Vikings lead the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing 3 touchdowns on 12 trips; Commanders allow 83.3%

The Minnesota Vikings have been the hardest team in the NFL to score a touchdown against once an opponent reaches the 20-yard line. Opponents have reached the red zone 12 times against Minnesota in five games and scored only three touchdowns, a rate of 25.0%. Across the league, offenses have scored touchdowns on 313 of 512 red-zone trips (61.1%).

Chicago went 0 for 3 inside the 20 against the Vikings in Minnesota’s 9-3 win in Week 2, and Tampa Bay went 0 for 2 in Week 3. Green Bay scored one touchdown on four trips in Week 1, Miami one on two trips in Week 4 and New Orleans one on one on Sunday. That is a big reason the 5-0 Vikings have allowed only 64 points, the fewest in the league. Minnesota is on its bye in Week 6.

Best red-zone defenses after Week 5

Jacksonville is second at 33.3%, allowing five touchdowns on 15 trips. New England went 0 for 3 in the red zone in the Jaguars’ 35-6 win in Week 3, and Cleveland went 0 for 2 in Week 1. Denver scored on two of five trips in its 20-13 win over Jacksonville in Week 2. The 4-1 Jaguars play Houston at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, and the Texans’ offense has scored touchdowns on 10 of 18 red-zone trips (55.6%).

Cincinnati is third at 41.2% (7 of 17) after holding Houston to 0 for 4 in Week 2, and Cleveland is fourth at 42.9% (6 of 14). The Browns host Baltimore on Sunday, and the Ravens’ offense has the fifth-best red-zone touchdown rate in the league at 73.7% (14 of 19). Kansas City is fifth at 44.4% and has allowed only nine red-zone trips in four games. Pittsburgh has allowed the fewest trips of any team, eight in five games, and opponents have scored four touchdowns on them.

Worst red-zone defenses after Week 5

Washington has the league’s worst red-zone defense, allowing touchdowns on 15 of 18 trips (83.3%). Indianapolis went 3 for 3 against the Commanders in Week 4 and the New York Giants went 3 for 3 in Sunday’s 27-27 tie, so Washington’s last two opponents have scored on all six of their red-zone trips. The Commanders play at San Francisco on Monday night, and the 49ers have the league’s best red-zone offense at 87.5% (14 of 16).

Green Bay is 31st at 81.2% (13 of 16). Minnesota scored on all four of its red-zone trips against the Packers in Week 1, and Atlanta scored on four of five in Week 3. Green Bay hosts Dallas on Sunday night, and the Cowboys’ offense has the second-best red-zone rate in the league at 83.3% (15 of 18).

Detroit is 30th at 81.0% and has allowed the most red-zone touchdowns in the league, 17 on 21 trips. Buffalo scored on all five of its red-zone trips against the Lions in Week 2. Las Vegas (77.8%), Arizona (76.5%) and Buffalo (76.2%) are next. The Bills play at the Raiders on Sunday.

Seattle is the outlier. The Seahawks allow the fewest yards per play in the league and have faced only 12 red-zone trips, tied for the third-fewest per game, but opponents have scored touchdowns on nine of them (75.0%). San Francisco went 3 for 3 inside the 20 in its 32-29 win in Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks play at Denver on Thursday night, and the Broncos have scored touchdowns on 9 of 16 red-zone trips (56.2%).

Red-zone trips and touchdowns come from the official box score of every regular-season game through Week 5. Thursday night’s Seahawks-Broncos game is not included.