The 5 Best NFL Defenses Through Week 5

St. Louis Rams

Adjusted Defensive NEP/P: -0.044 (4th)
Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP/P: -0.030 (5th)
Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP/P: -0.053 (7th)

Powered by perhaps one of the league's best defensive lines, the Rams sit fourth on our list as a top-five defensive unit. While their front-seven has led this team to a top-seven standing in efficiency against the rush, the secondary -- thanks in large part to the pressure generated from the defensive front -- has been surprisingly successful against the pass this year, ranking as the fifth most efficient unit in the league.

Defensive end Robert Quinn and defensive tackle Aaron Donald currently lead the way with 4.0 and 3.5 sacks each this season, and as a whole, this unit -- which also boasts Nick Fairley, Michael Brockers, and Chris Long -- ranks third in the league with 19 sacks through the season's first five games.

Not to be outdone, in the secondary Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson -- who are tied for sixth in the league with two interceptions each -- lead a unit that ranks in the top half of the league in passing yards allowed per game, giving up just 235.4 to opposing quarterbcks this year.

As long as this team's talented front-seven can keep pressure on opposing signal callers this year, expect the Rams to continue to be a defensive powerhouse alongside the two other NFC West squads to find themselves on this early-season list.