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 2022 the Cardinals led at 95.41; the league average was 130.7.

League snapshot — 2022

League leader

ARI · 95.41

League average

130.7

Best to worst

69.71

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	ARI	95.41	17
2	DEN	102.4	17
3	NO	103.1	17
4	NYJ	103.9	17
5	IND	104.4	17
6	CLE	111.5	17
7	GB	113.4	17
8	SEA	113.9	17
9	CHI	116.1	17
10	WAS	117.4	17
11	HOU	119	17
12	PHI	120.6	17
13	LAR	123.6	17
14	TB	128.4	17
15	LV	130.5	17
16	DAL	132.5	17
17	NYG	133.6	17
18	NE	134.7	17
19	LAC	134.8	17
20	ATL	135.1	17
21	PIT	139.7	17
22	BUF	142.3	16
23	JAX	142.6	17
24	CAR	143.2	17
25	BAL	146.9	17
26	MIA	147.6	17
27	SF	149.5	17
28	KC	150.5	17
29	MIN	155.6	17
30	CIN	160.9	16
31	DET	163.4	17
32	TEN	165.1	17

At a glance — 2022

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

ARI · 95.41

League laggard

TEN · 165.1

League average

130.7

Spread (max − min)

69.71

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	ARI	95.41	-35.26	100%
2	DEN	102.4	-28.26	96.8%
3	NO	103.1	-27.56	93.5%
4	NYJ	103.9	-26.79	90.3%
5	IND	104.4	-26.26	87.1%
6	CLE	111.5	-19.20	83.9%
7	GB	113.4	-17.32	80.6%
8	SEA	113.9	-16.73	77.4%
9	CHI	116.1	-14.61	74.2%
10	WAS	117.4	-13.32	71%
11	HOU	119	-11.67	67.7%
12	PHI	120.6	-10.03	64.5%
13	LAR	123.6	-7.08	61.3%
14	TB	128.4	-2.32	58.1%
15	LV	130.5	-0.14	54.8%
16	DAL	132.5	1.80	51.6%
17	NYG	133.6	2.92	48.4%
18	NE	134.7	4.03	45.2%
19	LAC	134.8	4.15	41.9%
20	ATL	135.1	4.44	38.7%
21	PIT	139.7	9.03	35.5%
22	BUF	142.3	11.58	32.3%
23	JAX	142.6	11.92	29%
24	CAR	143.2	12.50	25.8%
25	BAL	146.9	16.21	22.6%
26	MIA	147.6	16.97	19.4%
27	SF	149.5	18.80	16.1%
28	KC	150.5	19.86	12.9%
29	MIN	155.6	24.97	9.7%
30	CIN	160.9	30.26	6.5%
31	DET	163.4	32.68	3.2%
32	TEN	165.1	34.44	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 2022 vs 2021

Cardinals lead at 95.41 — they ranked #18 last year. Titans are last at 165.1 — #21 last year.

The league average is 130.7, down 3.83 from 134.5 last year.

Biggest riser: Commanders, #31 → #10. Biggest faller: Bills, #1 → #22.

Spread between first and last: 69.71; 21 teams are within 18.97 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2022 vs 2021

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

BUF · +40.84

Biggest faller

WAS · −42.29

Most consistent

SF · +0.12

League trend 2022 vs 2021

▼ -3.83

Rank	Team	2022	2021	Δ
1	BUF	142.3	101.4	+40.84
2	CAR	143.2	115.1	+28.06
3	TEN	165.1	142.1	+23
4	DET	163.4	144.6	+18.76
5	MIA	147.6	133.1	+14.59
6	NE	134.7	120.1	+14.59
7	LAC	134.8	121.2	+13.65
8	MIN	155.6	143.6	+12.06
9	JAX	142.6	132.2	+10.41
10	ATL	135.1	126.1	+9.06
11	NYG	133.6	124.7	+8.88
12	DAL	132.5	125.4	+7.12
13	CLE	111.5	105.9	+5.59
14	KC	150.5	145.2	+5.29
15	PIT	139.7	135.9	+3.82
16	CHI	116.1	113.8	+2.29
17	SF	149.5	149.4	+0.12
18	BAL	146.9	147.1	−0.18
19	PHI	120.6	129	−8.35
20	GB	113.4	121.9	−8.53
21	LV	130.5	141.8	−11.24
22	SEA	113.9	127.9	−13.94
23	DEN	102.4	117.3	−14.88
24	TB	128.4	144.2	−15.82
25	CIN	160.9	183.4	−22.47
26	NO	103.1	126.1	−22.94
27	IND	104.4	136.6	−32.24
28	HOU	119	152.8	−33.76
29	LAR	123.6	157.6	−34.06
30	NYJ	103.9	143	−39.12
31	ARI	95.41	136.3	−40.88
32	WAS	117.4	159.6	−42.29

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
ARI	117.8	136.3	95.41	136.6	116.1	131.3	120.4
DEN	142.4	117.3	102.4	132.7	133.4	129.4	101.8
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
IND	167.4	136.6	104.4	132.7	125.1	147.6	129.8
CLE	177.4	105.9	111.5	92.94	118.1	90.35	137.2
GB	140.1	121.9	113.4	142	125.2	131.9	62
SEA	187.8	127.9	113.9	125.2	105.1	124.4	91
CHI	145.6	113.8	116.1	123.4	120.3	156.5	84
WAS	136.1	159.6	117.4	142.6	135.6	126.2	120.6
HOU	132.2	152.8	119	156.2	114.6	119.1	152.4
PHI	140.6	129	120.6	153.8	136.7	116.1	101.6
LAR	114.8	157.6	123.6	151.7	132.2	160.8	59.60
TB	183.8	144.2	128.4	157.6	147.1	127.1	105.6
LV	144.9	141.8	130.5	92.59	115.6	112.1	136
DAL	131.4	125.4	132.5	108.2	113.8	137.5	125.2
NYG	141.8	124.7	133.6	108.9	124.8	127.6	94
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
ATL	165.7	126.1	135.1	122	120.4	126.5	152.8
PIT	135.1	135.9	139.7	141.6	134	148.9	121.2
BUF	162.4	101.4	142.3	129.5	144.1	108.5	136
JAX	136	132.2	142.6	129	135.8	140.3	147
CAR	133.6	115.1	143.2	98.29	125.2	123.9	147.8
BAL	140.3	147.1	146.9	122.4	160.5	146.9	137.6
MIA	143.4	133.1	147.6	140.1	106.9	111.5	125.6
SF	114.4	149.4	149.5	140.8	96	141.4	89.60
KC	141.1	145.2	150.5	122.6	138.9	95.82	113.5
MIN	158.1	143.6	155.6	115.8	149.6	89.35	83.20
CIN	141.2	183.4	160.9	145.8	118.4	101.1	116.8
DET	165.7	144.6	163.4	190.9	149.5	145.9	174
TEN	168.9	142.1	165.1	138.9	88.88	130.7	138.6

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), 2022 Cardinals (95.41).

Bills have led this stat 2 of 5 seasons.

The best season on record is Cardinals 2022 at 95.41; the worst Seahawks 2020 at 187.8.

The league average has fallen from 141.2 in 2018 to 130.7 in 2022.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2022.

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.