Defensive: Advanced defense · TFL (allowed)
Tackles behind the line. Kills a play before it starts and puts the offence off schedule.
P + N
About this stat ↓League snapshot — 2021
- League leaderPIT 5
- League average3.58
- Best to worst2.53
All 32 teams, higher is better.
At a glance — 2021
Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.
League leader
PIT · 5
League laggard
KC · 2.47
League average
3.58
Spread (max − min)
2.53
All teams — 2021
| Rank | Team | Value | Δ vs avg | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIT | 5 | 1.42 | 100% |
| 2 | SF | 4.88 | 1.30 | 96.8% |
| 3 | NO | 4.47 | 0.89 | 93.5% |
| 4 | LAR | 4.41 | 0.83 | 90.3% |
| 5 | CIN | 4.29 | 0.71 | 87.1% |
| 6 | TB | 4.29 | 0.71 | 83.9% |
| 7 | BUF | 4.18 | 0.59 | 80.6% |
| 8 | CHI | 4.18 | 0.59 | 77.4% |
| 9 | CAR | 4.06 | 0.48 | 74.2% |
| 10 | HOU | 3.94 | 0.36 | 71% |
| 11 | CLE | 3.82 | 0.24 | 67.7% |
| 12 | ARI | 3.76 | 0.18 | 64.5% |
| 13 | PHI | 3.65 | 0.06 | 61.3% |
| 14 | TEN | 3.65 | 0.06 | 58.1% |
| 15 | DAL | 3.59 | 0.01 | 54.8% |
| 16 | BAL | 3.53 | -0.05 | 51.6% |
| 17 | MIA | 3.53 | -0.05 | 48.4% |
| 18 | DEN | 3.41 | -0.17 | 45.2% |
| 19 | IND | 3.24 | -0.35 | 41.9% |
| 20 | JAX | 3.24 | -0.35 | 38.7% |
| 21 | LAC | 3.24 | -0.35 | 35.5% |
| 22 | MIN | 3.24 | -0.35 | 32.3% |
| 23 | NYJ | 3.24 | -0.35 | 29% |
| 24 | WAS | 3.18 | -0.41 | 25.8% |
| 25 | LV | 3.12 | -0.47 | 22.6% |
| 26 | SEA | 3.06 | -0.52 | 19.4% |
| 27 | DET | 3 | -0.58 | 16.1% |
| 28 | NE | 2.94 | -0.64 | 12.9% |
| 29 | NYG | 2.76 | -0.82 | 9.7% |
| 30 | GB | 2.71 | -0.88 | 6.5% |
| 31 | ATL | 2.59 | -0.99 | 3.2% |
| 32 | KC | 2.47 | -1.11 | 0% |
Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020
Biggest movers from last season.
Biggest riser
CIN · +1.61
Biggest faller
SEA · −2.19
Most consistent
LV · −0.01
League trend 2021 vs 2020
▼ -0.16
YoY by team — 2021 vs 2020
| Rank | Team | 2021 | 2020 | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIN | 4.29 | 2.69 | +1.61 |
| 2 | SF | 4.88 | 3.63 | +1.26 |
| 3 | CAR | 4.06 | 3.19 | +0.87 |
| 4 | CLE | 3.82 | 3 | +0.82 |
| 5 | NE | 2.94 | 2.38 | +0.57 |
| 6 | BUF | 4.18 | 3.63 | +0.55 |
| 7 | CHI | 4.18 | 3.63 | +0.55 |
| 8 | DAL | 3.59 | 3.06 | +0.53 |
| 9 | TEN | 3.65 | 3.13 | +0.52 |
| 10 | MIN | 3.24 | 2.81 | +0.42 |
| 11 | LAR | 4.41 | 4.06 | +0.35 |
| 12 | HOU | 3.94 | 3.69 | +0.25 |
| 13 | JAX | 3.24 | 3.19 | +0.05 |
| 14 | LAC | 3.24 | 3.19 | +0.05 |
| 15 | LV | 3.12 | 3.13 | −0.01 |
| 16 | KC | 2.47 | 2.56 | −0.09 |
| 17 | NO | 4.47 | 4.63 | −0.15 |
| 18 | DET | 3 | 3.31 | −0.31 |
| 19 | BAL | 3.53 | 3.88 | −0.35 |
| 20 | MIA | 3.53 | 3.88 | −0.35 |
| 21 | DEN | 3.41 | 3.81 | −0.40 |
| 22 | NYJ | 3.24 | 3.69 | −0.45 |
| 23 | GB | 2.71 | 3.31 | −0.61 |
| 24 | ATL | 2.59 | 3.31 | −0.72 |
| 25 | IND | 3.24 | 4 | −0.76 |
| 26 | PIT | 5 | 5.81 | −0.81 |
| 27 | TB | 4.29 | 5.25 | −0.96 |
| 28 | NYG | 2.76 | 3.94 | −1.17 |
| 29 | ARI | 3.76 | 5 | −1.24 |
| 30 | WAS | 3.18 | 4.56 | −1.39 |
| 31 | PHI | 3.65 | 5.13 | −1.48 |
| 32 | SEA | 3.06 | 5.25 | −2.19 |
Multi-year context
7-year window (2019–2025)
Multi-year leader
CLE · 4.80
Multi-year laggard
DET · 3.49
Biggest improver
CLE · +0.55/yr
Biggest decliner
SF · −0.11/yr
Multi-year averages
| Rank | Team | Avg | Slope/yr | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLE | 4.80 | +0.55 | 4.63 | 3 | 3.82 | 3.47 | 5.18 | 6.59 | 6.88 |
| 2 | PIT | 4.77 | −0.05 | 4.88 | 5.81 | 5 | 3.29 | 4.24 | 4.94 | 5.24 |
| 3 | BUF | 4.74 | +0.12 | 5.25 | 3.63 | 4.18 | 5 | 4.71 | 5.47 | 4.94 |
| 4 | TB | 4.72 | −0.06 | 5.13 | 5.25 | 4.29 | 4.47 | 4.24 | 4.76 | 4.88 |
| 5 | PHI | 4.51 | −0.08 | 4.75 | 5.13 | 3.65 | 5.18 | 3.94 | 4.76 | 4.18 |
| 6 | HOU | 4.44 | +0.47 | 3 | 3.69 | 3.94 | 4.06 | 4.82 | 6.24 | 5.35 |
| 7 | NO | 4.43 | +0.02 | 4.75 | 4.63 | 4.47 | 3.71 | 3.65 | 4.53 | 5.29 |
| 8 | ARI | 4.43 | −0.09 | 5.06 | 5 | 3.76 | 4.18 | 3.76 | 5.12 | 4.12 |
| 9 | NYJ | 4.42 | +0.03 | 5.69 | 3.69 | 3.24 | 4 | 4.59 | 5.24 | 4.53 |
| 10 | WAS | 4.35 | +0.03 | 4.56 | 4.56 | 3.18 | 4.65 | 4.41 | 5.06 | 4.06 |
| 11 | IND | 4.35 | +0.25 | 3.88 | 4 | 3.24 | 4.71 | 4.47 | 5.18 | 5 |
| 12 | MIN | 4.33 | +0.34 | 5.06 | 2.81 | 3.24 | 3.88 | 3.35 | 5.65 | 6.29 |
| 13 | NYG | 4.19 | +0.27 | 4.25 | 3.94 | 2.76 | 3.65 | 3.76 | 5.65 | 5.29 |
| 14 | SEA | 4.18 | +0.25 | 2.81 | 5.25 | 3.06 | 3.76 | 4.82 | 4.35 | 5.18 |
| 15 | DAL | 4.17 | +0.14 | 4.63 | 3.06 | 3.59 | 4.53 | 4.29 | 4.12 | 5 |
| 16 | SF | 4.15 | −0.11 | 4.81 | 3.63 | 4.88 | 3.88 | 4.06 | 3.94 | 3.82 |
| 17 | DEN | 4.12 | +0.15 | 4.56 | 3.81 | 3.41 | 3.29 | 3.41 | 5.53 | 4.82 |
| 18 | LV | 4.12 | +0.35 | 4.25 | 3.13 | 3.12 | 3.35 | 4.06 | 4.88 | 6.06 |
| 19 | BAL | 4.11 | +0.08 | 4.13 | 3.88 | 3.53 | 4 | 4.53 | 4.82 | 3.88 |
| 20 | TEN | 4.08 | +0.31 | 3.75 | 3.13 | 3.65 | 3.53 | 4.24 | 5.41 | 4.88 |
| 21 | LAR | 4.04 | −0.06 | 4.38 | 4.06 | 4.41 | 3.47 | 3.82 | 4.24 | 3.88 |
| 22 | LAC | 4.04 | +0.26 | 4.06 | 3.19 | 3.24 | 3.82 | 4.12 | 4.53 | 5.29 |
| 23 | JAX | 3.99 | +0.11 | 4.75 | 3.19 | 3.24 | 3.82 | 3.59 | 4.82 | 4.53 |
| 24 | KC | 3.92 | +0.28 | 4.06 | 2.56 | 2.47 | 4.47 | 4.41 | 5.12 | 4.35 |
| 25 | MIA | 3.90 | +0.26 | 2.75 | 3.88 | 3.53 | 3.76 | 4.12 | 4.88 | 4.35 |
| 26 | CAR | 3.85 | −0.06 | 4.50 | 3.19 | 4.06 | 4.35 | 3.24 | 3.82 | 3.82 |
| 27 | GB | 3.79 | +0.26 | 3.69 | 3.31 | 2.71 | 3.24 | 3.76 | 5.59 | 4.24 |
| 28 | ATL | 3.74 | +0.30 | 3.94 | 3.31 | 2.59 | 2.82 | 3.29 | 4.65 | 5.59 |
| 29 | CHI | 3.71 | +0.12 | 3.25 | 3.63 | 4.18 | 2.94 | 3.35 | 4.76 | 3.88 |
| 30 | NE | 3.52 | +0.34 | 3.06 | 2.38 | 2.94 | 3.65 | 3.76 | 3.71 | 5.12 |
| 31 | CIN | 3.51 | +0.05 | 3.63 | 2.69 | 4.29 | 2.94 | 3.53 | 4.24 | 3.29 |
| 32 | DET | 3.49 | +0.24 | 2.56 | 3.31 | 3 | 3.47 | 4 | 4.12 | 3.94 |
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 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIT | 4.88 | 5.81 | 5 | 3.29 | 4.24 | 4.94 | 5.24 |
| SF | 4.81 | 3.63 | 4.88 | 3.88 | 4.06 | 3.94 | 3.82 |
| NO | 4.75 | 4.63 | 4.47 | 3.71 | 3.65 | 4.53 | 5.29 |
| LAR | 4.38 | 4.06 | 4.41 | 3.47 | 3.82 | 4.24 | 3.88 |
| CIN | 3.63 | 2.69 | 4.29 | 2.94 | 3.53 | 4.24 | 3.29 |
| TB | 5.13 | 5.25 | 4.29 | 4.47 | 4.24 | 4.76 | 4.88 |
| BUF | 5.25 | 3.63 | 4.18 | 5 | 4.71 | 5.47 | 4.94 |
| CHI | 3.25 | 3.63 | 4.18 | 2.94 | 3.35 | 4.76 | 3.88 |
| CAR | 4.50 | 3.19 | 4.06 | 4.35 | 3.24 | 3.82 | 3.82 |
| HOU | 3 | 3.69 | 3.94 | 4.06 | 4.82 | 6.24 | 5.35 |
| CLE | 4.63 | 3 | 3.82 | 3.47 | 5.18 | 6.59 | 6.88 |
| ARI | 5.06 | 5 | 3.76 | 4.18 | 3.76 | 5.12 | 4.12 |
| PHI | 4.75 | 5.13 | 3.65 | 5.18 | 3.94 | 4.76 | 4.18 |
| TEN | 3.75 | 3.13 | 3.65 | 3.53 | 4.24 | 5.41 | 4.88 |
| DAL | 4.63 | 3.06 | 3.59 | 4.53 | 4.29 | 4.12 | 5 |
| BAL | 4.13 | 3.88 | 3.53 | 4 | 4.53 | 4.82 | 3.88 |
| MIA | 2.75 | 3.88 | 3.53 | 3.76 | 4.12 | 4.88 | 4.35 |
| DEN | 4.56 | 3.81 | 3.41 | 3.29 | 3.41 | 5.53 | 4.82 |
| IND | 3.88 | 4 | 3.24 | 4.71 | 4.47 | 5.18 | 5 |
| JAX | 4.75 | 3.19 | 3.24 | 3.82 | 3.59 | 4.82 | 4.53 |
| LAC | 4.06 | 3.19 | 3.24 | 3.82 | 4.12 | 4.53 | 5.29 |
| MIN | 5.06 | 2.81 | 3.24 | 3.88 | 3.35 | 5.65 | 6.29 |
| NYJ | 5.69 | 3.69 | 3.24 | 4 | 4.59 | 5.24 | 4.53 |
| WAS | 4.56 | 4.56 | 3.18 | 4.65 | 4.41 | 5.06 | 4.06 |
| LV | 4.25 | 3.13 | 3.12 | 3.35 | 4.06 | 4.88 | 6.06 |
| SEA | 2.81 | 5.25 | 3.06 | 3.76 | 4.82 | 4.35 | 5.18 |
| DET | 2.56 | 3.31 | 3 | 3.47 | 4 | 4.12 | 3.94 |
| NE | 3.06 | 2.38 | 2.94 | 3.65 | 3.76 | 3.71 | 5.12 |
| NYG | 4.25 | 3.94 | 2.76 | 3.65 | 3.76 | 5.65 | 5.29 |
| GB | 3.69 | 3.31 | 2.71 | 3.24 | 3.76 | 5.59 | 4.24 |
| ATL | 3.94 | 3.31 | 2.59 | 2.82 | 3.29 | 4.65 | 5.59 |
| KC | 4.06 | 2.56 | 2.47 | 4.47 | 4.41 | 5.12 | 4.35 |
Distribution
How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.
About this stat
- Stat ID
- def_advanced_defense_tackles_for_loss
- 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.