What Sack Yds (allowed) is

Sack yards: the yards this defense took back on its sacks. Field position won by the pass rush.

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

In 2020 the Steelers led at 24; the league average was 14.70.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

PIT · 24

League average

14.70

Best to worst

18.81

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	PIT	24	16
2	TB	22.88	16
3	LAR	21.88	16
4	MIA	21.81	16
5	ARI	20.38	16
6	PHI	20.25	16
7	NYG	20.19	16
8	WAS	19.63	16
9	NO	17.75	16
10	DEN	17.63	16
11	BAL	17	16
12	CLE	16.38	16
13	IND	16.31	16
14	GB	15.88	16
15	SEA	15.69	16
16	CHI	14.63	16
17	ATL	13.81	16
18	BUF	13.75	16
19	HOU	13.56	16
20	CAR	12.44	16
21	SF	12.44	16
22	DET	12.19	16
23	KC	11.81	16
24	NYJ	11.63	16
25	DAL	11.13	16
26	NE	10.31	16
27	TEN	9.63	16
28	LAC	8.56	16
29	LV	8.06	16
30	MIN	7.88	16
31	JAX	5.69	16
32	CIN	5.19	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

PIT · 24

League laggard

CIN · 5.19

League average

14.70

Spread (max − min)

18.81

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	PIT	24	9.30	100%
2	TB	22.88	8.18	96.8%
3	LAR	21.88	7.18	93.5%
4	MIA	21.81	7.12	90.3%
5	ARI	20.38	5.68	87.1%
6	PHI	20.25	5.55	83.9%
7	NYG	20.19	5.49	80.6%
8	WAS	19.63	4.93	77.4%
9	NO	17.75	3.05	74.2%
10	DEN	17.63	2.93	71%
11	BAL	17	2.30	67.7%
12	CLE	16.38	1.68	64.5%
13	IND	16.31	1.62	61.3%
14	GB	15.88	1.18	58.1%
15	SEA	15.69	0.99	54.8%
16	CHI	14.63	-0.07	51.6%
17	ATL	13.81	-0.88	48.4%
18	BUF	13.75	-0.95	45.2%
19	HOU	13.56	-1.13	41.9%
20	CAR	12.44	-2.26	38.7%
21	SF	12.44	-2.26	35.5%
22	DET	12.19	-2.51	32.3%
23	KC	11.81	-2.88	29%
24	NYJ	11.63	-3.07	25.8%
25	DAL	11.13	-3.57	22.6%
26	NE	10.31	-4.38	19.4%
27	TEN	9.63	-5.07	16.1%
28	LAC	8.56	-6.13	12.9%
29	LV	8.06	-6.63	9.7%
30	MIN	7.88	-6.82	6.5%
31	JAX	5.69	-9.01	3.2%
32	CIN	5.19	-9.51	0%

Does Sack 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, #147 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2024 (150–113, 57.0%); its worst 2025 (132–137, 49.1%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	133–121–2	52.4%
2021	272	134–136–2	49.6%
2022	271	146–118–7	55.3%
2023	272	136–122–14	52.7%
2024	272	150–113–9	57.0%
2025	272	132–137–3	49.1%

Sack Yds (allowed) in 2020 vs 2019

Steelers lead at 24 — they ranked #4 last year. Bengals are last at 5.19 — #28 last year.

The league average is 14.70, down 2.01 from 16.71 last year.

Biggest riser: Dolphins, #32 → #4. Biggest faller: Vikings, #2 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 18.81; 19 teams are within 5.00 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

MIA · +12.13

Biggest faller

MIN · −14.75

Most consistent

ATL · +0.13

League trend 2020 vs 2019

▼ -2.01

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	MIA	21.81	9.69	+12.13
2	NYG	20.19	15.38	+4.81
3	DEN	17.63	13.31	+4.31
4	SEA	15.69	11.50	+4.19
5	PHI	20.25	16.94	+3.31
6	ARI	20.38	17.19	+3.19
7	PIT	24	20.94	+3.06
8	LAR	21.88	18.94	+2.94
9	WAS	19.63	16.88	+2.75
10	TB	22.88	20.31	+2.56
11	IND	16.31	15.56	+0.75
12	DET	12.19	11.75	+0.44
13	BAL	17	16.75	+0.25
14	ATL	13.81	13.69	+0.13
15	HOU	13.56	13.44	+0.13
16	CHI	14.63	15.13	−0.50
17	CLE	16.38	16.88	−0.50
18	NYJ	11.63	13.88	−2.25
19	LAC	8.56	11	−2.44
20	NO	17.75	20.19	−2.44
21	GB	15.88	18.44	−2.56
22	BUF	13.75	18.63	−4.88
23	CAR	12.44	18.81	−6.38
24	TEN	9.63	16.13	−6.50
25	LV	8.06	15.50	−7.44
26	CIN	5.19	12.75	−7.56
27	DAL	11.13	18.94	−7.81
28	KC	11.81	21.13	−9.31
29	NE	10.31	20.38	−10.06
30	SF	12.44	22.94	−10.50
31	JAX	5.69	19	−13.31
32	MIN	7.88	22.63	−14.75

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

DEN · 18.78

Multi-year laggard

JAX · 12.11

Biggest improver

MIN · +1.86/yr

Biggest decliner

MIA · −1.90/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	DEN	18.78	+1.15	17.63	14.65	14.41	19.41	21.18	24.94	19.25
2	PIT	18.74	−0.55	24	18.88	16.88	17.88	16.18	17.12	20.25
3	TB	18.19	−0.95	22.88	16.76	19	19.12	18.65	16.65	14.25
4	MIN	18.10	+1.86	7.88	22.24	14.18	17.76	20.12	19.24	25.29
5	MIA	17.27	−1.90	21.81	21.59	17.06	21.82	14.53	14.24	9.86
6	CLE	17.26	+0.73	16.38	16.06	12.41	20.06	15.71	22.18	18
7	HOU	17.16	+1.39	13.56	13.24	12.76	20.53	19.76	21.53	18.71
8	LAR	17	−1.51	21.88	21.59	14.71	15.71	18.12	17.88	9.13
9	PHI	16.81	−1.49	20.25	12.94	28.24	15	17.94	14.71	8.63
10	DET	16.74	+1.58	12.19	11.82	15.71	21	15.06	19.29	22.14
11	BAL	16.73	−0.50	17	13.35	17.94	25.59	18.47	11.12	13.63
12	SEA	16.67	+0.15	15.69	14.71	17.12	17.53	19.12	18.94	13.57
13	NO	16.31	−0.32	17.75	18.24	16.41	14.35	14.12	16.88	16.43
14	DAL	15.89	−0.28	11.13	17.47	20.71	17.41	19.41	13.59	11.50
15	GB	15.57	+0.01	15.88	16.88	12	16.94	17.71	12.71	16.88
16	BUF	15.54	−0.24	13.75	15.71	18	19.29	14.47	13.29	14.29
17	IND	15.28	−0.14	16.31	13.12	15.71	18.53	14.29	14.53	14.50
18	TEN	15.14	+0.36	9.63	18.18	15.53	18.53	11.88	17.76	14.50
19	ARI	15.14	−0.61	20.38	13.35	15.65	13.71	15.06	12.06	15.75
20	SF	14.87	−0.99	12.44	21.41	18.06	18.06	11.18	9.35	13.57
21	NYJ	14.86	+0.03	11.63	14.41	17.29	17.88	18.12	10.29	14.38
22	WAS	14.84	−0.01	19.63	10.59	16.41	9.65	15.94	14.65	17
23	NYG	14.70	−1.12	20.19	12.06	15.94	15.24	17	15.18	7.29
24	NE	14.21	+0.22	10.31	15.06	20.35	14.59	9	11.94	18.25
25	CHI	13.96	−0.32	14.63	21.53	7.29	11.88	14.94	12	15.43
26	LAC	13.84	+0.07	8.56	13.59	16.88	19.65	13.82	15.06	9.29
27	KC	13.71	−1.29	11.81	12.29	22.82	20.65	14.71	9.12	4.57
28	CIN	13.37	+1.74	5.19	15.59	10.19	15.12	12.76	11.47	23.29
29	LV	13.36	+1.00	8.06	12.18	11.29	17.06	17.24	12.47	15.25
30	ATL	13.29	+1.03	13.81	8.71	8.71	15.18	11	21.53	14.13
31	CAR	12.65	−0.74	12.44	17.24	13.53	11.35	13.12	11.18	9.71
32	JAX	12.11	+0.48	5.69	13.88	11.94	16.41	13.53	13.29	10

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
PIT	24	18.88	16.88	17.88	16.18	17.12	20.25
TB	22.88	16.76	19	19.12	18.65	16.65	14.25
LAR	21.88	21.59	14.71	15.71	18.12	17.88	9.13
MIA	21.81	21.59	17.06	21.82	14.53	14.24	9.86
ARI	20.38	13.35	15.65	13.71	15.06	12.06	15.75
PHI	20.25	12.94	28.24	15	17.94	14.71	8.63
NYG	20.19	12.06	15.94	15.24	17	15.18	7.29
WAS	19.63	10.59	16.41	9.65	15.94	14.65	17
NO	17.75	18.24	16.41	14.35	14.12	16.88	16.43
DEN	17.63	14.65	14.41	19.41	21.18	24.94	19.25
BAL	17	13.35	17.94	25.59	18.47	11.12	13.63
CLE	16.38	16.06	12.41	20.06	15.71	22.18	18
IND	16.31	13.12	15.71	18.53	14.29	14.53	14.50
GB	15.88	16.88	12	16.94	17.71	12.71	16.88
SEA	15.69	14.71	17.12	17.53	19.12	18.94	13.57
CHI	14.63	21.53	7.29	11.88	14.94	12	15.43
ATL	13.81	8.71	8.71	15.18	11	21.53	14.13
BUF	13.75	15.71	18	19.29	14.47	13.29	14.29
HOU	13.56	13.24	12.76	20.53	19.76	21.53	18.71
CAR	12.44	17.24	13.53	11.35	13.12	11.18	9.71
SF	12.44	21.41	18.06	18.06	11.18	9.35	13.57
DET	12.19	11.82	15.71	21	15.06	19.29	22.14
KC	11.81	12.29	22.82	20.65	14.71	9.12	4.57
NYJ	11.63	14.41	17.29	17.88	18.12	10.29	14.38
DAL	11.13	17.47	20.71	17.41	19.41	13.59	11.50
NE	10.31	15.06	20.35	14.59	9	11.94	18.25
TEN	9.63	18.18	15.53	18.53	11.88	17.76	14.50
LAC	8.56	13.59	16.88	19.65	13.82	15.06	9.29
LV	8.06	12.18	11.29	17.06	17.24	12.47	15.25
MIN	7.88	22.24	14.18	17.76	20.12	19.24	25.29
JAX	5.69	13.88	11.94	16.41	13.53	13.29	10
CIN	5.19	15.59	10.19	15.12	12.76	11.47	23.29

Sack Yds (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Vikings (22.56), 2019 49ers (22.94), 2020 Steelers (24).

The best season on record is Steelers 2020 at 24; the worst Raiders 2018 at 5.

The league average has fallen from 16.49 in 2018 to 14.70 in 2020.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2020.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_advanced_defense_def_sack_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.