It was a big year for pass rushes, with four defenses -- Philadelphia, Dallas, New England and Kansas City -- recording over 50 sacks. That's happened only two other times this century (granted, 17-game season now). The question is how those defenses might perform in 2023.
Some dropoff is to be expected. Philadelphia, with Haason Reddick (pictured) leading the way, recorded 70 sacks, and very unlikely that happens again. But how much have all the other past 50-sack defenses declined a year later?
Since 2000, there have been 36 other defenses to record at least 50 sacks. Of those 36 defenses, only 4 have come back and recorded more sacks a year later. So pretty unlikely that Philadelphia comes back with another 70 sacks, which isn't surprising.
But 9 of the 36 -- 25 percent -- have come back and put up 50-plus sacks again. That's dominated by Pittsburgh, which put up at least 50 sacks five years in a row, from 2017 to 2021. They slipped to just 40 last year, with T.J. Watt injured for much of the season, but an impressive track record. The other strong team in this regard is the Aaron Donald Rams. Los Angeles put up at least 50 sacks from 2019 through 2021.
Big picture stuff: of those 36 previous 50-sack teams, more than half (20) declined by double-digit sacks a year later. The other 16 declined by single digits -- so, still 40-plus sacks, which is an above-average total -- or got a little better.
Reasonable to think a couple of 2022's 50-sack teams can approach those kind of totals again. Philadelphia could decline by quite a bit from last year, and probably will, but could still go over 50.
In the table, defenses that hit 50 sacks again the next season are in bold.
| 50-SACK DEFENSES, NEXT YEAR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defense | Year | Sacks | Next | +/- |
| Buffalo | 2014 | 54 | 21 | -33 |
| Baltimore | 2006 | 60 | 32 | -28 |
| Carolina | 2019 | 53 | 29 | -24 |
| Philadelphia | 2011 | 50 | 30 | -20 |
| Carolina | 2013 | 60 | 40 | -20 |
| L.A. Chargers | 2006 | 61 | 42 | -19 |
| Philadelphia | 2002 | 56 | 38 | -18 |
| Jacksonville | 2017 | 55 | 37 | -18 |
| Chicago | 2018 | 50 | 32 | -18 |
| Dallas | 2008 | 59 | 42 | -17 |
| Pittsburgh | 2002 | 50 | 34 | -16 |
| Carolina | 2017 | 50 | 35 | -15 |
| Pittsburgh | 2021 | 55 | 40 | -15 |
| New Orleans | 2001 | 53 | 39 | -14 |
| L.A. Rams | 2013 | 53 | 40 | -13 |
| Carolina | 2002 | 52 | 40 | -12 |
| L.A. Rams | 2021 | 50 | 38 | -12 |
| N.Y. Giants | 2007 | 53 | 42 | -11 |
| Denver | 2012 | 52 | 41 | -11 |
| Denver | 2015 | 52 | 42 | -10 |
| Green Bay | 2001 | 52 | 43 | -9 |
| Seattle | 2005 | 50 | 41 | -9 |
| Kansas City | 2018 | 52 | 45 | -7 |
| Minnesota | 2011 | 50 | 44 | -6 |
| New Orleans | 2019 | 51 | 45 | -6 |
| Pittsburgh | 2001 | 55 | 50 | -5 |
| Pittsburgh | 2008 | 51 | 47 | -4 |
| Pittsburgh | 2017 | 56 | 52 | -4 |
| Buffalo | 2013 | 57 | 54 | -3 |
| L.A. Rams | 2020 | 53 | 50 | -3 |
| Minnesota | 2018 | 50 | 48 | -2 |
| Pittsburgh | 2020 | 56 | 55 | -1 |
| L.A. Rams | 2012 | 52 | 53 | +1 |
| Pittsburgh | 2018 | 52 | 54 | +2 |
| Pittsburgh | 2019 | 54 | 56 | +2 |
| L.A. Rams | 2019 | 50 | 53 | +3 |
| Philadelphia | 2022 | 70 | ?? | ?? |
| Kansas City | 2022 | 55 | ?? | ?? |
| Dallas | 2022 | 54 | ?? | ?? |
| New England | 2022 | 54 | ?? | ?? |
--Andy Richardson