Defensive: Advanced defense · QB Hits (allowed)

DEF · Advanced defenseP + N
About this stat ↓

What QB Hits (allowed) is

Quarterback hits by this defense: contact made on the passer, whether or not it was a sack. Pressure that arrived.

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 Dolphins led at 7.53; the league average was 5.53.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader
MIA · 7.53
League average
5.53
Best to worst
4.06

All 32 teams, higher is better.

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader
MIA · 7.53
League laggard
ATL · 3.47
League average
5.53
Spread (max − min)
4.06

Does QB Hits (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 847–731–37 ATS (53.7%) across 2020–2025, #111 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2022 (148–116, 56.1%); its worst 2021 (138–132, 51.1%).

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

SeasonGamesATS recordATS %
2020256140–114–255.1%
2021272138–132–251.1%
2022271148–116–756.1%
2023272141–117–1454.7%
2024272141–122–953.6%
2025272139–130–351.7%

QB Hits (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Dolphins lead at 7.53 — they ranked #11 last year. Falcons are last at 3.47 — #14 last year.

The league average is 5.53, down 0.11 from 5.64 last year.

Biggest riser: Cowboys, #26 → #3. Biggest faller: Eagles, #4 → #28.

Spread between first and last: 4.06; 24 teams are within 0.91 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser
DAL · +2.08
Biggest faller
PIT · −2.33
Most consistent
IND · −0.00
League trend 2021 vs 2020
▼ -0.11

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader
DEN · 6.65
Multi-year laggard
CAR · 4.60
Biggest improver
DET · +0.82/yr
Biggest decliner
TB · −0.48/yr

Multi-year heatmap

32 teams across 7 seasons. Cells colored by quintile within each season; click a column header to jump to that year.

Team2020202120222023202420252026
MIA6.197.535.948.184.764.654.20
TB7.257.476.124.946.715.294
DAL4.636.716.475.826.186.353.80
LV4.816.715.535.245.064.828.40
NO7.066.655.124.534.944.945
PIT8.566.244.946.296.186.595.20
WAS6.066.126.354.945.185.536
SF4.506.067.127.184.713.415.60
CLE4.6963.886.416.356.657
ARI6.255.946.243.474.474.184.60
MIN4.385.945.185.356.655.768.80
CIN4.565.826.386.476.184.656.40
BAL7.255.655.596.887.185.946.40
LAR6.385.594.715.354.246.884.20
CAR5.565.535.354.353.763.414.25
GB55.475.126.355.356.186.60
TEN4.505.476.124.943.945.763.60
SEA6.815.415.765.716.597.188
BUF5.755.356.136.885.535.417.40
KC6.195.3577.356.596.065
LAC5.315.244.535.185.715.357
NYJ5.255.187.656.294.943.415.40
IND5.065.065.296.354.885.765.60
NE4.065.065.474.593.885.186.20
CHI5.504.882.535.415.884.945
DEN5.814.884.765.888.359.657.20
JAX4.814.886.536.2945.596.60
PHI7.194.887.296.245.126.183.60
NYG6.754.656.244.885.535.654.20
HOU54.124.596.655.765.598
DET3.503.715.886.826.4769.40
ATL5.753.474.065.764.355.719.20

QB Hits (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Eagles (8.31), 2019 Steelers (7.38), 2020 Steelers (8.56), 2021 Dolphins (7.53).

Steelers have led this stat 2 of 4 seasons.

The best season on record is Steelers 2020 at 8.56; the worst Raiders 2018 at 3.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat
Stat ID
def_advanced_defense_def_qb_hits
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.