The Jacksonville Jaguars have the NFL’s best run defense through five weeks. Opponents have run 109 times for 319 yards against them, an average of 2.93 yards per carry, and the 63.8 rushing yards per game the Jaguars have allowed are also the fewest in the league.
It has been even tighter lately. Cincinnati ran for 23 yards on 15 carries in Jacksonville’s 22-17 win in Week 4, and Philadelphia managed 22 yards on 18 carries in the Jaguars’ 19-17 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. That is 45 yards on 33 carries over two games. The only team to reach 100 rushing yards against Jacksonville was Denver, with 104 in a 20-13 Broncos win in Week 2. Foyesade Oluokun leads the Jaguars with 34 tackles, and Ventrell Miller has 33.
Fewest yards per carry allowed after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Opp. rushes | Rush yards allowed | Yards/carry allowed | Rush yards/game allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-1 | 109 | 319 | 2.93 | 63.8 |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-4 | 111 | 364 | 3.28 | 72.8 |
| 3 | Houston Texans | 1-4 | 118 | 392 | 3.32 | 78.4 |
| 4 | Tennessee Titans | 0-5 | 161 | 570 | 3.54 | 114.0 |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | 104 | 371 | 3.57 | 92.8 |
| 6 | Miami Dolphins | 0-5 | 151 | 553 | 3.66 | 110.6 |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 133 | 488 | 3.67 | 97.6 |
| 8 | Seattle Seahawks | 3-2 | 136 | 502 | 3.69 | 100.4 |
| 9 | Los Angeles Chargers | 0-5 | 158 | 593 | 3.75 | 118.6 |
| 10 | Atlanta Falcons | 2-3 | 106 | 401 | 3.78 | 80.2 |
Tampa Bay is second at 3.28 yards per carry, and Houston is third at 3.32. The Texans have allowed 78.4 rushing yards per game, and no opponent has reached 90 against them; Indianapolis came closest with 89 in Week 3. Will Anderson Jr. has 7.5 sacks, the most in the NFL.
Houston and Jacksonville meet Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London, the Jaguars’ second straight game in England. Tennessee is fourth at 3.54 despite its 0-5 start, and Kansas City is fifth at 3.57. Across the league, teams are averaging 4.20 yards per carry.
Most yards per carry allowed after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Opp. rushes | Rush yards allowed | Yards/carry allowed | Rush yards/game allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Indianapolis Colts | 2-3 | 131 | 651 | 4.97 | 130.2 |
| 28 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-2 | 122 | 615 | 5.04 | 123.0 |
| 29 | Dallas Cowboys | 2-3 | 165 | 842 | 5.10 | 168.4 |
| 30 | New York Giants | 3-1-1 | 123 | 638 | 5.19 | 127.6 |
| 31 | Las Vegas Raiders | 3-2 | 135 | 703 | 5.21 | 140.6 |
| 32 | Carolina Panthers | 2-2 | 116 | 626 | 5.40 | 156.5 |
Carolina has allowed the most yards per carry, 5.40 in four games. Chicago ran for 291 yards on 39 carries against the Panthers in Week 1. Dallas has allowed the most rushing yards, 842, or 168.4 per game, including 241 yards on 39 carries in Sunday’s 24-16 loss to Tampa Bay.
Las Vegas (5.21) and the New York Giants (5.19) are next. The Raiders host Buffalo on Sunday, and the Bills are averaging 5.37 yards per carry on offense, second in the league.
Figures are opponents’ regular-season rushing totals from each game’s team stats, including quarterback runs and kneel-downs, through Week 5. They do not include Thursday night’s Seahawks-Broncos game.
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