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 2022 the Patriots led at 22.53; the league average was 9.98.

League snapshot — 2022

League leader

NE · 22.53

League average

9.98

Best to worst

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NE	22.53	17
2	GB	20.65	17
3	SF	17.94	17
4	HOU	14.88	17
5	ARI	14.47	17
6	LAR	14.12	17
7	JAX	13.65	17
8	KC	13.24	17
9	CHI	12	17
10	CAR	11.12	17
11	MIN	10.94	17
12	PHI	10.94	17
13	BUF	10.31	16
14	LAC	9.76	17
15	SEA	9.59	17
16	DET	9.24	17
17	PIT	8.94	17
18	TEN	8.76	17
19	CIN	8.31	16
20	IND	8.29	17
21	LV	8.29	17
22	TB	8.24	17
23	ATL	7.29	17
24	MIA	6.76	17
25	NO	6.47	17
26	BAL	6.18	17
27	NYG	5.71	17
28	DEN	5.59	17
29	NYJ	4.06	17
30	WAS	4	17
31	CLE	3.59	17
32	DAL	3.53	17

At a glance — 2022

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NE · 22.53

League laggard

DAL · 3.53

League average

9.98

Spread (max − min)

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NE	22.53	12.55	100%
2	GB	20.65	10.67	96.8%
3	SF	17.94	7.96	93.5%
4	HOU	14.88	4.90	90.3%
5	ARI	14.47	4.49	87.1%
6	LAR	14.12	4.14	83.9%
7	JAX	13.65	3.67	80.6%
8	KC	13.24	3.25	77.4%
9	CHI	12	2.02	74.2%
10	CAR	11.12	1.14	71%
11	MIN	10.94	0.96	67.7%
12	PHI	10.94	0.96	64.5%
13	BUF	10.31	0.33	61.3%
14	LAC	9.76	-0.22	58.1%
15	SEA	9.59	-0.39	54.8%
16	DET	9.24	-0.75	51.6%
17	PIT	8.94	-1.04	48.4%
18	TEN	8.76	-1.22	45.2%
19	CIN	8.31	-1.67	41.9%
20	IND	8.29	-1.69	38.7%
21	LV	8.29	-1.69	35.5%
22	TB	8.24	-1.75	32.3%
23	ATL	7.29	-2.69	29%
24	MIA	6.76	-3.22	25.8%
25	NO	6.47	-3.51	22.6%
26	BAL	6.18	-3.80	19.4%
27	NYG	5.71	-4.28	16.1%
28	DEN	5.59	-4.39	12.9%
29	NYJ	4.06	-5.92	9.7%
30	WAS	4	-5.98	6.5%
31	CLE	3.59	-6.39	3.2%
32	DAL	3.53	-6.45	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 2022 vs 2021

Patriots lead at 22.53 — they ranked #2 last year. Cowboys are last at 3.53 — #1 last year.

The league average is 9.98, down 0.14 from 10.13 last year.

Biggest riser: Jaguars, #31 → #7. Biggest faller: Cowboys, #1 → #32.

Spread between first and last: 19; 24 teams are within 4.60 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2022 vs 2021

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

GB · +11.00

Biggest faller

DAL · −20.29

Most consistent

ARI · −0.06

League trend 2022 vs 2021

▼ -0.14

Rank	Team	2022	2021	Δ
1	GB	20.65	9.65	+11.00
2	JAX	13.65	3.35	+10.29
3	SF	17.94	8	+9.94
4	LAC	9.76	4.12	+5.65
5	CAR	11.12	6.06	+5.06
6	LV	8.29	4	+4.29
7	SEA	9.59	5.41	+4.18
8	CHI	12	7.94	+4.06
9	BAL	6.18	2.24	+3.94
10	KC	13.24	9.41	+3.82
11	NE	22.53	18.94	+3.59
12	DET	9.24	6.35	+2.88
13	LAR	14.12	11.29	+2.82
14	PIT	8.94	6.18	+2.76
15	PHI	10.94	8.41	+2.53
16	TEN	8.76	7.53	+1.24
17	ARI	14.47	14.53	−0.06
18	IND	8.29	10.29	−2
19	TB	8.24	10.41	−2.18
20	NYG	5.71	7.94	−2.24
21	HOU	14.88	17.35	−2.47
22	NYJ	4.06	6.71	−2.65
23	WAS	4	7.06	−3.06
24	MIA	6.76	10.29	−3.53
25	BUF	10.31	14	−3.69
26	MIN	10.94	15.06	−4.12
27	ATL	7.29	11.88	−4.59
28	CLE	3.59	8.71	−5.12
29	CIN	8.31	15.65	−7.33
30	DEN	5.59	13	−7.41
31	NO	6.47	18.41	−11.94
32	DAL	3.53	23.82	−20.29

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

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), 2022 Patriots (22.53).

Patriots have led this stat 2 of 5 seasons.

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 9.98 in 2022.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2022.

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.