What Blitzes (allowed) is

Blitzes: the number of opponent dropbacks on which this defense sent five or more rushers. Volume, so it climbs with plays faced as well as with aggression.

Higher is better. It is shown per game, so a team's number does not depend on games played. Source: P.

In 2021 the Buccaneers led at 18.41; the league average was 9.78.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

TB · 18.41

League average

9.78

Best to worst

13.59

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	TB	18.41	17
2	MIA	15.76	17
3	ARI	12.35	17
4	BAL	12.29	17
5	WAS	12.12	17
6	CAR	11.29	17
7	JAX	11.18	17
8	KC	11.18	17
9	LAR	11.06	17
10	MIN	10.94	17
11	DAL	10.82	17
12	NYG	9.82	17
13	DET	9.71	17
14	PIT	9.53	17
15	SEA	9.47	17
16	DEN	9.41	17
17	NYJ	9.41	17
18	BUF	9.24	17
19	LAC	9.24	17
20	ATL	9.06	17
21	NO	8.71	17
22	GB	8.59	17
23	CIN	8.35	17
24	CLE	8.29	17
25	NE	8.24	17
26	TEN	8.24	17
27	IND	7.88	17
28	SF	7.29	17
29	CHI	7.24	17
30	HOU	6.88	17
31	PHI	6.24	17
32	LV	4.82	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

TB · 18.41

League laggard

LV · 4.82

League average

9.78

Spread (max − min)

13.59

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	TB	18.41	8.63	100%
2	MIA	15.76	5.98	96.8%
3	ARI	12.35	2.57	93.5%
4	BAL	12.29	2.51	90.3%
5	WAS	12.12	2.33	87.1%
6	CAR	11.29	1.51	83.9%
7	JAX	11.18	1.39	80.6%
8	KC	11.18	1.39	77.4%
9	LAR	11.06	1.28	74.2%
10	MIN	10.94	1.16	71%
11	DAL	10.82	1.04	67.7%
12	NYG	9.82	0.04	64.5%
13	DET	9.71	-0.08	61.3%
14	PIT	9.53	-0.25	58.1%
15	SEA	9.47	-0.31	54.8%
16	DEN	9.41	-0.37	51.6%
17	NYJ	9.41	-0.37	48.4%
18	BUF	9.24	-0.55	45.2%
19	LAC	9.24	-0.55	41.9%
20	ATL	9.06	-0.72	38.7%
21	NO	8.71	-1.08	35.5%
22	GB	8.59	-1.19	32.3%
23	CIN	8.35	-1.43	29%
24	CLE	8.29	-1.49	25.8%
25	NE	8.24	-1.55	22.6%
26	TEN	8.24	-1.55	19.4%
27	IND	7.88	-1.90	16.1%
28	SF	7.29	-2.49	12.9%
29	CHI	7.24	-2.55	9.7%
30	HOU	6.88	-2.90	6.5%
31	PHI	6.24	-3.55	3.2%
32	LV	4.82	-4.96	0%

Does Blitzes (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 816–762–37 ATS (51.7%) across 2020–2025, #182 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2024 (144–119, 54.8%); its worst 2025 (124–145, 46.1%).

For picks, this is noise. One stat is not a recipe — the algorithms combine many.

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	138–116–2	54.3%
2021	272	132–138–2	48.9%
2022	271	142–122–7	53.8%
2023	272	136–122–14	52.7%
2024	272	144–119–9	54.8%
2025	272	124–145–3	46.1%

Blitzes (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Buccaneers lead at 18.41 — they ranked #2 last year. Raiders are last at 4.82 — #24 last year.

The league average is 9.78, down 1.93 from 11.71 last year.

Biggest riser: Cowboys, #29 → #11. Biggest faller: Texans, #11 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 13.59; 27 teams are within 2.59 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

LAC · +3.11

Biggest faller

HOU · −6.37

Most consistent

JAX · −0.01

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▼ -1.93

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	LAC	9.24	6.13	+3.11
2	DAL	10.82	8.25	+2.57
3	CAR	11.29	9.56	+1.73
4	TB	18.41	16.75	+1.66
5	IND	7.88	6.75	+1.13
6	MIN	10.94	9.94	+1.00
7	DET	9.71	8.88	+0.83
8	LAR	11.06	10.69	+0.37
9	MIA	15.76	15.50	+0.26
10	JAX	11.18	11.19	−0.01
11	WAS	12.12	12.19	−0.07
12	NE	8.24	8.44	−0.20
13	CLE	8.29	8.63	−0.33
14	GB	8.59	9.38	−0.79
15	CHI	7.24	8.19	−0.95
16	NYG	9.82	10.88	−1.05
17	DEN	9.41	11.13	−1.71
18	PHI	6.24	8.31	−2.08
19	KC	11.18	13.88	−2.70
20	CIN	8.35	11.38	−3.02
21	NO	8.71	12.31	−3.61
22	ARI	12.35	16.06	−3.71
23	TEN	8.24	12.13	−3.89
24	LV	4.82	9.19	−4.36
25	ATL	9.06	14.06	−5.00
26	BUF	9.24	14.38	−5.14
27	SF	7.29	12.69	−5.39
28	PIT	9.53	15.25	−5.72
29	BAL	12.29	18.13	−5.83
30	NYJ	9.41	15.56	−6.15
31	SEA	9.47	15.81	−6.34
32	HOU	6.88	13.25	−6.37

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

TB · 14.42

Multi-year laggard

IND · 7.04

Biggest improver

MIN · +1.65/yr

Biggest decliner

ARI · −1.69/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	TB	14.42	−0.74	16.75	18.41	10.71	16.06	14.35	11.24	13.40
2	MIN	14.24	+1.65	9.94	10.94	7.71	20.47	16.29	13.71	20.60
3	KC	11.89	−0.11	13.88	11.18	10.18	12.59	12.18	10.71	12.50
4	DEN	11.57	+0.06	11.13	9.41	12.88	13.24	12.24	11.71	10.40
5	PIT	11.40	−0.58	15.25	9.53	11.47	13.18	9.71	11.65	9
6	NYG	11.37	−0.51	10.88	9.82	14.88	16.94	9.47	9.41	8.20
7	MIA	11.23	−1.53	15.50	15.76	13.71	8.24	8.76	9.82	6.80
8	BAL	11.09	−0.91	18.13	12.29	8.35	9.41	8.41	9.65	11.40
9	DET	10.69	+0.23	8.88	9.71	11.76	11.18	13.94	7.76	11.60
10	WAS	10.37	−0.26	12.19	12.12	7.82	10.12	10.59	8.53	11.20
11	CAR	10.29	+0.16	9.56	11.29	10.94	8.76	10.12	7.35	14
12	ARI	10.06	−1.69	16.06	12.35	13.24	7.59	7.88	8.88	4.40
13	NYJ	9.69	−0.11	15.56	9.41	5.53	5.76	9	8.76	13.80
14	NE	9.60	+0.31	8.44	8.24	8.71	13.18	8.82	9	10.80
15	ATL	9.56	−0.23	14.06	9.06	5.76	8.76	7.94	12.29	9
16	JAX	9.42	−0.68	11.19	11.18	9.12	12.24	5.35	9.88	7
17	DAL	9.36	−0.20	8.25	10.82	9.53	10	10.53	9.35	7
18	SEA	9.21	−0.81	15.81	9.47	5.59	8.65	8.94	7.82	8.20
19	LAR	9.14	−0.68	10.69	11.06	9.76	9.71	8.29	6.88	7.60
20	BUF	8.79	−0.96	14.38	9.24	7.75	8.94	7.18	6.82	7.20
21	CLE	8.75	+0.08	8.63	8.29	7.65	10	9.06	9.41	8.20
22	GB	8.73	−0.32	9.38	8.59	10.24	10.59	6.59	7.35	8.40
23	LAC	8.64	−0.18	6.13	9.24	10.41	12.41	9.12	6.59	6.60
24	NO	8.50	−0.43	12.31	8.71	6	8.35	8.18	7.53	8.40
25	TEN	8.33	−0.58	12.13	8.24	7.82	8.41	6.71	7.18	7.80
26	SF	8.20	−0.54	12.69	7.29	8.41	7.47	5.94	6.82	8.80
27	HOU	8.14	−0.50	13.25	6.88	5.59	8	9	6.88	7.40
28	LV	8.07	+0.08	9.19	4.82	9.88	7.41	9.71	6.88	8.60
29	CIN	8.05	−0.68	11.38	8.35	7.75	8.18	8.35	5.94	6.40
30	CHI	7.86	+0.21	8.19	7.24	5.71	8.82	7.82	9.06	8.20
31	PHI	7.19	−0.47	8.31	6.24	8.59	9.53	6.94	6.35	4.40
32	IND	7.04	+0.11	6.75	7.88	5.88	6	6.29	10.88	5.60

Multi-year heatmap

32 teams across 7 seasons. Cells colored by quintile within each season; click a column header to jump to that year.

Team	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
TB	16.75	18.41	10.71	16.06	14.35	11.24	13.40
MIA	15.50	15.76	13.71	8.24	8.76	9.82	6.80
ARI	16.06	12.35	13.24	7.59	7.88	8.88	4.40
BAL	18.13	12.29	8.35	9.41	8.41	9.65	11.40
WAS	12.19	12.12	7.82	10.12	10.59	8.53	11.20
CAR	9.56	11.29	10.94	8.76	10.12	7.35	14
JAX	11.19	11.18	9.12	12.24	5.35	9.88	7
KC	13.88	11.18	10.18	12.59	12.18	10.71	12.50
LAR	10.69	11.06	9.76	9.71	8.29	6.88	7.60
MIN	9.94	10.94	7.71	20.47	16.29	13.71	20.60
DAL	8.25	10.82	9.53	10	10.53	9.35	7
NYG	10.88	9.82	14.88	16.94	9.47	9.41	8.20
DET	8.88	9.71	11.76	11.18	13.94	7.76	11.60
PIT	15.25	9.53	11.47	13.18	9.71	11.65	9
SEA	15.81	9.47	5.59	8.65	8.94	7.82	8.20
DEN	11.13	9.41	12.88	13.24	12.24	11.71	10.40
NYJ	15.56	9.41	5.53	5.76	9	8.76	13.80
BUF	14.38	9.24	7.75	8.94	7.18	6.82	7.20
LAC	6.13	9.24	10.41	12.41	9.12	6.59	6.60
ATL	14.06	9.06	5.76	8.76	7.94	12.29	9
NO	12.31	8.71	6	8.35	8.18	7.53	8.40
GB	9.38	8.59	10.24	10.59	6.59	7.35	8.40
CIN	11.38	8.35	7.75	8.18	8.35	5.94	6.40
CLE	8.63	8.29	7.65	10	9.06	9.41	8.20
NE	8.44	8.24	8.71	13.18	8.82	9	10.80
TEN	12.13	8.24	7.82	8.41	6.71	7.18	7.80
IND	6.75	7.88	5.88	6	6.29	10.88	5.60
SF	12.69	7.29	8.41	7.47	5.94	6.82	8.80
CHI	8.19	7.24	5.71	8.82	7.82	9.06	8.20
HOU	13.25	6.88	5.59	8	9	6.88	7.40
PHI	8.31	6.24	8.59	9.53	6.94	6.35	4.40
LV	9.19	4.82	9.88	7.41	9.71	6.88	8.60

Blitzes (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Ravens (15.75), 2019 Ravens (20.56), 2020 Ravens (18.13), 2021 Buccaneers (18.41).

Ravens have led this stat 3 of 4 seasons.

The best season on record is Ravens 2019 at 20.56; the worst Chargers 2019 at 4.50.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_advanced_defense_blitzes
Side: defensive
Family: Advanced defense
Data source: P only
Polarity: higher is better (or neutral)
Display grain: count
Algorithm eligibility: Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.