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 2021 the Bills led at 101.4; the league average was 134.5.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

BUF · 101.4

League average

134.5

Best to worst

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	BUF	101.4	17
2	CLE	105.9	17
3	CHI	113.8	17
4	CAR	115.1	17
5	DEN	117.3	17
6	NE	120.1	17
7	LAC	121.2	17
8	GB	121.9	17
9	NYG	124.7	17
10	DAL	125.4	17
11	ATL	126.1	17
12	NO	126.1	17
13	SEA	127.9	17
14	PHI	129	17
15	JAX	132.2	17
16	MIA	133.1	17
17	PIT	135.9	17
18	ARI	136.3	17
19	IND	136.6	17
20	LV	141.8	17
21	TEN	142.1	17
22	NYJ	143	17
23	MIN	143.6	17
24	TB	144.2	17
25	DET	144.6	17
26	KC	145.2	17
27	BAL	147.1	17
28	SF	149.4	17
29	HOU	152.8	17
30	LAR	157.6	17
31	WAS	159.6	17
32	CIN	183.4	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

BUF · 101.4

League laggard

CIN · 183.4

League average

134.5

Spread (max − min)

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	BUF	101.4	-33.09	100%
2	CLE	105.9	-28.62	96.8%
3	CHI	113.8	-20.74	93.5%
4	CAR	115.1	-19.39	90.3%
5	DEN	117.3	-17.21	87.1%
6	NE	120.1	-14.39	83.9%
7	LAC	121.2	-13.33	80.6%
8	GB	121.9	-12.62	77.4%
9	NYG	124.7	-9.80	74.2%
10	DAL	125.4	-9.15	71%
11	ATL	126.1	-8.44	67.7%
12	NO	126.1	-8.44	64.5%
13	SEA	127.9	-6.62	61.3%
14	PHI	129	-5.50	58.1%
15	JAX	132.2	-2.33	54.8%
16	MIA	133.1	-1.44	51.6%
17	PIT	135.9	1.38	48.4%
18	ARI	136.3	1.79	45.2%
19	IND	136.6	2.14	41.9%
20	LV	141.8	7.26	38.7%
21	TEN	142.1	7.61	35.5%
22	NYJ	143	8.50	32.3%
23	MIN	143.6	9.08	29%
24	TB	144.2	9.67	25.8%
25	DET	144.6	10.08	22.6%
26	KC	145.2	10.73	19.4%
27	BAL	147.1	12.56	16.1%
28	SF	149.4	14.85	12.9%
29	HOU	152.8	18.26	9.7%
30	LAR	157.6	23.14	6.5%
31	WAS	159.6	25.14	3.2%
32	CIN	183.4	48.91	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 2021 vs 2020

Bills lead at 101.4 — they ranked #25 last year. Bengals are last at 183.4 — #16 last year.

The league average is 134.5, down 11.51 from 146.0 last year.

Biggest riser: Browns, #30 → #2. Biggest faller: Rams, #2 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 82; 23 teams are within 16.60 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

LAR · +42.90

Biggest faller

CLE · −71.56

Most consistent

PIT · +0.82

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▼ -11.51

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	LAR	157.6	114.8	+42.90
2	CIN	183.4	141.2	+42.22
3	SF	149.4	114.4	+34.98
4	WAS	159.6	136.1	+23.58
5	HOU	152.8	132.2	+20.58
6	ARI	136.3	117.8	+18.54
7	BAL	147.1	140.3	+6.75
8	KC	145.2	141.1	+4.17
9	NE	120.1	118.1	+1.99
10	PIT	135.9	135.1	+0.82
11	LV	141.8	144.9	−3.17
12	JAX	132.2	136	−3.82
13	DAL	125.4	131.4	−6.02
14	MIA	133.1	143.4	−10.32
15	PHI	129	140.6	−11.56
16	NYJ	143	155.2	−12.19
17	MIN	143.6	158.1	−14.54
18	LAC	121.2	137.3	−16.07
19	NYG	124.7	141.8	−17.11
20	GB	121.9	140.1	−18.18
21	CAR	115.1	133.6	−18.44
22	DET	144.6	165.7	−21.10
23	DEN	117.3	142.4	−25.08
24	NO	126.1	152.4	−26.32
25	TEN	142.1	168.9	−26.76
26	IND	136.6	167.4	−30.73
27	CHI	113.8	145.6	−31.86
28	TB	144.2	183.8	−39.57
29	ATL	126.1	165.7	−39.63
30	SEA	127.9	187.8	−59.93
31	BUF	101.4	162.4	−61.03
32	CLE	105.9	177.4	−71.56

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

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

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bills (97.06), 2019 49ers (106.7), 2020 49ers (114.4), 2021 Bills (101.4).

Bills have led this stat 2 of 4 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 2021.

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.