Nine lessons we learned from the NFL's best defenses

Last season marked the third-straight year in which a team driven by its defense won the Super Bowl. What can the success of last year's Seahawks—not to mention the Texans, Eagles, Vikings and Broncos—teach us about the NFL in 2026? Cody Alexander from Match Quarters joins Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen to share the lessons learned from last season's best defenses on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

0:00 Welcome to the show

2:43 Run defense

4:00 Run defense on first down

19:44 Edge-linebacker hybrid

28:17 Base defense

30:00 Nickel defense

38:38 Zone coverage

45:35 Weaponizing dime

50:34 Blitz efficiency

58:52 Split-field coverages

Host: Robert Mays

Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen

Executive Producer: Michael Beller

Senior Producer: Katy Duffy

Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social

Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social

Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays

Theme song: Haunted

Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs

Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC

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