5. Seattle Seahawks

Although Seattle has a much better overall defense than most of the teams in the NFL, they do face a tough challenge this week in mobile quarterback Cam Newton. He’s the main offensive threat on the Carolina Panthers, who the Seahawks are matched up against, but outside of that Carolina doesn’t have much to flaunt besides wide receiver Steve Smith. Carolina will be going in with just DeAngelo Williams as a starting running back, a player who hasn’t rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season since 2009. The Seahawks will give up points to Newton, but don’t expect them to bend too much.

Game Projection: 20 points allowed, three sacks, one interception

4. St. Louis Rams

The Rams were a fairly average defense last season, finishing 19th in the league in total yards per game. However, they get some extra value going up against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 who only have the possibly washed-up Rashard Mendenhall at running back and no one to throw to except Larry Fitzgerald. St. Louis strengthened their defense by drafting linebacker Alec Ogeltree out of Georgia and safety T.J. McDonald out of USC. This is going to be a low-scoring game overall, but the Rams are a good sleeper defense play this week.

Game Projection: 13 points allowed, three sacks, one interception

3. New England Patriots

While the Patriots were the fourth-best passing defense in the NFL last season, they certainly weren’t blowing anyone away by stopping the run. New England shouldn’t have much of a problem stopping anyone in Week 1, going up against the sad Buffalo Bills, who may be starting an undrafted rookie at quarterback. C.J. Spiller is a very talented back and could cut the Patriots for 100 or more yards on the ground, but the Patriots forced more fumbles than any other team last season and recorded 20 interceptions.

Game Projection: 21 points allowed, two sacks, one interception, one fumble recovered

2. Houston Texans

Houston has Super Bowl aspirations this year, and they are looking to get off on the right foot by locking down Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers. San Diego isn’t very good to begin with, considering the turnover problems that Rivers is fighting and the questions surrounding Ryan Mathews, but they will struggle even more going up against Houston, who added Hall of Famer Ed Reed to their roster this offseason. Rivers threw 15 interceptions last season, and 20 in 2011, and Houston forced 15 interceptions of their own last season, four of them by Kareem Jackson. Houston will control the clock all game, especially if Arian Foster plays all four quarters, and Rivers won’t have the opportunity to crack 200 yards in the air.

Game Projection: 10 points allowed, one sack, two interceptions

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The best passing defense in the NFL last season gets a prime chance this week to start the year off by recording multiple interceptions. The starting quarterback for the Jets hasn’t even been announced as of Tuesday afternoon, and there’s a chance Mark Sanchez could miss the game entirely. Tampa Bay will also be playing with Darrelle Revis for the first time, arguably the best corner in the league. This matchup is a nightmare for the Jets, who will be lucky to find the end zone in this one.

Game Projection: Seven points allowed, two sacks, two interceptions