First in pass deflections? Leaning on that doesn't help you. Stick with the meaningful stats.
10th in points, 13th in rushing TDs allowed, 12th in passing TDs allowed....those are all your best numbers, and you're about 1/3 from the top of the whole league in them. That's "good," not "very good". And you're cherry picking. The 2017 defense was a big improvement over the 2012-2016 toxic wasteland that cost Brees five years of his career, but that's faint praise. And they had a nice stretch in mid-season where they were "very good." But you've got some serious confirmation bias going on.
Peace out.