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 2023 the Jets led at 78.53; the league average was 129.1.

League snapshot — 2023

League leader

NYJ · 78.53

League average

129.1

Best to worst

112.4

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NYJ	78.53	17
2	LV	92.59	17
3	CLE	92.94	17
4	CAR	98.29	17
5	NO	107.9	17
6	DAL	108.2	17
7	NYG	108.9	17
8	MIN	115.8	17
9	NE	116.8	17
10	ATL	122	17
11	BAL	122.4	17
12	KC	122.6	17
13	CHI	123.4	17
14	SEA	125.2	17
15	JAX	129	17
16	BUF	129.5	17
17	DEN	132.7	17
18	IND	132.7	17
19	LAC	134.3	17
20	ARI	136.6	17
21	TEN	138.9	17
22	MIA	140.1	17
23	SF	140.8	17
24	PIT	141.6	17
25	GB	142	17
26	WAS	142.6	17
27	CIN	145.8	17
28	LAR	151.7	17
29	PHI	153.8	17
30	HOU	156.2	17
31	TB	157.6	17
32	DET	190.9	17

At a glance — 2023

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NYJ · 78.53

League laggard

DET · 190.9

League average

129.1

Spread (max − min)

112.4

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NYJ	78.53	-50.61	100%
2	LV	92.59	-36.55	96.8%
3	CLE	92.94	-36.19	93.5%
4	CAR	98.29	-30.84	90.3%
5	NO	107.9	-21.19	87.1%
6	DAL	108.2	-20.96	83.9%
7	NYG	108.9	-20.25	80.6%
8	MIN	115.8	-13.37	77.4%
9	NE	116.8	-12.31	74.2%
10	ATL	122	-7.14	71%
11	BAL	122.4	-6.72	67.7%
12	KC	122.6	-6.55	64.5%
13	CHI	123.4	-5.78	61.3%
14	SEA	125.2	-3.90	58.1%
15	JAX	129	-0.14	54.8%
16	BUF	129.5	0.33	51.6%
17	DEN	132.7	3.57	48.4%
18	IND	132.7	3.57	45.2%
19	LAC	134.3	5.16	41.9%
20	ARI	136.6	7.45	38.7%
21	TEN	138.9	9.75	35.5%
22	MIA	140.1	10.92	32.3%
23	SF	140.8	11.63	29%
24	PIT	141.6	12.51	25.8%
25	GB	142	12.86	22.6%
26	WAS	142.6	13.45	19.4%
27	CIN	145.8	16.69	16.1%
28	LAR	151.7	22.57	12.9%
29	PHI	153.8	24.63	9.7%
30	HOU	156.2	27.10	6.5%
31	TB	157.6	28.51	3.2%
32	DET	190.9	61.81	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 2023 vs 2022

Jets lead at 78.53 — they ranked #4 last year. Lions are last at 190.9 — #31 last year.

The league average is 129.1, down 1.54 from 130.7 last year.

Biggest riser: Vikings, #29 → #8. Biggest faller: Cardinals, #1 → #20.

Spread between first and last: 112.4; 23 teams are within 22.15 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2023 vs 2022

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

ARI · +41.18

Biggest faller

CAR · −44.88

Most consistent

LAC · −0.53

League trend 2023 vs 2022

▼ -1.54

Rank	Team	2023	2022	Δ
1	ARI	136.6	95.41	+41.18
2	HOU	156.2	119	+37.24
3	PHI	153.8	120.6	+33.12
4	DEN	132.7	102.4	+30.29
5	TB	157.6	128.4	+29.29
6	GB	142	113.4	+28.65
7	IND	132.7	104.4	+28.29
8	LAR	151.7	123.6	+28.12
9	DET	190.9	163.4	+27.59
10	WAS	142.6	117.4	+25.24
11	SEA	125.2	113.9	+11.29
12	CHI	123.4	116.1	+7.29
13	NO	107.9	103.1	+4.82
14	PIT	141.6	139.7	+1.94
15	LAC	134.3	134.8	−0.53
16	MIA	140.1	147.6	−7.59
17	SF	140.8	149.5	−8.71
18	BUF	129.5	142.3	−12.78
19	ATL	122	135.1	−13.12
20	JAX	129	142.6	−13.59
21	CIN	145.8	160.9	−15.11
22	NE	116.8	134.7	−17.88
23	CLE	92.94	111.5	−18.53
24	DAL	108.2	132.5	−24.29
25	BAL	122.4	146.9	−24.47
26	NYG	108.9	133.6	−24.71
27	NYJ	78.53	103.9	−25.35
28	TEN	138.9	165.1	−26.24
29	KC	122.6	150.5	−27.94
30	LV	92.59	130.5	−37.94
31	MIN	115.8	155.6	−39.88
32	CAR	98.29	143.2	−44.88

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
NYJ	155.2	143	103.9	78.53	110.8	106.3	101
LV	144.9	141.8	130.5	92.59	115.6	112.1	136
CLE	177.4	105.9	111.5	92.94	118.1	90.35	137.2
CAR	133.6	115.1	143.2	98.29	125.2	123.9	147.8
NO	152.4	126.1	103.1	107.9	125.1	100.6	105.4
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
MIN	158.1	143.6	155.6	115.8	149.6	89.35	83.20
NE	118.1	120.1	134.7	116.8	121.1	132.8	106
ATL	165.7	126.1	135.1	122	120.4	126.5	152.8
BAL	140.3	147.1	146.9	122.4	160.5	146.9	137.6
KC	141.1	145.2	150.5	122.6	138.9	95.82	113.5
CHI	145.6	113.8	116.1	123.4	120.3	156.5	84
SEA	187.8	127.9	113.9	125.2	105.1	124.4	91
JAX	136	132.2	142.6	129	135.8	140.3	147
BUF	162.4	101.4	142.3	129.5	144.1	108.5	136
DEN	142.4	117.3	102.4	132.7	133.4	129.4	101.8
IND	167.4	136.6	104.4	132.7	125.1	147.6	129.8
LAC	137.3	121.2	134.8	134.3	129.2	97.18	105.2
ARI	117.8	136.3	95.41	136.6	116.1	131.3	120.4
TEN	168.9	142.1	165.1	138.9	88.88	130.7	138.6
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
PIT	135.1	135.9	139.7	141.6	134	148.9	121.2
GB	140.1	121.9	113.4	142	125.2	131.9	62
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
LAR	114.8	157.6	123.6	151.7	132.2	160.8	59.60
PHI	140.6	129	120.6	153.8	136.7	116.1	101.6
HOU	132.2	152.8	119	156.2	114.6	119.1	152.4
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

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), 2023 Jets (78.53).

Bills have led this stat 2 of 6 seasons.

The best season on record is Jets 2023 at 78.53; the worst Lions 2023 at 190.9.

The league average has fallen from 141.2 in 2018 to 129.1 in 2023.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2023.

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.