The last few years, we've written a lot about a stat called Defeats that we use to count big plays made by defensive players. Defeats add up the following types of plays:

a) All tackles for a loss, including sacks;

b) Any tackle or pass defensed to prevent a conversion on third or fourth down;

c) Any turnover or a batted pass that leads to an interception.

These totals are not final quite yet, with some stat changes to come from the NFL, but once again this year, J.J. Watt and Lavonte David made more big plays than anyone else in the game.

Watt obliterated the record for Defeats (which we have counted back to 1996) with 56 in 2012. David then set a new record for linebackers, the second-highest total ever, with 50 in 2013. This year, Watt led the league with 43 and David was second with 42. Those numbers don't quite match what the players did in 2012 and 2013, but they are still two of only six seasons since 1996 with over 40 Defeats. The other two were both in 1999, Ray Lewis with 45 and Derrick Brooks with 42.

Watt had 17 tackles for a loss on runs, 20 sacks (or half-sacks), four batted passes on third down, and an interception, which was conveniently also on third down.

David had 14 tackles for a loss on runs, 8 tackles to prevent conversion on third-down runs, 6 tackles for a loss on receptions, 10 tackles to prevent conversion on third-down receptions, two batted passes on third down, a sack (also on third down), and two forced fumbles (one on a TFL).

Here's a look at all the players with at least 25 Defeats based on our current version of 2014 play-by-play.