Sports Illustrated identified the best individual units at 10 standard football positions across the NFL. The selections reveal significant imbalance: the 10 best units were concentrated in just four divisions, with one team claiming two top units and one division claiming four. The NFC East produced multiple top groups, giving every NFC East team at least one elite unit. New York's defensive line ranks as the league's best, anchored by Dexter Lawrence II and strengthened by Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter. The Bengals illustrate that Super Bowl success requires balanced excellence across multiple units, not isolated strengths.
There are 32 teams and eight divisions in the NFL. According to the Sports Illustrated rankings, one team had two of the best units, and one division had four of them. The 10 best units were split among just four divisions. The other half of the league did not have a single representative. The Commanders came from the most-honored division.
Every team in the NFC East had one position group chosen as the best in football. That includes the 3-14 New York Giants and the sub-.500 Dallas Cowboys. That is one of the reasons every division tilt is so competitive. The Giants have a thousand questions on offense, but they have the best defensive line in football. Any Commanders fan knows how Dexter Lawrence II can take over a game from the trenches.
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