Defensive: Advanced defense · QB Hits (allowed)
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
All 32 teams, higher is better.
| Rank | Team | Value | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIA | 7.53 | 17 |
| 2 | TB | 7.47 | 17 |
| 3 | DAL | 6.71 | 17 |
| 4 | LV | 6.71 | 17 |
| 5 | NO | 6.65 | 17 |
| 6 | PIT | 6.24 | 17 |
| 7 | WAS | 6.12 | 17 |
| 8 | SF | 6.06 | 17 |
| 9 | CLE | 6 | 17 |
| 10 | ARI | 5.94 | 17 |
| 11 | MIN | 5.94 | 17 |
| 12 | CIN | 5.82 | 17 |
| 13 | BAL | 5.65 | 17 |
| 14 | LAR | 5.59 | 17 |
| 15 | CAR | 5.53 | 17 |
| 16 | GB | 5.47 | 17 |
| 17 | TEN | 5.47 | 17 |
| 18 | SEA | 5.41 | 17 |
| 19 | BUF | 5.35 | 17 |
| 20 | KC | 5.35 | 17 |
| 21 | LAC | 5.24 | 17 |
| 22 | NYJ | 5.18 | 17 |
| 23 | IND | 5.06 | 17 |
| 24 | NE | 5.06 | 17 |
| 25 | CHI | 4.88 | 17 |
| 26 | DEN | 4.88 | 17 |
| 27 | JAX | 4.88 | 17 |
| 28 | PHI | 4.88 | 17 |
| 29 | NYG | 4.65 | 17 |
| 30 | HOU | 4.12 | 17 |
| 31 | DET | 3.71 | 17 |
| 32 | ATL | 3.47 | 17 |
At a glance — 2021
Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.
All teams — 2021
| Rank | Team | Value | Δ vs avg | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIA | 7.53 | 2.00 | 100% |
| 2 | TB | 7.47 | 1.94 | 96.8% |
| 3 | DAL | 6.71 | 1.17 | 93.5% |
| 4 | LV | 6.71 | 1.17 | 90.3% |
| 5 | NO | 6.65 | 1.12 | 87.1% |
| 6 | PIT | 6.24 | 0.70 | 83.9% |
| 7 | WAS | 6.12 | 0.59 | 80.6% |
| 8 | SF | 6.06 | 0.53 | 77.4% |
| 9 | CLE | 6 | 0.47 | 74.2% |
| 10 | ARI | 5.94 | 0.41 | 71% |
| 11 | MIN | 5.94 | 0.41 | 67.7% |
| 12 | CIN | 5.82 | 0.29 | 64.5% |
| 13 | BAL | 5.65 | 0.12 | 61.3% |
| 14 | LAR | 5.59 | 0.06 | 58.1% |
| 15 | CAR | 5.53 | 0.00 | 54.8% |
| 16 | GB | 5.47 | -0.06 | 51.6% |
| 17 | TEN | 5.47 | -0.06 | 48.4% |
| 18 | SEA | 5.41 | -0.12 | 45.2% |
| 19 | BUF | 5.35 | -0.18 | 41.9% |
| 20 | KC | 5.35 | -0.18 | 38.7% |
| 21 | LAC | 5.24 | -0.30 | 35.5% |
| 22 | NYJ | 5.18 | -0.35 | 32.3% |
| 23 | IND | 5.06 | -0.47 | 29% |
| 24 | NE | 5.06 | -0.47 | 25.8% |
| 25 | CHI | 4.88 | -0.65 | 22.6% |
| 26 | DEN | 4.88 | -0.65 | 19.4% |
| 27 | JAX | 4.88 | -0.65 | 16.1% |
| 28 | PHI | 4.88 | -0.65 | 12.9% |
| 29 | NYG | 4.65 | -0.88 | 9.7% |
| 30 | HOU | 4.12 | -1.41 | 6.5% |
| 31 | DET | 3.71 | -1.83 | 3.2% |
| 32 | ATL | 3.47 | -2.06 | 0% |
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.
| Season | Games | ATS record | ATS % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 256 | 140–114–2 | 55.1% |
| 2021 | 272 | 138–132–2 | 51.1% |
| 2022 | 271 | 148–116–7 | 56.1% |
| 2023 | 272 | 141–117–14 | 54.7% |
| 2024 | 272 | 141–122–9 | 53.6% |
| 2025 | 272 | 139–130–3 | 51.7% |
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.
YoY by team — 2021 vs 2020
| Rank | Team | 2021 | 2020 | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAL | 6.71 | 4.63 | +2.08 |
| 2 | LV | 6.71 | 4.81 | +1.89 |
| 3 | MIN | 5.94 | 4.38 | +1.57 |
| 4 | SF | 6.06 | 4.50 | +1.56 |
| 5 | MIA | 7.53 | 6.19 | +1.34 |
| 6 | CLE | 6 | 4.69 | +1.31 |
| 7 | CIN | 5.82 | 4.56 | +1.26 |
| 8 | NE | 5.06 | 4.06 | +1.00 |
| 9 | TEN | 5.47 | 4.50 | +0.97 |
| 10 | GB | 5.47 | 5 | +0.47 |
| 11 | TB | 7.47 | 7.25 | +0.22 |
| 12 | DET | 3.71 | 3.50 | +0.21 |
| 13 | JAX | 4.88 | 4.81 | +0.07 |
| 14 | WAS | 6.12 | 6.06 | +0.06 |
| 15 | IND | 5.06 | 5.06 | −0.00 |
| 16 | CAR | 5.53 | 5.56 | −0.03 |
| 17 | NYJ | 5.18 | 5.25 | −0.07 |
| 18 | LAC | 5.24 | 5.31 | −0.08 |
| 19 | ARI | 5.94 | 6.25 | −0.31 |
| 20 | BUF | 5.35 | 5.75 | −0.40 |
| 21 | NO | 6.65 | 7.06 | −0.42 |
| 22 | CHI | 4.88 | 5.50 | −0.62 |
| 23 | LAR | 5.59 | 6.38 | −0.79 |
| 24 | KC | 5.35 | 6.19 | −0.83 |
| 25 | HOU | 4.12 | 5 | −0.88 |
| 26 | DEN | 4.88 | 5.81 | −0.93 |
| 27 | SEA | 5.41 | 6.81 | −1.40 |
| 28 | BAL | 5.65 | 7.25 | −1.60 |
| 29 | NYG | 4.65 | 6.75 | −2.10 |
| 30 | ATL | 3.47 | 5.75 | −2.28 |
| 31 | PHI | 4.88 | 7.19 | −2.31 |
| 32 | PIT | 6.24 | 8.56 | −2.33 |
Multi-year context
7-year window (2020–2026)
Multi-year averages
| Rank | Team | Avg | Slope/yr | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEN | 6.65 | +0.62 | 5.81 | 4.88 | 4.76 | 5.88 | 8.35 | 9.65 | 7.20 |
| 2 | SEA | 6.49 | +0.28 | 6.81 | 5.41 | 5.76 | 5.71 | 6.59 | 7.18 | 8 |
| 3 | BAL | 6.41 | −0.01 | 7.25 | 5.65 | 5.59 | 6.88 | 7.18 | 5.94 | 6.40 |
| 4 | PIT | 6.29 | −0.29 | 8.56 | 6.24 | 4.94 | 6.29 | 6.18 | 6.59 | 5.20 |
| 5 | KC | 6.22 | −0.09 | 6.19 | 5.35 | 7 | 7.35 | 6.59 | 6.06 | 5 |
| 6 | BUF | 6.06 | +0.16 | 5.75 | 5.35 | 6.13 | 6.88 | 5.53 | 5.41 | 7.40 |
| 7 | MIN | 6.01 | +0.51 | 4.38 | 5.94 | 5.18 | 5.35 | 6.65 | 5.76 | 8.80 |
| 8 | DET | 5.97 | +0.82 | 3.50 | 3.71 | 5.88 | 6.82 | 6.47 | 6 | 9.40 |
| 9 | TB | 5.97 | −0.48 | 7.25 | 7.47 | 6.12 | 4.94 | 6.71 | 5.29 | 4 |
| 10 | MIA | 5.92 | −0.46 | 6.19 | 7.53 | 5.94 | 8.18 | 4.76 | 4.65 | 4.20 |
| 11 | CLE | 5.85 | +0.38 | 4.69 | 6 | 3.88 | 6.41 | 6.35 | 6.65 | 7 |
| 12 | LV | 5.80 | +0.23 | 4.81 | 6.71 | 5.53 | 5.24 | 5.06 | 4.82 | 8.40 |
| 13 | PHI | 5.78 | −0.37 | 7.19 | 4.88 | 7.29 | 6.24 | 5.12 | 6.18 | 3.60 |
| 14 | CIN | 5.78 | +0.11 | 4.56 | 5.82 | 6.38 | 6.47 | 6.18 | 4.65 | 6.40 |
| 15 | WAS | 5.74 | −0.09 | 6.06 | 6.12 | 6.35 | 4.94 | 5.18 | 5.53 | 6 |
| 16 | GB | 5.72 | +0.23 | 5 | 5.47 | 5.12 | 6.35 | 5.35 | 6.18 | 6.60 |
| 17 | DAL | 5.71 | −0.12 | 4.63 | 6.71 | 6.47 | 5.82 | 6.18 | 6.35 | 3.80 |
| 18 | HOU | 5.67 | +0.47 | 5 | 4.12 | 4.59 | 6.65 | 5.76 | 5.59 | 8 |
| 19 | JAX | 5.53 | +0.15 | 4.81 | 4.88 | 6.53 | 6.29 | 4 | 5.59 | 6.60 |
| 20 | SF | 5.51 | −0.16 | 4.50 | 6.06 | 7.12 | 7.18 | 4.71 | 3.41 | 5.60 |
| 21 | LAC | 5.47 | +0.23 | 5.31 | 5.24 | 4.53 | 5.18 | 5.71 | 5.35 | 7 |
| 22 | ATL | 5.47 | +0.54 | 5.75 | 3.47 | 4.06 | 5.76 | 4.35 | 5.71 | 9.20 |
| 23 | NO | 5.46 | −0.35 | 7.06 | 6.65 | 5.12 | 4.53 | 4.94 | 4.94 | 5 |
| 24 | NYJ | 5.45 | −0.21 | 5.25 | 5.18 | 7.65 | 6.29 | 4.94 | 3.41 | 5.40 |
| 25 | IND | 5.43 | +0.09 | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.29 | 6.35 | 4.88 | 5.76 | 5.60 |
| 26 | NYG | 5.41 | −0.23 | 6.75 | 4.65 | 6.24 | 4.88 | 5.53 | 5.65 | 4.20 |
| 27 | LAR | 5.33 | −0.16 | 6.38 | 5.59 | 4.71 | 5.35 | 4.24 | 6.88 | 4.20 |
| 28 | ARI | 5.02 | −0.37 | 6.25 | 5.94 | 6.24 | 3.47 | 4.47 | 4.18 | 4.60 |
| 29 | NE | 4.92 | +0.18 | 4.06 | 5.06 | 5.47 | 4.59 | 3.88 | 5.18 | 6.20 |
| 30 | TEN | 4.91 | −0.15 | 4.50 | 5.47 | 6.12 | 4.94 | 3.94 | 5.76 | 3.60 |
| 31 | CHI | 4.88 | +0.07 | 5.50 | 4.88 | 2.53 | 5.41 | 5.88 | 4.94 | 5 |
| 32 | CAR | 4.60 | −0.35 | 5.56 | 5.53 | 5.35 | 4.35 | 3.76 | 3.41 | 4.25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIA | 6.19 | 7.53 | 5.94 | 8.18 | 4.76 | 4.65 | 4.20 |
| TB | 7.25 | 7.47 | 6.12 | 4.94 | 6.71 | 5.29 | 4 |
| DAL | 4.63 | 6.71 | 6.47 | 5.82 | 6.18 | 6.35 | 3.80 |
| LV | 4.81 | 6.71 | 5.53 | 5.24 | 5.06 | 4.82 | 8.40 |
| NO | 7.06 | 6.65 | 5.12 | 4.53 | 4.94 | 4.94 | 5 |
| PIT | 8.56 | 6.24 | 4.94 | 6.29 | 6.18 | 6.59 | 5.20 |
| WAS | 6.06 | 6.12 | 6.35 | 4.94 | 5.18 | 5.53 | 6 |
| SF | 4.50 | 6.06 | 7.12 | 7.18 | 4.71 | 3.41 | 5.60 |
| CLE | 4.69 | 6 | 3.88 | 6.41 | 6.35 | 6.65 | 7 |
| ARI | 6.25 | 5.94 | 6.24 | 3.47 | 4.47 | 4.18 | 4.60 |
| MIN | 4.38 | 5.94 | 5.18 | 5.35 | 6.65 | 5.76 | 8.80 |
| CIN | 4.56 | 5.82 | 6.38 | 6.47 | 6.18 | 4.65 | 6.40 |
| BAL | 7.25 | 5.65 | 5.59 | 6.88 | 7.18 | 5.94 | 6.40 |
| LAR | 6.38 | 5.59 | 4.71 | 5.35 | 4.24 | 6.88 | 4.20 |
| CAR | 5.56 | 5.53 | 5.35 | 4.35 | 3.76 | 3.41 | 4.25 |
| GB | 5 | 5.47 | 5.12 | 6.35 | 5.35 | 6.18 | 6.60 |
| TEN | 4.50 | 5.47 | 6.12 | 4.94 | 3.94 | 5.76 | 3.60 |
| SEA | 6.81 | 5.41 | 5.76 | 5.71 | 6.59 | 7.18 | 8 |
| BUF | 5.75 | 5.35 | 6.13 | 6.88 | 5.53 | 5.41 | 7.40 |
| KC | 6.19 | 5.35 | 7 | 7.35 | 6.59 | 6.06 | 5 |
| LAC | 5.31 | 5.24 | 4.53 | 5.18 | 5.71 | 5.35 | 7 |
| NYJ | 5.25 | 5.18 | 7.65 | 6.29 | 4.94 | 3.41 | 5.40 |
| IND | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.29 | 6.35 | 4.88 | 5.76 | 5.60 |
| NE | 4.06 | 5.06 | 5.47 | 4.59 | 3.88 | 5.18 | 6.20 |
| CHI | 5.50 | 4.88 | 2.53 | 5.41 | 5.88 | 4.94 | 5 |
| DEN | 5.81 | 4.88 | 4.76 | 5.88 | 8.35 | 9.65 | 7.20 |
| JAX | 4.81 | 4.88 | 6.53 | 6.29 | 4 | 5.59 | 6.60 |
| PHI | 7.19 | 4.88 | 7.29 | 6.24 | 5.12 | 6.18 | 3.60 |
| NYG | 6.75 | 4.65 | 6.24 | 4.88 | 5.53 | 5.65 | 4.20 |
| HOU | 5 | 4.12 | 4.59 | 6.65 | 5.76 | 5.59 | 8 |
| DET | 3.50 | 3.71 | 5.88 | 6.82 | 6.47 | 6 | 9.40 |
| ATL | 5.75 | 3.47 | 4.06 | 5.76 | 4.35 | 5.71 | 9.20 |
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.