Baltimore Ravens Mike Macdonald, Mastermind Of NFL's Top Defense

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh praised defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

The Baltimore Ravens have the best scoring defense in the NFL through nine weeks, and while the whole defense is to credit, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is the mastermind behind its success. 

"Mike's a great coach, we talked about that when we hired him,"  Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "He's been here for a long time, he's a really good guy, the players like him. I think the staff there is really great too. All those guys have really worked together, they understand teamwork, they understand working together. I think everybody's got good ideas and they're all used and they all support different ideas and things like that."

Baltimore currently ranks first in the NFL in opponent points per game allowed at 13.8. Its defense is also second in the NFL in yards allowed per game at 262.6, behind only the Cleveland Browns at 234.8. 

The Baltimore Ravens have 35 sacks through nine games this season.  / USA Today Sports

The last time an NFL team went an entire season holding its opponents to 13.8 points or less was in 2006. That year, the Ravens held opponents to an impressive 12.6 points per game. 

They also lead the league in sacks this season with 35 as well as passing touchdowns allowed with just six through nine games.

Now there is no guarantee that Baltimore can keep this up for the rest of the season, but for now, the defense has been phenomenal for one of the best teams in the NFL.

"Those guys have done a great job with being an example for the players so I'm really proud of that," Harbaugh said. "It's just day to day, trying to get ready for the next game. Teaching, coaching, I think Mike does a great job of that, the guys do a great job of that and it's really what we're all about."

Next up for the Ravens is a divisional matchup at home against the Browns on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m.