What Def yac (allowed) is

Yards allowed after the catch: the yards opponents' receivers gained after securing the ball against this defense. Tackling and pursuit rather than coverage — a defense that covers well but tackles poorly bleeds yards here.

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

In 2019 the Steelers led at 86.50; the league average was 115.3.

League snapshot — 2019

League leader

PIT · 86.50

League average

115.3

Best to worst

55.38

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	PIT	86.50	16
2	NE	93	16
3	MIN	101.3	16
4	LAC	101.6	16
5	BUF	104	16
6	CHI	106.1	16
7	BAL	107.1	16
8	MIA	107.4	16
9	PHI	108.6	16
10	DEN	109.3	16
11	CAR	109.7	16
12	GB	109.8	16
13	LAR	109.9	16
14	NYJ	110.2	16
15	SF	110.4	16
16	CLE	110.4	16
17	NO	110.8	16
18	DET	112.1	16
19	IND	116.6	16
20	TB	120.3	16
21	TEN	120.9	16
22	WAS	120.9	16
23	NYG	122.6	16
24	CIN	123.2	16
25	LV	123.6	16
26	DAL	124.3	16
27	ATL	127.8	16
28	KC	131.2	16
29	JAX	131.6	16
30	HOU	136.6	16
31	SEA	140.1	16
32	ARI	141.9	16

At a glance — 2019

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

PIT · 86.50

League laggard

ARI · 141.9

League average

115.3

Spread (max − min)

55.38

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	PIT	86.50	-28.80	100%
2	NE	93	-22.30	96.8%
3	MIN	101.3	-13.98	93.5%
4	LAC	101.6	-13.67	90.3%
5	BUF	104	-11.30	87.1%
6	CHI	106.1	-9.17	83.9%
7	BAL	107.1	-8.17	80.6%
8	MIA	107.4	-7.86	77.4%
9	PHI	108.6	-6.73	74.2%
10	DEN	109.3	-6.05	71%
11	CAR	109.7	-5.61	67.7%
12	GB	109.8	-5.55	64.5%
13	LAR	109.9	-5.36	61.3%
14	NYJ	110.2	-5.11	58.1%
15	SF	110.4	-4.92	54.8%
16	CLE	110.4	-4.86	51.6%
17	NO	110.8	-4.48	48.4%
18	DET	112.1	-3.23	45.2%
19	IND	116.6	1.27	41.9%
20	TB	120.3	4.95	38.7%
21	TEN	120.9	5.58	35.5%
22	WAS	120.9	5.58	32.3%
23	NYG	122.6	7.27	29%
24	CIN	123.2	7.89	25.8%
25	LV	123.6	8.27	22.6%
26	DAL	124.3	9.02	19.4%
27	ATL	127.8	12.45	16.1%
28	KC	131.2	15.89	12.9%
29	JAX	131.6	16.33	9.7%
30	HOU	136.6	21.33	6.5%
31	SEA	140.1	24.77	3.2%
32	ARI	141.9	26.58	0%

Does Def yac (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 802–776–37 ATS (50.8%) across 2020–2025, #228 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (145–109, 57.1%); its worst 2024 (118–145, 44.9%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	145–109–2	57.1%
2021	272	125–145–2	46.3%
2022	271	150–114–7	56.8%
2023	272	124–134–14	48.1%
2024	272	118–145–9	44.9%
2025	272	140–129–3	52.0%

Def yac (allowed) in 2019 vs 2018

Steelers lead at 86.50 — they ranked #4 last year. Cardinals are last at 141.9 — #15 last year.

The league average is 115.3, down 3.90 from 119.2 last year.

Biggest riser: Eagles, #30 → #9. Biggest faller: Jaguars, #5 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 55.38; 23 teams are within 12.66 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2019 vs 2018

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

JAX · +29.19

Biggest faller

PHI · −27

Most consistent

KC · +0.25

League trend 2019 vs 2018

▼ -3.90

Rank	Team	2019	2018	Δ
1	JAX	131.6	102.4	+29.19
2	ARI	141.9	116.1	+25.81
3	TEN	120.9	97	+23.88
4	DET	112.1	95.38	+16.69
5	DAL	124.3	115.4	+8.88
6	BUF	104	95.19	+8.81
7	NYG	122.6	115.4	+7.19
8	HOU	136.6	130.1	+6.56
9	SEA	140.1	134.8	+5.31
10	BAL	107.1	103.4	+3.69
11	LV	123.6	121.9	+1.63
12	CAR	109.7	108.1	+1.56
13	TB	120.3	119.5	+0.75
14	ATL	127.8	127.4	+0.31
15	KC	131.2	130.9	+0.25
16	GB	109.8	115.3	−5.50
17	LAR	109.9	115.6	−5.69
18	CHI	106.1	113.9	−7.75
19	SF	110.4	120.2	−9.81
20	MIN	101.3	112.1	−10.81
21	NO	110.8	122.5	−11.69
22	CIN	123.2	136.7	−13.50
23	NYJ	110.2	123.9	−13.75
24	IND	116.6	131.2	−14.63
25	PIT	86.50	102.3	−15.75
26	NE	93	110.3	−17.31
27	LAC	101.6	121.5	−19.88
28	WAS	120.9	142.4	−21.56
29	DEN	109.3	131.3	−22.06
30	CLE	110.4	133.8	−23.38
31	MIA	107.4	132.6	−25.19
32	PHI	108.6	135.6	−27

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

CAR · 100.1

Multi-year laggard

TB · 123.0

Biggest improver

SEA · −7.25/yr

Biggest decliner

CIN · +5.23/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	CAR	100.1	−1.86	119.3	93.71	98.35	84.47	111.4	101.2	92.50
2	LAC	104.0	−0.95	94.50	112.8	92	135	100.5	105.5	87.60
3	CLE	104.3	−1.82	114.3	111.5	95.65	100	109.2	96.82	102.6
4	NE	104.3	+0.14	114.9	95.65	101.5	106.2	99.18	96.24	116.6
5	BUF	105.4	+0.82	113.8	93.41	104.1	101	121.3	77.41	126.4
6	NO	106.2	−0.18	97.88	117.9	95.29	110.6	125.6	94.94	101.4
7	PIT	107.0	+4.34	87.94	104.6	99.18	109	115.3	120.6	112.4
8	GB	107.2	−1.08	116.2	116.9	94.12	104.4	111.2	89	119
9	CHI	107.2	−1.52	107.9	100.2	110.2	127.2	112.6	98.41	94.20
10	PHI	108.1	−1.81	117.1	112.8	101.2	122.6	93.53	93.59	115.6
11	DET	108.1	−4.04	132.6	112	98.18	107.6	113.4	86.41	106.8
12	WAS	108.5	+4.00	92.31	106.4	93.71	130.4	91.82	131.2	113.8
13	HOU	110.2	−3.76	136.9	102.6	102.5	115.8	117.7	93.18	103
14	SF	110.3	+1.74	105.9	103.9	112.1	114.9	105.4	108.6	121.2
15	NYG	110.6	−3.03	116.6	112.4	107.7	135.6	102.8	102.6	96.40
16	ATL	111.2	−4.71	142	115.7	106	95.88	114.7	95.47	108.6
17	DEN	111.2	−2.69	113.2	112.1	121.4	119.4	117.8	91.47	103
18	LAR	112.0	−3.55	115.6	129.6	117.1	102.4	116.9	99.59	102.6
19	ARI	112.7	−4.29	129.4	100	150.5	89.65	113.9	111.2	94
20	NYJ	112.8	−4.82	131.3	131.9	102.4	108.6	100.4	120.8	94.40
21	TEN	113.2	−5.33	125.4	126.8	125.1	107.1	100.4	117.6	90
22	BAL	114.7	−3.29	111.1	146.7	109.8	106.4	114.2	113.6	101
23	DAL	115.0	−0.00	104	135.6	105.9	104.3	124.4	128.1	102.8
24	IND	116.5	+3.09	107	108.7	121.8	112.1	118.2	114.7	133
25	MIA	116.6	−2.68	129.8	115.9	121.2	110	116.2	118.7	104.6
26	MIN	116.7	−4.15	109	131.2	130.5	136.1	119.9	87.41	103
27	LV	117.1	−1.51	126	103	121.7	136.8	117	100.1	115.4
28	KC	118.2	−3.55	127.1	141.6	118.4	96.71	118.7	109.2	115.5
29	CIN	118.6	+5.23	101.4	119.9	100.4	117.6	118.6	143.9	128.2
30	JAX	119.2	−2.89	133.6	109.1	122.5	125.9	134.5	100.1	108.6
31	SEA	119.8	−7.25	121	152.1	123	123.1	126.9	116.5	75.80
32	TB	123.0	+1.26	124.6	128.9	100.2	127.2	123.1	126.4	130.4

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
SEA	121	152.1	123	123.1	126.9	116.5	75.80
LAC	94.50	112.8	92	135	100.5	105.5	87.60
TEN	125.4	126.8	125.1	107.1	100.4	117.6	90
CAR	119.3	93.71	98.35	84.47	111.4	101.2	92.50
ARI	129.4	100	150.5	89.65	113.9	111.2	94
CHI	107.9	100.2	110.2	127.2	112.6	98.41	94.20
NYJ	131.3	131.9	102.4	108.6	100.4	120.8	94.40
NYG	116.6	112.4	107.7	135.6	102.8	102.6	96.40
BAL	111.1	146.7	109.8	106.4	114.2	113.6	101
NO	97.88	117.9	95.29	110.6	125.6	94.94	101.4
CLE	114.3	111.5	95.65	100	109.2	96.82	102.6
LAR	115.6	129.6	117.1	102.4	116.9	99.59	102.6
DAL	104	135.6	105.9	104.3	124.4	128.1	102.8
DEN	113.2	112.1	121.4	119.4	117.8	91.47	103
HOU	136.9	102.6	102.5	115.8	117.7	93.18	103
MIN	109	131.2	130.5	136.1	119.9	87.41	103
MIA	129.8	115.9	121.2	110	116.2	118.7	104.6
DET	132.6	112	98.18	107.6	113.4	86.41	106.8
ATL	142	115.7	106	95.88	114.7	95.47	108.6
JAX	133.6	109.1	122.5	125.9	134.5	100.1	108.6
PIT	87.94	104.6	99.18	109	115.3	120.6	112.4
WAS	92.31	106.4	93.71	130.4	91.82	131.2	113.8
LV	126	103	121.7	136.8	117	100.1	115.4
KC	127.1	141.6	118.4	96.71	118.7	109.2	115.5
PHI	117.1	112.8	101.2	122.6	93.53	93.59	115.6
NE	114.9	95.65	101.5	106.2	99.18	96.24	116.6
GB	116.2	116.9	94.12	104.4	111.2	89	119
SF	105.9	103.9	112.1	114.9	105.4	108.6	121.2
BUF	113.8	93.41	104.1	101	121.3	77.41	126.4
CIN	101.4	119.9	100.4	117.6	118.6	143.9	128.2
TB	124.6	128.9	100.2	127.2	123.1	126.4	130.4
IND	107	108.7	121.8	112.1	118.2	114.7	133

Def yac (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bills (95.19), 2019 Steelers (86.50).

The best season on record is Steelers 2019 at 86.50; the worst Commanders 2018 at 142.4.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2019.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_advanced_defense_def_yac
Side: defensive
Family: Advanced defense
Data source: P + N
Polarity: lower is better
Display grain: count
Algorithm eligibility: Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.