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 2024 the Broncos led at 25.29; the league average was 7.99.

League snapshot — 2024

League leader

DEN · 25.29

League average

7.99

Best to worst

25.29

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DEN	25.29	17
2	GB	16.94	17
3	HOU	16.18	17
4	SEA	15.76	17
5	CIN	14.65	17
6	PIT	12.29	17
7	ATL	11	17
8	LAC	10.18	17
9	NO	9.94	17
10	SF	9.82	17
11	PHI	9.76	17
12	DET	9.12	17
13	WAS	9	17
14	BUF	8.53	17
15	LAR	8.53	17
16	MIN	8.24	17
17	LV	7.65	17
18	IND	6.18	17
19	BAL	6	17
20	KC	6	17
21	DAL	5.76	17
22	CAR	5.65	17
23	CHI	5.12	17
24	TEN	5.06	17
25	NYG	3.06	17
26	NE	2.88	17
27	JAX	2.41	17
28	TB	1.65	17
29	MIA	1.24	17
30	NYJ	1.06	17
31	ARI	0.71	17
32	CLE	0	17

At a glance — 2024

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DEN · 25.29

League laggard

CLE · 0

League average

7.99

Spread (max − min)

25.29

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DEN	25.29	17.31	100%
2	GB	16.94	8.95	96.8%
3	HOU	16.18	8.19	93.5%
4	SEA	15.76	7.78	90.3%
5	CIN	14.65	6.66	87.1%
6	PIT	12.29	4.31	83.9%
7	ATL	11	3.01	80.6%
8	LAC	10.18	2.19	77.4%
9	NO	9.94	1.95	74.2%
10	SF	9.82	1.83	71%
11	PHI	9.76	1.78	67.7%
12	DET	9.12	1.13	64.5%
13	WAS	9	1.01	61.3%
14	BUF	8.53	0.54	58.1%
15	LAR	8.53	0.54	54.8%
16	MIN	8.24	0.25	51.6%
17	LV	7.65	-0.34	48.4%
18	IND	6.18	-1.81	45.2%
19	BAL	6	-1.99	41.9%
20	KC	6	-1.99	38.7%
21	DAL	5.76	-2.22	35.5%
22	CAR	5.65	-2.34	32.3%
23	CHI	5.12	-2.87	29%
24	TEN	5.06	-2.93	25.8%
25	NYG	3.06	-4.93	22.6%
26	NE	2.88	-5.11	19.4%
27	JAX	2.41	-5.58	16.1%
28	TB	1.65	-6.34	12.9%
29	MIA	1.24	-6.75	9.7%
30	NYJ	1.06	-6.93	6.5%
31	ARI	0.71	-7.28	3.2%
32	CLE	0	-7.99	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 2024 vs 2023

Broncos lead at 25.29 — they ranked #27 last year. Browns are last at 0 — #19 last year.

The league average is 7.99, down 2.03 from 10.02 last year.

Biggest riser: Texans, #31 → #3. Biggest faller: Dolphins, #3 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 25.29; 21 teams are within 5.50 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2024 vs 2023

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

DEN · +20.29

Biggest faller

NYG · −20.71

Most consistent

TEN · 0

League trend 2024 vs 2023

▼ -2.03

Rank	Team	2024	2023	Δ
1	DEN	25.29	5	+20.29
2	GB	16.94	4.12	+12.82
3	HOU	16.18	3.71	+12.47
4	LAC	10.18	1.82	+8.35
5	CIN	14.65	8.94	+5.71
6	SEA	15.76	10.41	+5.35
7	WAS	9	5	+4
8	ATL	11	7.29	+3.71
9	LAR	8.53	5.88	+2.65
10	KC	6	4.06	+1.94
11	MIN	8.24	6.59	+1.65
12	PIT	12.29	10.82	+1.47
13	TEN	5.06	5.06	0
14	BUF	8.53	8.71	−0.18
15	NO	9.94	10.88	−0.94
16	PHI	9.76	12.18	−2.41
17	NE	2.88	5.65	−2.76
18	DET	9.12	12.29	−3.18
19	TB	1.65	5.47	−3.82
20	ARI	0.71	5.76	−5.06
21	CAR	5.65	12.12	−6.47
22	CLE	0	7.94	−7.94
23	LV	7.65	15.76	−8.12
24	SF	9.82	18.18	−8.35
25	DAL	5.76	14.65	−8.88
26	IND	6.18	15.06	−8.88
27	BAL	6	15.18	−9.18
28	CHI	5.12	14.41	−9.29
29	NYJ	1.06	12.47	−11.41
30	JAX	2.41	15.53	−13.12
31	MIA	1.24	15.88	−14.65
32	NYG	3.06	23.76	−20.71

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

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), 2023 Giants (23.76), 2024 Broncos (25.29).

Patriots have led this stat 2 of 7 seasons.

The best season on record is Broncos 2024 at 25.29; the worst Browns 2024 at 0.

The league average has fallen from 10.91 in 2018 to 7.99 in 2024.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2024.

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.