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 2020 the Steelers led at 87.94; the league average was 116.2.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

PIT · 87.94

League average

116.2

Best to worst

54.06

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	PIT	87.94	16
2	WAS	92.31	16
3	LAC	94.50	16
4	NO	97.88	16
5	CIN	101.4	16
6	DAL	104	16
7	SF	105.9	16
8	IND	107	16
9	CHI	107.9	16
10	MIN	109	16
11	BAL	111.1	16
12	DEN	113.2	16
13	BUF	113.8	16
14	CLE	114.3	16
15	NE	114.9	16
16	LAR	115.6	16
17	GB	116.2	16
18	NYG	116.6	16
19	PHI	117.1	16
20	CAR	119.3	16
21	SEA	121	16
22	TB	124.6	16
23	TEN	125.4	16
24	LV	126	16
25	KC	127.1	16
26	ARI	129.4	16
27	MIA	129.8	16
28	NYJ	131.3	16
29	DET	132.6	16
30	JAX	133.6	16
31	HOU	136.9	16
32	ATL	142	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

PIT · 87.94

League laggard

ATL · 142

League average

116.2

Spread (max − min)

54.06

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	PIT	87.94	-28.29	100%
2	WAS	92.31	-23.92	96.8%
3	LAC	94.50	-21.73	93.5%
4	NO	97.88	-18.36	90.3%
5	CIN	101.4	-14.79	87.1%
6	DAL	104	-12.23	83.9%
7	SF	105.9	-10.36	80.6%
8	IND	107	-9.23	77.4%
9	CHI	107.9	-8.29	74.2%
10	MIN	109	-7.23	71%
11	BAL	111.1	-5.17	67.7%
12	DEN	113.2	-3.04	64.5%
13	BUF	113.8	-2.42	61.3%
14	CLE	114.3	-1.92	58.1%
15	NE	114.9	-1.29	54.8%
16	LAR	115.6	-0.61	51.6%
17	GB	116.2	-0.04	48.4%
18	NYG	116.6	0.33	45.2%
19	PHI	117.1	0.89	41.9%
20	CAR	119.3	3.02	38.7%
21	SEA	121	4.77	35.5%
22	TB	124.6	8.33	32.3%
23	TEN	125.4	9.14	29%
24	LV	126	9.77	25.8%
25	KC	127.1	10.89	22.6%
26	ARI	129.4	13.14	19.4%
27	MIA	129.8	13.52	16.1%
28	NYJ	131.3	15.08	12.9%
29	DET	132.6	16.33	9.7%
30	JAX	133.6	17.33	6.5%
31	HOU	136.9	20.64	3.2%
32	ATL	142	25.77	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 2020 vs 2019

Steelers lead at 87.94 — they ranked #1 last year. Falcons are last at 142 — #27 last year.

The league average is 116.2, up 0.94 from 115.3 last year.

Biggest riser: Commanders, #22 → #2. Biggest faller: Dolphins, #8 → #27.

Spread between first and last: 54.06; 21 teams are within 13.17 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

MIA · +22.31

Biggest faller

WAS · −28.56

Most consistent

HOU · +0.25

League trend 2020 vs 2019

▲ 0.94

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	MIA	129.8	107.4	+22.31
2	NE	114.9	93	+21.94
3	NYJ	131.3	110.2	+21.13
4	DET	132.6	112.1	+20.50
5	ATL	142	127.8	+14.25
6	BUF	113.8	104	+9.81
7	CAR	119.3	109.7	+9.56
8	PHI	117.1	108.6	+8.56
9	MIN	109	101.3	+7.69
10	GB	116.2	109.8	+6.44
11	LAR	115.6	109.9	+5.69
12	TEN	125.4	120.9	+4.50
13	TB	124.6	120.3	+4.31
14	BAL	111.1	107.1	+3.94
15	DEN	113.2	109.3	+3.94
16	CLE	114.3	110.4	+3.88
17	LV	126	123.6	+2.44
18	JAX	133.6	131.6	+1.94
19	CHI	107.9	106.1	+1.81
20	PIT	87.94	86.50	+1.44
21	HOU	136.9	136.6	+0.25
22	KC	127.1	131.2	−4.06
23	SF	105.9	110.4	−4.50
24	NYG	116.6	122.6	−6
25	LAC	94.50	101.6	−7.13
26	IND	107	116.6	−9.56
27	ARI	129.4	141.9	−12.50
28	NO	97.88	110.8	−12.94
29	SEA	121	140.1	−19.06
30	DAL	104	124.3	−20.31
31	CIN	101.4	123.2	−21.75
32	WAS	92.31	120.9	−28.56

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

Def yac (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bills (95.19), 2019 Steelers (86.50), 2020 Steelers (87.94).

Steelers have led this stat 2 of 3 seasons.

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 2020.

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.