Defensive: Advanced defense · Qb knockdown (allowed)

DEF · Advanced defenseP only
About this stat ↓

What Qb knockdown (allowed) is

Knockdowns: opponent dropbacks on which this defense put the quarterback on the ground after the throw. Pressure that landed late.

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

In 2021 the Dolphins led at 4.53; the league average was 3.02.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader
MIA · 4.53
League average
3.02
Best to worst
2.82

All 32 teams, higher is better.

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader
MIA · 4.53
League laggard
DET · 1.71
League average
3.02
Spread (max − min)
2.82

Does Qb knockdown (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 833–745–37 ATS (52.8%) across 2020–2025, #141 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2022 (151–113, 57.2%); its worst 2025 (122–147, 45.4%).

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

SeasonGamesATS recordATS %
2020256141–113–255.5%
2021272141–129–252.2%
2022271151–113–757.2%
2023272145–113–1456.2%
2024272133–130–950.6%
2025272122–147–345.4%

Qb knockdown (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Dolphins lead at 4.53 — they ranked #17 last year. Lions are last at 1.71 — #32 last year.

The league average is 3.02, down 0.36 from 3.38 last year.

Biggest riser: Cowboys, #25 → #3. Biggest faller: Steelers, #1 → #25.

Spread between first and last: 2.82; 22 teams are within 0.66 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser
DAL · +1.19
Biggest faller
PIT · −2.41
Most consistent
ARI · +0.03
League trend 2021 vs 2020
▼ -0.36

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader
KC · 3.90
Multi-year laggard
CHI · 2.50
Biggest improver
DET · +0.32/yr
Biggest decliner
ARI · −0.34/yr

Multi-year heatmap

32 teams across 7 seasons. Cells colored by quintile within each season; click a column header to jump to that year.

Team2020202120222023202420252026
MIA3.384.533.184.242.532.123
TB4.254.533.412.473.882.712.80
DAL2.8143.182.823.184.292.40
LV3.4443.592.472.412.594.80
NO4.193.761.712.242.5322.40
BAL4.813.652.243.243.593.713.80
ARI3.503.533.711.3522.411.60
KC4.133.473.763.534.293.594.50
WAS3.133.2442.242.412.712.80
CIN3.443.124.253.653.822.653.20
CLE2.193.121.593.4142.883.20
LAC3.633.122.242.242.882.533.60
SF2.443.064.063.652.532.243.40
BUF3.4433.443.473.2434.20
GB2.3832.943.062.533.652
PHI3.8832.943.182.413.591.80
IND2.312.942.182.762.593.122.80
NYJ3.312.944.4732.471.762.60
SEA4.132.9432.9443.535.40
JAX3.562.884.533.4123.653.60
CAR3.692.822.942.651.711.472.50
TEN3.192.763.532.121.883.121.60
DEN3.252.652.762.764.244.714.40
MIN2.752.652.822.414.062.883.60
PIT52.592.353.413.713.242.60
NE2.692.532.1221.9433.80
NYG42.413.882.532.473.242
ATL3.812.292.593.062.472.065.80
HOU2.942.292.473.822.942.353.40
LAR3.062.182.242.7123.882.40
CHI3.311.821.123.183.532.352.20
DET2.191.712.884.244.062.944

Qb knockdown (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Eagles (4.06), 2019 Buccaneers (4.13), 2020 Steelers (5), 2021 Dolphins (4.53).

The best season on record is Steelers 2020 at 5; the worst Vikings 2018 at 1.25.

The league average has risen from 2.55 in 2018 to 3.02 in 2021.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat
Stat ID
def_advanced_defense_qb_knockdown
Side
defensive
Family
Advanced defense
Data source
P only
Polarity
higher is better (or neutral)
Display grain
count
Algorithm eligibility
Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.