Last Monday , I provided some initial thoughts on the relative values of completion and passing first down percentage. The next day , I looked at how teams with disparate performances in those two metrics. And last Wednesday , I looked at the best passing offenses in NFL history in first down rate on passing plays.

Today? A look at the best pass defenses at preventing first downs. This time, I am also going to era adjust these ratings. In 1969, the Vikings faced 459 pass plays (410 pass attempts, 49 sacks) but allowed only 88 passing first downs. That’s a remarkable rate of just 19.2%, the best since World War II. It’s also the best rate on an era-adjusted basis. The league average in the NFL in 1969 was 29.0%, which means this iteration of the Purple People Eaters was 9.8% better than league average, the highest differential ever.

Rk Tm Year 1D Pass Pass Att Sk 1D/PP LgAvg Diff 1 MIN 1969 88 410 49 19.2% 29% -9.8% 2 GNB 1963 87 378 39 20.9% 29.5% -8.6% 3 MIN 1971 88 405 27 20.4% 28.1% -7.7% 4 NYJ 2009 128 501 32 24% 31.7% -7.7% 5 PHI 1954 84 345 43 21.6% 29.3% -7.6% 6 OAK 1967 103 459 67 19.6% 27.2% -7.6% 7 GNB 1962 94 355 42 23.7% 30.9% -7.3% 8 PIT 1975 97 396 43 22.1% 29.2% -7.1% 9 PIT 1974 83 339 52 21.2% 28.3% -7.1% 10 ATL 1977 76 320 42 21% 28% -7% 11.5 GNB 1967 78 337 29 21.3% 28.2% -6.8% 11.5 RAM 1967 104 445 43 21.3% 28.2% -6.8% 13 TAM 2002 131 510 43 23.7% 30.5% -6.8% 14 PHI 1949 68 303 45 19.5% 26.3% -6.8% 15 CHI 1984 122 435 72 24.1% 30.7% -6.7% 16 MIA 1973 78 322 45 21.3% 27.9% -6.6% 17 CLE 1954 73 300 22 22.7% 29.3% -6.6% 18 DEN 2004 130 484 38 24.9% 31.5% -6.6% 19 MIN 1970 89 367 49 21.4% 27.9% -6.5% 20 CHI 1958 84 327 47 22.5% 28.9% -6.4% 21 PHI 2008 144 525 48 25.1% 31.5% -6.4% 22 DEN 2015 162 573 52 25.9% 32.3% -6.4% 23 CHI 1962 101 363 48 24.6% 30.9% -6.4% 24 BAL 2000 135 528 35 24% 30.3% -6.3% 25 TAM 1999 144 573 43 23.4% 29.7% -6.3% 26 MIN 1975 93 360 46 22.9% 29.2% -6.3% 27 TAM 1979 111 436 40 23.3% 29.6% -6.2% 28 CHI 1985 141 522 64 24.1% 30.3% -6.2% 29 DET 1962 105 367 57 24.8% 30.9% -6.2% 30 PIT 2008 149 533 51 25.5% 31.5% -6% 31 DET 1976 76 313 28 22.3% 28.2% -6% 32 ATL 1978 113 444 47 23% 29% -5.9% 33 DAL 2003 127 492 32 24.2% 30.2% -5.9% 34 WAS 1991 151 548 50 25.3% 31.2% -5.9% 35 MIN 1989 140 488 71 25% 30.9% -5.9% 36 RAM 1980 141 510 56 24.9% 30.7% -5.8% 37 DAL 1977 94 370 53 22.2% 28% -5.8% 38 OAK 1969 107 422 47 22.8% 28.6% -5.8% 39 STL 1966 109 443 52 22% 27.8% -5.7% 40 PHI 1991 133 467 55 25.5% 31.2% -5.7% 41 HOU 2012 167 581 44 26.7% 32.4% -5.7% 42 GNB 2008 141 518 27 25.9% 31.5% -5.6% 43 MIN 1972 82 331 21 23.3% 28.9% -5.6% 44 GNB 2002 143 531 43 24.9% 30.5% -5.6% 45 HOU 1969 93 371 32 23.1% 28.6% -5.5% 46 NOR 1991 139 491 50 25.7% 31.2% -5.5% 47 CHI 2006 159 581 40 25.6% 31.1% -5.5% 48 HOU 1976 90 345 50 22.8% 28.2% -5.5% 49 CHI 1959 91 333 32 24.9% 30.4% -5.5% 50 JAX 2006 143 523 35 25.6% 31.1% -5.4% 51 OAK 1973 92 370 40 22.4% 27.9% -5.4% 52 WAS 1976 91 354 44 22.9% 28.2% -5.4% 53 DEN 1971 91 356 44 22.8% 28.1% -5.4% 54 CLE 1957 66 242 26 24.6% 29.9% -5.3% 55 BAL 1999 158 599 49 24.4% 29.7% -5.3% 56 NYG 1961 110 386 50 25.2% 30.5% -5.3% 57 BAL 2003 144 531 47 24.9% 30.2% -5.2% 58 RAM 1975 103 387 43 24% 29.2% -5.2% 59 SFO 1952 76 342 36 20.1% 25.3% -5.2% 60 CIN 1972 92 350 38 23.7% 28.9% -5.2% 61 KAN 1969 111 426 48 23.4% 28.6% -5.2% 62 DEN 1989 142 504 47 25.8% 30.9% -5.1% 63 PIT 1976 96 373 41 23.2% 28.2% -5.1% 64 RAI 1984 147 508 64 25.7% 30.7% -5% 65 PHI 1981 137 507 40 25% 30.1% -5% 66 BUF 2014 171 559 54 27.9% 32.9% -5% 67 PHI 1955 69 272 27 23.1% 28.1% -5% 68 BUF 1980 120 433 33 25.8% 30.7% -5% 69 CHI 2005 153 550 41 25.9% 30.9% -5% 70 TEN 2007 165 569 40 27.1% 32% -4.9% 71 MIN 1988 132 480 37 25.5% 30.4% -4.9% 72 CIN 2013 178 614 43 27.1% 32% -4.9% 73 NYG 1959 85 304 29 25.5% 30.4% -4.9% 74 RAM 1977 94 370 36 23.2% 28% -4.9% 75 MIA 1982 65 226 29 25.5% 30.3% -4.8% 76 CHI 1963 96 353 36 24.7% 29.5% -4.8% 77 SFO 1976 102 374 61 23.4% 28.2% -4.8% 78 PHI 1979 125 459 45 24.8% 29.6% -4.8% 79 PIT 1956 66 234 25 25.5% 30.2% -4.8% 80 GNB 1996 151 544 37 26% 30.7% -4.7% 81 CLE 1973 79 312 29 23.2% 27.9% -4.7% 82 CLE 1951 81 330 54 21.1% 25.8% -4.7% 83 NYG 2010 159 539 46 27.2% 31.9% -4.7% 84 TEN 2008 166 575 44 26.8% 31.5% -4.7% 85 PIT 1973 91 359 33 23.2% 27.9% -4.7% 86 NYG 1958 80 311 19 24.2% 28.9% -4.7% 87 PHI 2002 160 563 56 25.8% 30.5% -4.6% 88 RAM 1985 155 548 56 25.7% 30.3% -4.6% 89 WAS 2007 174 602 33 27.4% 32% -4.6% 90 MIN 1977 80 312 30 23.4% 28% -4.6% 91 PHI 1992 146 517 55 25.5% 30.1% -4.6% 92 PIT 2011 156 530 35 27.6% 32.2% -4.6% 93 TEN 2000 134 466 55 25.7% 30.3% -4.6% 94 RAM 1973 87 328 45 23.3% 27.9% -4.6% 95 NYG 1963 106 368 57 24.9% 29.5% -4.5% 96 BAL 2006 151 509 60 26.5% 31.1% -4.5% 97 PIT 1990 130 460 34 26.3% 30.8% -4.5% 98 STL 1961 112 389 42 26% 30.5% -4.5% 99 SFO 1986 169 604 51 25.8% 30.3% -4.5% 100 DEN 1997 145 526 44 25.4% 29.9% -4.5% 101 SEA 2013 156 524 44 27.5% 32% -4.5% 102 CHI 1967 98 384 30 23.7% 28.2% -4.5% 103 OAK 1968 113 446 49 22.8% 27.3% -4.5% 104 PIT 1978 119 442 44 24.5% 29% -4.5% 105 BAL 2008 152 528 34 27% 31.5% -4.5% 106 BUF 2013 170 561 57 27.5% 32% -4.5% 107 SEA 1982 68 246 17 25.9% 30.3% -4.4% 108 NOR 1992 146 511 57 25.7% 30.1% -4.4% 109 NYG 1990 139 496 30 26.4% 30.8% -4.4% 110 NYG 1957 64 226 25 25.5% 29.9% -4.4% 111 HOU 2016 157 522 31 28.4% 32.8% -4.4% 112 PIT 2007 158 536 36 27.6% 32% -4.4% 113 CLE 1956 62 226 14 25.8% 30.2% -4.4% 114 GNB 1961 117 414 34 26.1% 30.5% -4.4% 115 HOU 1995 157 553 30 26.9% 31.3% -4.4% 116 WAS 1985 134 465 52 25.9% 30.3% -4.4% 117 CHI 1960 84 291 53 24.4% 28.8% -4.4% 118 DEN 2016 169 552 42 28.5% 32.8% -4.4% 119 PIT 1994 156 532 55 26.6% 30.9% -4.3% 120 CRD 1956 79 287 18 25.9% 30.2% -4.3% 121 PIT 1959 80 285 22 26.1% 30.4% -4.3% 122 OAK 1975 113 398 55 24.9% 29.2% -4.2% 123 TAM 2004 131 436 45 27.2% 31.5% -4.2% 124 STL 2001 153 541 45 26.1% 30.3% -4.2% 125 NYJ 1998 150 544 36 25.9% 30.1% -4.2% 126 SFO 1987 132 467 37 26.2% 30.4% -4.2% 127 DAL 1984 155 527 57 26.5% 30.7% -4.2% 128 BUF 1960 109 429 36 23.4% 27.6% -4.2% 129 PHI 1956 69 243 22 26% 30.2% -4.2% 130 CHI 1981 144 525 31 25.9% 30.1% -4.2% 131 SFO 1997 145 509 54 25.8% 29.9% -4.2% 132 DET 1960 94 354 28 24.6% 28.8% -4.2% 133 ARI 2011 174 578 42 28.1% 32.2% -4.1% 134 NYG 1987 148 508 55 26.3% 30.4% -4.1% 135 GNB 1997 156 563 41 25.8% 29.9% -4.1% 136 NYG 2016 191 630 35 28.7% 32.8% -4.1% 137 HOU 1986 137 490 32 26.2% 30.3% -4.1% 138 CHI 1986 151 513 62 26.3% 30.3% -4.1% 139 PIT 1979 135 480 49 25.5% 29.6% -4% 140 WAS 1977 102 380 45 24% 28% -4% 141 BAL 1971 95 361 33 24.1% 28.1% -4% 142 DAL 1970 105 399 41 23.9% 27.9% -4% 143 PHI 1980 157 543 44 26.7% 30.7% -4% 144 NYJ 1968 104 403 43 23.3% 27.3% -4% 145 RAM 1988 166 571 56 26.5% 30.4% -3.9% 146 DET 1967 85 312 39 24.2% 28.2% -3.9% 147 SDG 1998 149 530 39 26.2% 30.1% -3.9% 148 SFO 1981 144 514 36 26.2% 30.1% -3.9% 149 WAS 2004 153 515 40 27.6% 31.5% -3.9% 150 SDG 1979 132 472 42 25.7% 29.6% -3.9% 151 PHI 2000 159 552 50 26.4% 30.3% -3.9% 152 WAS 2000 134 462 45 26.4% 30.3% -3.9% 153 PHI 2004 165 550 47 27.6% 31.5% -3.8% 154 PHI 2006 154 525 40 27.3% 31.1% -3.8% 155 SDG 1980 156 519 60 26.9% 30.7% -3.8% 156 MIN 1993 139 478 45 26.6% 30.4% -3.8% 157 CAR 2015 198 650 44 28.5% 32.3% -3.7% 158 BAL 2011 166 535 48 28.5% 32.2% -3.7% 159 NYJ 1995 149 497 43 27.6% 31.3% -3.7% 160 BAL 1968 119 432 45 24.9% 28.7% -3.7% 161 DET 1963 109 378 45 25.8% 29.5% -3.7% 162 HOU 2011 166 538 44 28.5% 32.2% -3.7% 163 CHI 1957 96 306 60 26.2% 29.9% -3.7% 164 MIA 1972 96 348 33 25.2% 28.9% -3.7% 165 SFO 1951 84 353 27 22.1% 25.8% -3.7% 166 PIT 2004 146 484 41 27.8% 31.5% -3.7% 167 DEN 1976 104 391 32 24.6% 28.2% -3.7% 168 PHI 2001 150 517 45 26.7% 30.3% -3.7% 169 CLE 1987 134 467 34 26.7% 30.4% -3.7% 170 PHI 1986 156 532 53 26.7% 30.3% -3.6% 171 KAN 1995 178 596 47 27.7% 31.3% -3.6% 172 RAM 1978 113 399 47 25.3% 29% -3.6% 173 PIT 1966 105 397 38 24.1% 27.8% -3.6% 174 DEN 2003 141 495 36 26.6% 30.2% -3.6% 175 CAR 1996 167 556 60 27.1% 30.7% -3.6% 176 DET 1956 84 297 18 26.7% 30.2% -3.6% 177 NYG 1981 156 544 44 26.5% 30.1% -3.6% 178 MIN 1973 99 377 30 24.3% 27.9% -3.6% 179 CLE 1955 83 323 15 24.6% 28.1% -3.6% 180 CHI 1988 158 545 43 26.9% 30.4% -3.5% 181 RAM 1981 128 439 43 26.6% 30.1% -3.5% 182 CAR 2006 149 500 41 27.5% 31.1% -3.5% 183 SFO 1996 164 558 45 27.2% 30.7% -3.5% 184 BAL 1970 120 452 41 24.3% 27.9% -3.5% 185 MIN 1976 91 323 45 24.7% 28.2% -3.5% 186 BAL 2001 161 555 45 26.8% 30.3% -3.5% 187 NYG 1962 136 450 46 27.4% 30.9% -3.5% 188 PIT 2016 184 590 38 29.3% 32.8% -3.5% 189 DET 2012 167 544 34 28.9% 32.4% -3.5% 190 GNB 1966 106 390 47 24.3% 27.8% -3.5% 191 DEN 1996 165 566 40 27.2% 30.7% -3.5% 192 RAM 1950 88 385 37 20.9% 24.3% -3.5% 193 CAR 2002 155 522 52 27% 30.5% -3.5% 194 SFO 2009 176 580 44 28.2% 31.7% -3.5% 195 PIT 2010 182 593 48 28.4% 31.9% -3.5% 196 GNB 2010 163 527 47 28.4% 31.9% -3.5% 197 CIN 1975 107 389 27 25.7% 29.2% -3.5% 198 DET 1969 101 350 46 25.5% 29% -3.5% 199 GNB 1964 91 318 45 25.1% 28.5% -3.5% 200 DEN 1981 142 497 36 26.6% 30.1% -3.4%

The table above shows the top 200 pass defenses at preventing first downs.

Since 2010, the best pass defenses were, in order, the 2015 Broncos, 2012 Texans, and 2014 Bills.

In the ’00s, the best pass defenses were the 2009 Jets, 2002 Bucs, 2004 Broncos, 2008 Eagles, 2000 Ravens, and 2008 Steelers.

In the 1990s, the best pass defenses were the 1999 Bucs, 1991 Redskins, 1991 Eagles, 1991 Saints, and 1999 Ravens.

The ’80s? The ’84 Bears, ’85 Bears, ’89 Vikings, ’80 Rams, ’89 Broncos, and ’84 Raiders.

The ’70s? The ’71 Vikings, ’75 Steelers, ’74 Steelers, ’77 Falcons (of course), ’83 Dolphins, ’70 Vikings, ’75 Vikings, and ’79 Bucs.

The ’60s? The ’69 Vikings, ’63 Packers, ’67 Raiders, ’62 Packers, ’67 Packers, ’67 Rams, and ’62 Bears and Lions.

The ’50s? The ’54 Eagles, ’54 Browns, ’58 Bears, ’59 Bears, ’57 Browns, and ’52 49ers.

As always, please leave your thoughts in the comments.