What INT Return Yds (allowed) is

Interception return yards: the yards this defense gained returning its interceptions. It turns a stop into field position or points.

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

In 2021 the Cowboys led at 23.82; the league average was 10.13.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

DAL · 23.82

League average

10.13

Best to worst

21.59

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DAL	23.82	17
2	NE	18.94	17
3	NO	18.41	17
4	HOU	17.35	17
5	CIN	15.65	17
6	MIN	15.06	17
7	ARI	14.53	17
8	BUF	14	17
9	DEN	13	17
10	ATL	11.88	17
11	LAR	11.29	17
12	TB	10.41	17
13	IND	10.29	17
14	MIA	10.29	17
15	GB	9.65	17
16	KC	9.41	17
17	CLE	8.71	17
18	PHI	8.41	17
19	SF	8	17
20	CHI	7.94	17
21	NYG	7.94	17
22	TEN	7.53	17
23	WAS	7.06	17
24	NYJ	6.71	17
25	DET	6.35	17
26	PIT	6.18	17
27	CAR	6.06	17
28	SEA	5.41	17
29	LAC	4.12	17
30	LV	4	17
31	JAX	3.35	17
32	BAL	2.24	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DAL · 23.82

League laggard

BAL · 2.24

League average

10.13

Spread (max − min)

21.59

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DAL	23.82	13.70	100%
2	NE	18.94	8.82	96.8%
3	NO	18.41	8.29	93.5%
4	HOU	17.35	7.23	90.3%
5	CIN	15.65	5.52	87.1%
6	MIN	15.06	4.93	83.9%
7	ARI	14.53	4.40	80.6%
8	BUF	14	3.88	77.4%
9	DEN	13	2.88	74.2%
10	ATL	11.88	1.76	71%
11	LAR	11.29	1.17	67.7%
12	TB	10.41	0.29	64.5%
13	IND	10.29	0.17	61.3%
14	MIA	10.29	0.17	58.1%
15	GB	9.65	-0.48	54.8%
16	KC	9.41	-0.71	51.6%
17	CLE	8.71	-1.42	48.4%
18	PHI	8.41	-1.71	45.2%
19	SF	8	-2.13	41.9%
20	CHI	7.94	-2.18	38.7%
21	NYG	7.94	-2.18	35.5%
22	TEN	7.53	-2.60	32.3%
23	WAS	7.06	-3.07	29%
24	NYJ	6.71	-3.42	25.8%
25	DET	6.35	-3.77	22.6%
26	PIT	6.18	-3.95	19.4%
27	CAR	6.06	-4.07	16.1%
28	SEA	5.41	-4.71	12.9%
29	LAC	4.12	-6.01	9.7%
30	LV	4	-6.13	6.5%
31	JAX	3.35	-6.77	3.2%
32	BAL	2.24	-7.89	0%

Does INT Return Yds (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 831–747–37 ATS (52.7%) across 2020–2025, #146 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (141–113, 55.5%); its worst 2024 (129–134, 49.0%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	141–113–2	55.5%
2021	272	143–127–2	53.0%
2022	271	144–120–7	54.5%
2023	272	134–124–14	51.9%
2024	272	129–134–9	49.0%
2025	272	140–129–3	52.0%

INT Return Yds (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Cowboys lead at 23.82 — they ranked #22 last year. Ravens are last at 2.24 — #28 last year.

The league average is 10.13, up 0.99 from 9.14 last year.

Biggest riser: Texans, #32 → #4. Biggest faller: Chargers, #4 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 21.59; 23 teams are within 4.96 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

DAL · +17.07

Biggest faller

LAC · −9.44

Most consistent

TB · −0.28

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 0.99

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	DAL	23.82	6.75	+17.07
2	HOU	17.35	1.19	+16.17
3	MIN	15.06	4.06	+11.00
4	CIN	15.65	5.25	+10.40
5	NE	18.94	10.13	+8.82
6	ARI	14.53	8.06	+6.47
7	NO	18.41	12.25	+6.16
8	DEN	13	8.13	+4.88
9	GB	9.65	6.38	+3.27
10	CHI	7.94	5.06	+2.88
11	BUF	14	11.50	+2.50
12	DET	6.35	4.06	+2.29
13	PHI	8.41	6.31	+2.10
14	NYG	7.94	6.31	+1.63
15	MIA	10.29	9.13	+1.17
16	SF	8	7.69	+0.31
17	TB	10.41	10.69	−0.28
18	CAR	6.06	6.88	−0.82
19	ATL	11.88	12.75	−0.87
20	SEA	5.41	6.63	−1.21
21	WAS	7.06	8.50	−1.44
22	NYJ	6.71	8.38	−1.67
23	BAL	2.24	5.13	−2.89
24	TEN	7.53	11.81	−4.28
25	PIT	6.18	10.75	−4.57
26	CLE	8.71	13.38	−4.67
27	LAR	11.29	16.63	−5.33
28	LV	4	9.75	−5.75
29	IND	10.29	16.63	−6.33
30	KC	9.41	16.19	−6.78
31	JAX	3.35	12.50	−9.15
32	LAC	4.12	13.56	−9.44

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

DEN · 12.41

Multi-year laggard

NYJ · 5.44

Biggest improver

NYG · +1.88/yr

Biggest decliner

KC · −2.18/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	DEN	12.41	+1.75	8.13	13	5.59	5	25.29	9.88	20
2	JAX	12.34	+1.54	12.50	3.35	13.65	15.53	2.41	18.35	20.60
3	NYG	11.61	+1.88	6.31	7.94	5.71	23.76	3.06	13.29	21.20
4	LAR	11.54	−0.69	16.63	11.29	14.12	5.88	8.53	14.12	10.20
5	BUF	10.98	−0.04	11.50	14	10.31	8.71	8.53	8.24	15.60
6	SEA	10.95	+1.68	6.63	5.41	9.59	10.41	15.76	14.82	14
7	NE	10.56	−1.99	10.13	18.94	22.53	5.65	2.88	9.18	4.60
8	CAR	10.39	+1.49	6.88	6.06	11.12	12.12	5.65	12.94	18
9	SF	10.27	−0.94	7.69	8	17.94	18.18	9.82	9.88	0.40
10	PIT	9.90	+0.32	10.75	6.18	8.94	10.82	12.29	10.71	9.60
11	GB	9.88	−0.28	6.38	9.65	20.65	4.12	16.94	0	11.40
12	CHI	9.29	+0.11	5.06	7.94	12	14.41	5.12	20.47	0
13	HOU	9.23	−0.38	1.19	17.35	14.88	3.71	16.18	7.53	3.80
14	PHI	9.18	+0.20	6.31	8.41	10.94	12.18	9.76	7.47	9.20
15	NO	9.17	−2.04	12.25	18.41	6.47	10.88	9.94	5.82	0.40
16	IND	9.16	−1.99	16.63	10.29	8.29	15.06	6.18	6.29	1.40
17	ATL	9.11	−0.99	12.75	11.88	7.29	7.29	11	10.18	3.40
18	CIN	9.11	−0.54	5.25	15.65	8.31	8.94	14.65	7.35	3.60
19	MIN	8.91	−0.06	4.06	15.06	10.94	6.59	8.24	9.06	8.40
20	LV	8.85	+0.28	9.75	4	8.29	15.76	7.65	3.71	12.80
21	TEN	8.81	+0.42	11.81	7.53	8.76	5.06	5.06	4.47	19
22	DAL	8.80	−1.84	6.75	23.82	3.53	14.65	5.76	7.06	0
23	MIA	8.01	−0.75	9.13	10.29	6.76	15.88	1.24	6	6.80
24	CLE	7.97	−0.42	13.38	8.71	3.59	7.94	0	17.18	5
25	KC	7.81	−2.18	16.19	9.41	13.24	4.06	6	3.76	2
26	BAL	7.76	+0.88	5.13	2.24	6.18	15.18	6	14.24	5.40
27	TB	7.56	−0.61	10.69	10.41	8.24	5.47	1.65	7.06	9.40
28	WAS	7.23	+0.35	8.50	7.06	4	5	9	6.65	10.40
29	DET	7.09	−0.25	4.06	6.35	9.24	12.29	9.12	7.76	0.80
30	ARI	7.08	−1.86	8.06	14.53	14.47	5.76	0.71	3	3
31	LAC	6.90	−1.05	13.56	4.12	9.76	1.82	10.18	7.47	1.40
32	NYJ	5.44	−0.90	8.38	6.71	4.06	12.47	1.06	0	5.40

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
DAL	6.75	23.82	3.53	14.65	5.76	7.06	0
NE	10.13	18.94	22.53	5.65	2.88	9.18	4.60
NO	12.25	18.41	6.47	10.88	9.94	5.82	0.40
HOU	1.19	17.35	14.88	3.71	16.18	7.53	3.80
CIN	5.25	15.65	8.31	8.94	14.65	7.35	3.60
MIN	4.06	15.06	10.94	6.59	8.24	9.06	8.40
ARI	8.06	14.53	14.47	5.76	0.71	3	3
BUF	11.50	14	10.31	8.71	8.53	8.24	15.60
DEN	8.13	13	5.59	5	25.29	9.88	20
ATL	12.75	11.88	7.29	7.29	11	10.18	3.40
LAR	16.63	11.29	14.12	5.88	8.53	14.12	10.20
TB	10.69	10.41	8.24	5.47	1.65	7.06	9.40
IND	16.63	10.29	8.29	15.06	6.18	6.29	1.40
MIA	9.13	10.29	6.76	15.88	1.24	6	6.80
GB	6.38	9.65	20.65	4.12	16.94	0	11.40
KC	16.19	9.41	13.24	4.06	6	3.76	2
CLE	13.38	8.71	3.59	7.94	0	17.18	5
PHI	6.31	8.41	10.94	12.18	9.76	7.47	9.20
SF	7.69	8	17.94	18.18	9.82	9.88	0.40
CHI	5.06	7.94	12	14.41	5.12	20.47	0
NYG	6.31	7.94	5.71	23.76	3.06	13.29	21.20
TEN	11.81	7.53	8.76	5.06	5.06	4.47	19
WAS	8.50	7.06	4	5	9	6.65	10.40
NYJ	8.38	6.71	4.06	12.47	1.06	0	5.40
DET	4.06	6.35	9.24	12.29	9.12	7.76	0.80
PIT	10.75	6.18	8.94	10.82	12.29	10.71	9.60
CAR	6.88	6.06	11.12	12.12	5.65	12.94	18
SEA	6.63	5.41	9.59	10.41	15.76	14.82	14
LAC	13.56	4.12	9.76	1.82	10.18	7.47	1.40
LV	9.75	4	8.29	15.76	7.65	3.71	12.80
JAX	12.50	3.35	13.65	15.53	2.41	18.35	20.60
BAL	5.13	2.24	6.18	15.18	6	14.24	5.40

INT Return Yds (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bears (20.63), 2019 Patriots (22.06), 2020 Colts (16.63), 2021 Cowboys (23.82).

The best season on record is Cowboys 2021 at 23.82; the worst Texans 2020 at 1.19.

The league average has fallen from 10.91 in 2018 to 10.13 in 2021.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

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