What Air Yds Al. (PFR CAY) (allowed) is

Air yards allowed: how far the ball travelled in the air on completions against this defense, added up. It separates how deep opponents completed passes (coverage) from what they gained after the catch (tackling).

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

In 2020 the 49ers led at 114.4; the league average was 146.0.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

SF · 114.4

League average

146.0

Best to worst

73.44

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	SF	114.4	16
2	LAR	114.8	16
3	ARI	117.8	16
4	NE	118.1	16
5	DAL	131.4	16
6	HOU	132.2	16
7	CAR	133.6	16
8	PIT	135.1	16
9	JAX	136	16
10	WAS	136.1	16
11	LAC	137.3	16
12	GB	140.1	16
13	BAL	140.3	16
14	PHI	140.6	16
15	KC	141.1	16
16	CIN	141.2	16
17	NYG	141.8	16
18	DEN	142.4	16
19	MIA	143.4	16
20	LV	144.9	16
21	CHI	145.6	16
22	NO	152.4	16
23	NYJ	155.2	16
24	MIN	158.1	16
25	BUF	162.4	16
26	ATL	165.7	16
27	DET	165.7	16
28	IND	167.4	16
29	TEN	168.9	16
30	CLE	177.4	16
31	TB	183.8	16
32	SEA	187.8	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

SF · 114.4

League laggard

SEA · 187.8

League average

146.0

Spread (max − min)

73.44

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	SF	114.4	-31.64	100%
2	LAR	114.8	-31.27	96.8%
3	ARI	117.8	-28.27	93.5%
4	NE	118.1	-27.89	90.3%
5	DAL	131.4	-14.64	87.1%
6	HOU	132.2	-13.83	83.9%
7	CAR	133.6	-12.46	80.6%
8	PIT	135.1	-10.96	77.4%
9	JAX	136	-10.02	74.2%
10	WAS	136.1	-9.96	71%
11	LAC	137.3	-8.77	67.7%
12	GB	140.1	-5.96	64.5%
13	BAL	140.3	-5.71	61.3%
14	PHI	140.6	-5.46	58.1%
15	KC	141.1	-4.96	54.8%
16	CIN	141.2	-4.83	51.6%
17	NYG	141.8	-4.21	48.4%
18	DEN	142.4	-3.64	45.2%
19	MIA	143.4	-2.64	41.9%
20	LV	144.9	-1.08	38.7%
21	CHI	145.6	-0.39	35.5%
22	NO	152.4	6.36	32.3%
23	NYJ	155.2	9.17	29%
24	MIN	158.1	12.11	25.8%
25	BUF	162.4	16.42	22.6%
26	ATL	165.7	19.67	19.4%
27	DET	165.7	19.67	16.1%
28	IND	167.4	21.36	12.9%
29	TEN	168.9	22.86	9.7%
30	CLE	177.4	31.42	6.5%
31	TB	183.8	37.73	3.2%
32	SEA	187.8	41.79	0%

Does Air Yds Al. (PFR CAY) (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 737–841–37 ATS (46.7%) across 2020–2025, #295 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (136–118, 53.5%); its worst 2024 (104–159, 39.5%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	136–118–2	53.5%
2021	272	125–145–2	46.3%
2022	271	124–140–7	47.0%
2023	272	117–141–14	45.3%
2024	272	104–159–9	39.5%
2025	272	131–138–3	48.7%

Air Yds Al. (PFR CAY) (allowed) in 2020 vs 2019

49ers lead at 114.4 — they ranked #1 last year. Seahawks are last at 187.8 — #22 last year.

The league average is 146.0, up 4.69 from 141.3 last year.

Biggest riser: Cardinals, #23 → #3. Biggest faller: Browns, #7 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 73.44; 21 teams are within 18.67 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CLE · +55.06

Biggest faller

ARI · −36.69

Most consistent

KC · +3.63

League trend 2020 vs 2019

▲ 4.69

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	CLE	177.4	122.4	+55.06
2	BUF	162.4	120.1	+42.38
3	SEA	187.8	152.4	+35.38
4	ATL	165.7	133.4	+32.31
5	LAC	137.3	109.5	+27.75
6	BAL	140.3	120.6	+19.75
7	IND	167.4	148.3	+19.13
8	NYJ	155.2	137.2	+18
9	DEN	142.4	125.9	+16.44
10	DAL	131.4	117.3	+14.13
11	CHI	145.6	131.9	+13.75
12	JAX	136	122.5	+13.50
13	TB	183.8	171.2	+12.56
14	NE	118.1	107.9	+10.25
15	CIN	141.2	131.9	+9.25
16	SF	114.4	106.7	+7.69
17	WAS	136.1	130.9	+5.19
18	PIT	135.1	129.9	+5.13
19	KC	141.1	137.4	+3.63
20	CAR	133.6	138.1	−4.56
21	LV	144.9	149.5	−4.56
22	NO	152.4	158.5	−6.13
23	GB	140.1	150.3	−10.25
24	DET	165.7	179	−13.31
25	MIN	158.1	171.8	−13.63
26	TEN	168.9	184.3	−15.44
27	NYG	141.8	157.4	−15.56
28	MIA	143.4	162.2	−18.81
29	LAR	114.8	136.2	−21.44
30	PHI	140.6	163.1	−22.50
31	HOU	132.2	160.6	−28.38
32	ARI	117.8	154.4	−36.69

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

NYJ · 114.1

Multi-year laggard

DET · 162.0

Biggest improver

MIN · −12.12/yr

Biggest decliner

JAX · +1.51/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	NYJ	114.1	−8.18	155.2	143	103.9	78.53	110.8	106.3	101
2	NO	117.2	−6.07	152.4	126.1	103.1	107.9	125.1	100.6	105.4
3	CLE	119.0	−5.19	177.4	105.9	111.5	92.94	118.1	90.35	137.2
4	GB	119.5	−7.22	140.1	121.9	113.4	142	125.2	131.9	62
5	NE	121.4	−0.88	118.1	120.1	134.7	116.8	121.1	132.8	106
6	ARI	122.0	+0.66	117.8	136.3	95.41	136.6	116.1	131.3	120.4
7	NYG	122.2	−5.23	141.8	124.7	133.6	108.9	124.8	127.6	94
8	LAC	122.7	−5.35	137.3	121.2	134.8	134.3	129.2	97.18	105.2
9	DEN	122.8	−2.38	142.4	117.3	102.4	132.7	133.4	129.4	101.8
10	CHI	122.8	−3.40	145.6	113.8	116.1	123.4	120.3	156.5	84
11	LV	124.8	−3.61	144.9	141.8	130.5	92.59	115.6	112.1	136
12	DAL	124.8	−0.46	131.4	125.4	132.5	108.2	113.8	137.5	125.2
13	SEA	125.0	−10.94	187.8	127.9	113.9	125.2	105.1	124.4	91
14	SF	125.8	−5.14	114.4	149.4	149.5	140.8	96	141.4	89.60
15	CAR	126.7	+1.51	133.6	115.1	143.2	98.29	125.2	123.9	147.8
16	MIN	127.9	−12.12	158.1	143.6	155.6	115.8	149.6	89.35	83.20
17	PHI	128.3	−4.53	140.6	129	120.6	153.8	136.7	116.1	101.6
18	LAR	128.6	−5.38	114.8	157.6	123.6	151.7	132.2	160.8	59.60
19	KC	129.7	−6.90	141.1	145.2	150.5	122.6	138.9	95.82	113.5
20	MIA	129.7	−4.90	143.4	133.1	147.6	140.1	106.9	111.5	125.6
21	BUF	132.0	−2.26	162.4	101.4	142.3	129.5	144.1	108.5	136
22	WAS	134.0	−3.40	136.1	159.6	117.4	142.6	135.6	126.2	120.6
23	IND	134.8	−2.50	167.4	136.6	104.4	132.7	125.1	147.6	129.8
24	HOU	135.2	−0.40	132.2	152.8	119	156.2	114.6	119.1	152.4
25	ATL	135.5	−1.88	165.7	126.1	135.1	122	120.4	126.5	152.8
26	PIT	136.6	−0.76	135.1	135.9	139.7	141.6	134	148.9	121.2
27	JAX	137.5	+1.51	136	132.2	142.6	129	135.8	140.3	147
28	CIN	138.2	−10.02	141.2	183.4	160.9	145.8	118.4	101.1	116.8
29	TEN	139.0	−6.78	168.9	142.1	165.1	138.9	88.88	130.7	138.6
30	TB	142.0	−8.92	183.8	144.2	128.4	157.6	147.1	127.1	105.6
31	BAL	143.1	+0.18	140.3	147.1	146.9	122.4	160.5	146.9	137.6
32	DET	162.0	+0.49	165.7	144.6	163.4	190.9	149.5	145.9	174

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
SF	114.4	149.4	149.5	140.8	96	141.4	89.60
LAR	114.8	157.6	123.6	151.7	132.2	160.8	59.60
ARI	117.8	136.3	95.41	136.6	116.1	131.3	120.4
NE	118.1	120.1	134.7	116.8	121.1	132.8	106
DAL	131.4	125.4	132.5	108.2	113.8	137.5	125.2
HOU	132.2	152.8	119	156.2	114.6	119.1	152.4
CAR	133.6	115.1	143.2	98.29	125.2	123.9	147.8
PIT	135.1	135.9	139.7	141.6	134	148.9	121.2
JAX	136	132.2	142.6	129	135.8	140.3	147
WAS	136.1	159.6	117.4	142.6	135.6	126.2	120.6
LAC	137.3	121.2	134.8	134.3	129.2	97.18	105.2
GB	140.1	121.9	113.4	142	125.2	131.9	62
BAL	140.3	147.1	146.9	122.4	160.5	146.9	137.6
PHI	140.6	129	120.6	153.8	136.7	116.1	101.6
KC	141.1	145.2	150.5	122.6	138.9	95.82	113.5
CIN	141.2	183.4	160.9	145.8	118.4	101.1	116.8
NYG	141.8	124.7	133.6	108.9	124.8	127.6	94
DEN	142.4	117.3	102.4	132.7	133.4	129.4	101.8
MIA	143.4	133.1	147.6	140.1	106.9	111.5	125.6
LV	144.9	141.8	130.5	92.59	115.6	112.1	136
CHI	145.6	113.8	116.1	123.4	120.3	156.5	84
NO	152.4	126.1	103.1	107.9	125.1	100.6	105.4
NYJ	155.2	143	103.9	78.53	110.8	106.3	101
MIN	158.1	143.6	155.6	115.8	149.6	89.35	83.20
BUF	162.4	101.4	142.3	129.5	144.1	108.5	136
ATL	165.7	126.1	135.1	122	120.4	126.5	152.8
DET	165.7	144.6	163.4	190.9	149.5	145.9	174
IND	167.4	136.6	104.4	132.7	125.1	147.6	129.8
TEN	168.9	142.1	165.1	138.9	88.88	130.7	138.6
CLE	177.4	105.9	111.5	92.94	118.1	90.35	137.2
TB	183.8	144.2	128.4	157.6	147.1	127.1	105.6
SEA	187.8	127.9	113.9	125.2	105.1	124.4	91

Air Yds Al. (PFR CAY) (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bills (97.06), 2019 49ers (106.7), 2020 49ers (114.4).

49ers have led this stat 2 of 3 seasons.

The best season on record is Bills 2018 at 97.06; the worst Seahawks 2020 at 187.8.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2020.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_advanced_defense_def_air_yds
Side: defensive
Family: Advanced defense
Data source: P only
Polarity: lower is better
Display grain: count
Algorithm eligibility: Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.