The Cowboys led the league in interceptions a year ago, helping them finish as one of the top (if not the top) fantasy defenses in most sack- and takeaway-based scoring systems. But it's tough to repeat, and a downturn is probably coming.

Paced by All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, who had 11, Dallas had 26 interceptions last season. They were one of only two teams (with New England) to reach 20; in the last decade, only three teams have had a season where they finished with more interceptions. But sustaining that excellence a year later is rare; most teams take a step back.

Over the past decade, there have been 36 previous occasions where a defense made it up to 20 interceptions; 3.6 per year. And it was more common in the earlier part of the decade; teams and quarterbacks are being more careful with taking chances, and officiating has tended to favor offenses more than defenses. Only 9 of those 20-interception seasons have come since 2016.

And from those 36 teams to record 20 picks, just 5 made it up to 20 again one year later. Three of those did it nearly a decade ago. Difficult to maintain that kind of hot streak, and with interceptions on the decline league-wide, it's even less likely.

In the table, sorted by interceptions last season, the 20-interception seasons are in bold. Teams that were able to record 20-plus in back-to-back seasons are tagged with a black dot. One of those teams, at least, was the other team that reached 20 last year, the Patriots. The Bengals once did it three years in a row. So it's possible -- but more likely Dallas finishes below that.

TEAM INTERCEPTIONS, 2011-PRESENT
Defense1112131415161718192021
Dallas15715188910971026
• New England2320171612131218251823
Indianapolis81215121781315151519
Buffalo2012231917121816141519
LA Rams1217141313101818131419
New Orleans9151212992012131818
Green Bay311811181617117171118
Tampa Bay141821141117139121517
Houston17157201411111512317
Minnesota810121313141412171516
Tennessee1119131211121211141516
Kansas City20721622181615161615
• NY Giants2021171715171316101115
Miami161018141316921131814
Pittsburgh111010111713168201813
Cleveland91714211110717141113
• Cincinnati1014202021171112111113
• Arizona10222018191415771113
Denver916171814141017101013
Atlanta192010161512815121212
Philadelphia15819121516191011812
Washington132116711131615131611
Seattle2218281314111412161411
LA Chargers171411711181813111211
Detroit211115209101977711
San Francisco2314182391010212129
Baltimore15131611618221213109
Carolina14112014241710131479
• Chicago202419148882710108
Jacksonville171211697211110127
NY Jets1911136188111312107
Las Vegas18119914165149106

--Andy Richardson