here's a comparison of the NFL's stingiest defenses since the league expanded the schedule in 1978.

2000 Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis has more than 100 tackles for the 5th year in a row. Doug Pensinger/Allsport

Charting the Ravens POINTS ALLOWED   165   Yards Allowed/Game  247.9  Shutouts   4  Most points allowed  36 (JAX)  Sacks  34  Interceptions  23  Fumbles Recovered  26  Turnover Margin  +24  Team Record  12-4  Team Finish  ??????

1986 Chicago Bears

Mike Singletary was the heart and soul of the Bears defense. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport

Charting the Bears POINTS ALLOWED   187   Yards Allowed/Game  258.1  Shutouts   1  Most points allowed  31 (CLE)  Sacks  62  Interceptions  31  Fumbles Recovered  16  Turnover Margin  +10  Team Record  14-3  Team Finish  L Divisional

1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

Joe Greene is one of four Hall of Famers on the '78 defense. Scott Cunningham/Allsport

Charting the Steelers POINTS ALLOWED   195   Yards Allowed/Game  260.5  Shutouts   0  Most points allowed  24 (twice)  Sacks  44  Interceptions  27  Fumbles Recovered  21  Turnover Margin  +9  Team Record  17-2  Team Finish  Won S.B.

1978 Denver Broncos

Steve Foley, Denver's all-time INT leader, had six picks in '78. David Cannon/Allsport

Charting the Broncos POINTS ALLOWED   198   Yards Allowed/Game  278.0  Shutouts   0  Most points allowed  31 (NYJ)  Sacks  30  Interceptions  31  Fumbles Recovered  13  Turnover Margin  +10  Team Record  10-7  Team Finish  L Divisional

1985 Chicago Bears

Defensive end Richard Dent led the NFL with 17 sacks in '85. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport

Charting the Bears POINTS ALLOWED   198   Yards Allowed/Game  258.4  Shutouts   2  Most points allowed  38 (MIA)  Sacks  64  Interceptions  34  Fumbles Recovered  20  Turnover Margin  +22  Team Record  18-1  Team Finish  Won S.B.

1992 New Orleans Saints

Rickey Jackson was one of three '92 Saints with 10 or more sacks. Stephen Dunn/Allsport

Charting the Saints POINTS ALLOWED   202   Yards Allowed/Game  254.2  Shutouts   1  Most points allowed  21 (3 tms)  Sacks  57  Interceptions  18  Fumbles Recovered  20  Turnover Margin  +9  Team Record  12-5  Team Finish  L Wildcard

1994 Cleveland Browns

Safety Eric Turner had nine of the Browns' 18 INTs in '94. Stephen Dunn/Allsport

Charting the Browns POINTS ALLOWED   204   Yards Allowed/Game  301.6  Shutouts   1  Most points allowed  26 (DEN)  Sacks  38  Interceptions  18  Fumbles Recovered  13  Turnover Margin  -2  Team Record  12-6  Team Finish  L Divisional

1993 New York Giants

L.T. and the Giants allowed more than 20 points only once. T.G. Higgins/Allsport

Charting the Giants POINTS ALLOWED   205   Yards Allowed/Game  291.4  Shutouts   0  Most points allowed  31 (DAL)  Sacks  41  Interceptions  18  Fumbles Recovered  10  Turnover Margin  +11  Team Record  12-6  Team Finish  L Divisional

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