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 2021 the Vikings led at 22.24; the league average was 15.60.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

MIN · 22.24

League average

15.60

Best to worst

13.53

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	MIN	22.24	17
2	LAR	21.59	17
3	MIA	21.59	17
4	CHI	21.53	17
5	SF	21.41	17
6	PIT	18.88	17
7	NO	18.24	17
8	TEN	18.18	17
9	DAL	17.47	17
10	CAR	17.24	17
11	GB	16.88	17
12	TB	16.76	17
13	CLE	16.06	17
14	BUF	15.71	17
15	CIN	15.59	17
16	NE	15.06	17
17	SEA	14.71	17
18	DEN	14.65	17
19	NYJ	14.41	17
20	JAX	13.88	17
21	LAC	13.59	17
22	ARI	13.35	17
23	BAL	13.35	17
24	HOU	13.24	17
25	IND	13.12	17
26	PHI	12.94	17
27	KC	12.29	17
28	LV	12.18	17
29	NYG	12.06	17
30	DET	11.82	17
31	WAS	10.59	17
32	ATL	8.71	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

MIN · 22.24

League laggard

ATL · 8.71

League average

15.60

Spread (max − min)

13.53

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	MIN	22.24	6.63	100%
2	LAR	21.59	5.99	96.8%
3	MIA	21.59	5.99	93.5%
4	CHI	21.53	5.93	90.3%
5	SF	21.41	5.81	87.1%
6	PIT	18.88	3.28	83.9%
7	NO	18.24	2.63	80.6%
8	TEN	18.18	2.57	77.4%
9	DAL	17.47	1.87	74.2%
10	CAR	17.24	1.63	71%
11	GB	16.88	1.28	67.7%
12	TB	16.76	1.16	64.5%
13	CLE	16.06	0.46	61.3%
14	BUF	15.71	0.10	58.1%
15	CIN	15.59	-0.01	54.8%
16	NE	15.06	-0.54	51.6%
17	SEA	14.71	-0.90	48.4%
18	DEN	14.65	-0.96	45.2%
19	NYJ	14.41	-1.19	41.9%
20	JAX	13.88	-1.72	38.7%
21	LAC	13.59	-2.01	35.5%
22	ARI	13.35	-2.25	32.3%
23	BAL	13.35	-2.25	29%
24	HOU	13.24	-2.37	25.8%
25	IND	13.12	-2.49	22.6%
26	PHI	12.94	-2.66	19.4%
27	KC	12.29	-3.31	16.1%
28	LV	12.18	-3.43	12.9%
29	NYG	12.06	-3.54	9.7%
30	DET	11.82	-3.78	6.5%
31	WAS	10.59	-5.01	3.2%
32	ATL	8.71	-6.90	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 2021 vs 2020

Vikings lead at 22.24 — they ranked #30 last year. Falcons are last at 8.71 — #17 last year.

The league average is 15.60, up 0.91 from 14.70 last year.

Biggest riser: Vikings, #30 → #1. Biggest faller: Commanders, #8 → #31.

Spread between first and last: 13.53; 23 teams are within 3.45 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

MIN · +14.36

Biggest faller

WAS · −9.04

Most consistent

MIA · −0.22

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 0.91

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	MIN	22.24	7.88	+14.36
2	CIN	15.59	5.19	+10.40
3	SF	21.41	12.44	+8.97
4	TEN	18.18	9.63	+8.55
5	JAX	13.88	5.69	+8.19
6	CHI	21.53	14.63	+6.90
7	DAL	17.47	11.13	+6.35
8	LAC	13.59	8.56	+5.03
9	CAR	17.24	12.44	+4.80
10	NE	15.06	10.31	+4.75
11	LV	12.18	8.06	+4.11
12	NYJ	14.41	11.63	+2.79
13	BUF	15.71	13.75	+1.96
14	GB	16.88	15.88	+1.01
15	NO	18.24	17.75	+0.49
16	KC	12.29	11.81	+0.48
17	MIA	21.59	21.81	−0.22
18	LAR	21.59	21.88	−0.29
19	CLE	16.06	16.38	−0.32
20	HOU	13.24	13.56	−0.33
21	DET	11.82	12.19	−0.36
22	SEA	14.71	15.69	−0.98
23	DEN	14.65	17.63	−2.98
24	IND	13.12	16.31	−3.19
25	BAL	13.35	17	−3.65
26	ATL	8.71	13.81	−5.11
27	PIT	18.88	24	−5.12
28	TB	16.76	22.88	−6.11
29	ARI	13.35	20.38	−7.02
30	PHI	12.94	20.25	−7.31
31	NYG	12.06	20.19	−8.13
32	WAS	10.59	19.63	−9.04

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

DEN · 18.63

Multi-year laggard

JAX · 12.16

Biggest improver

CIN · +1.79/yr

Biggest decliner

MIA · −2.22/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	DEN	18.63	+1.04	17.63	14.65	14.41	19.41	21.18	24.94	18.20
2	CLE	18.00	+1.29	16.38	16.06	12.41	20.06	15.71	22.18	23.20
3	PIT	17.68	−1.35	24	18.88	16.88	17.88	16.18	17.12	12.80
4	MIN	17.66	+1.53	7.88	22.24	14.18	17.76	20.12	19.24	22.20
5	HOU	17.66	+1.77	13.56	13.24	12.76	20.53	19.76	21.53	22.20
6	TB	17.29	−1.61	22.88	16.76	19	19.12	18.65	16.65	8
7	SEA	17.01	+0.41	15.69	14.71	17.12	17.53	19.12	18.94	16
8	DET	17.01	+1.78	12.19	11.82	15.71	21	15.06	19.29	24
9	PHI	16.95	−1.38	20.25	12.94	28.24	15	17.94	14.71	9.60
10	LAR	16.87	−1.61	21.88	21.59	14.71	15.71	18.12	17.88	8.20
11	BAL	16.84	−0.42	17	13.35	17.94	25.59	18.47	11.12	14.40
12	MIA	16.84	−2.22	21.81	21.59	17.06	21.82	14.53	14.24	6.80
13	NO	16.25	−0.37	17.75	18.24	16.41	14.35	14.12	16.88	16
14	GB	15.79	+0.18	15.88	16.88	12	16.94	17.71	12.71	18.40
15	NYJ	15.75	+0.70	11.63	14.41	17.29	17.88	18.12	10.29	20.60
16	BUF	15.70	−0.12	13.75	15.71	18	19.29	14.47	13.29	15.40
17	IND	15.21	−0.20	16.31	13.12	15.71	18.53	14.29	14.53	14
18	NYG	15.11	−0.81	20.19	12.06	15.94	15.24	17	15.18	10.20
19	ARI	15.11	−0.63	20.38	13.35	15.65	13.71	15.06	12.06	15.60
20	DAL	14.93	−1.00	11.13	17.47	20.71	17.41	19.41	13.59	4.80
21	TEN	14.62	−0.03	9.63	18.18	15.53	18.53	11.88	17.76	10.80
22	SF	14.53	−1.24	12.44	21.41	18.06	18.06	11.18	9.35	11.20
23	WAS	14.38	−0.35	19.63	10.59	16.41	9.65	15.94	14.65	13.80
24	LAC	14.22	+0.36	8.56	13.59	16.88	19.65	13.82	15.06	12
25	NE	14.06	+0.11	10.31	15.06	20.35	14.59	9	11.94	17.20
26	CHI	13.64	−0.56	14.63	21.53	7.29	11.88	14.94	12	13.20
27	LV	13.59	+1.17	8.06	12.18	11.29	17.06	17.24	12.47	16.80
28	CIN	13.45	+1.79	5.19	15.59	10.19	15.12	12.76	11.47	23.80
29	KC	13.38	−1.54	11.81	12.29	22.82	20.65	14.71	9.12	2.25
30	ATL	13.13	+0.91	13.81	8.71	8.71	15.18	11	21.53	13
31	CAR	12.69	−0.71	12.44	17.24	13.53	11.35	13.12	11.18	10
32	JAX	12.16	+0.52	5.69	13.88	11.94	16.41	13.53	13.29	10.40

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
MIN	7.88	22.24	14.18	17.76	20.12	19.24	22.20
LAR	21.88	21.59	14.71	15.71	18.12	17.88	8.20
MIA	21.81	21.59	17.06	21.82	14.53	14.24	6.80
CHI	14.63	21.53	7.29	11.88	14.94	12	13.20
SF	12.44	21.41	18.06	18.06	11.18	9.35	11.20
PIT	24	18.88	16.88	17.88	16.18	17.12	12.80
NO	17.75	18.24	16.41	14.35	14.12	16.88	16
TEN	9.63	18.18	15.53	18.53	11.88	17.76	10.80
DAL	11.13	17.47	20.71	17.41	19.41	13.59	4.80
CAR	12.44	17.24	13.53	11.35	13.12	11.18	10
GB	15.88	16.88	12	16.94	17.71	12.71	18.40
TB	22.88	16.76	19	19.12	18.65	16.65	8
CLE	16.38	16.06	12.41	20.06	15.71	22.18	23.20
BUF	13.75	15.71	18	19.29	14.47	13.29	15.40
CIN	5.19	15.59	10.19	15.12	12.76	11.47	23.80
NE	10.31	15.06	20.35	14.59	9	11.94	17.20
SEA	15.69	14.71	17.12	17.53	19.12	18.94	16
DEN	17.63	14.65	14.41	19.41	21.18	24.94	18.20
NYJ	11.63	14.41	17.29	17.88	18.12	10.29	20.60
JAX	5.69	13.88	11.94	16.41	13.53	13.29	10.40
LAC	8.56	13.59	16.88	19.65	13.82	15.06	12
ARI	20.38	13.35	15.65	13.71	15.06	12.06	15.60
BAL	17	13.35	17.94	25.59	18.47	11.12	14.40
HOU	13.56	13.24	12.76	20.53	19.76	21.53	22.20
IND	16.31	13.12	15.71	18.53	14.29	14.53	14
PHI	20.25	12.94	28.24	15	17.94	14.71	9.60
KC	11.81	12.29	22.82	20.65	14.71	9.12	2.25
LV	8.06	12.18	11.29	17.06	17.24	12.47	16.80
NYG	20.19	12.06	15.94	15.24	17	15.18	10.20
DET	12.19	11.82	15.71	21	15.06	19.29	24
WAS	19.63	10.59	16.41	9.65	15.94	14.65	13.80
ATL	13.81	8.71	8.71	15.18	11	21.53	13

Sack Yds (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Vikings (22.56), 2019 49ers (22.94), 2020 Steelers (24), 2021 Vikings (22.24).

Vikings have led this stat 2 of 4 seasons.

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 15.60 in 2021.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

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.