What TFL Yds (allowed) is

Tackle-for-loss yards: the yards this defense took back on its tackles for loss. The size of those wins rather than the count.

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 49ers led at 23.12; the league average was 16.65.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

SF · 23.12

League average

16.65

Best to worst

12.88

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	SF	23.12	17
2	PIT	22.06	17
3	MIA	20.82	17
4	MIN	20.59	17
5	NO	20.24	17
6	CHI	19.94	17
7	LAR	19.82	17
8	TEN	19.71	17
9	BUF	19.35	17
10	CAR	18.65	17
11	TB	18.53	17
12	DAL	18.06	17
13	CLE	17.06	17
14	NYJ	16.88	17
15	PHI	16.88	17
16	DEN	16.65	17
17	CIN	16.29	17
18	HOU	16.06	17
19	BAL	15.82	17
20	JAX	15.76	17
21	NE	15.53	17
22	ARI	15.24	17
23	SEA	14.71	17
24	GB	14.65	17
25	DET	14.12	17
26	LV	14.06	17
27	IND	13.88	17
28	LAC	13	17
29	WAS	12.94	17
30	KC	11.29	17
31	NYG	10.82	17
32	ATL	10.24	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

SF · 23.12

League laggard

ATL · 10.24

League average

16.65

Spread (max − min)

12.88

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	SF	23.12	6.47	100%
2	PIT	22.06	5.41	96.8%
3	MIA	20.82	4.17	93.5%
4	MIN	20.59	3.94	90.3%
5	NO	20.24	3.59	87.1%
6	CHI	19.94	3.29	83.9%
7	LAR	19.82	3.17	80.6%
8	TEN	19.71	3.06	77.4%
9	BUF	19.35	2.70	74.2%
10	CAR	18.65	2.00	71%
11	TB	18.53	1.88	67.7%
12	DAL	18.06	1.41	64.5%
13	CLE	17.06	0.41	61.3%
14	NYJ	16.88	0.23	58.1%
15	PHI	16.88	0.23	54.8%
16	DEN	16.65	0.00	51.6%
17	CIN	16.29	-0.35	48.4%
18	HOU	16.06	-0.59	45.2%
19	BAL	15.82	-0.83	41.9%
20	JAX	15.76	-0.88	38.7%
21	NE	15.53	-1.12	35.5%
22	ARI	15.24	-1.41	32.3%
23	SEA	14.71	-1.94	29%
24	GB	14.65	-2.00	25.8%
25	DET	14.12	-2.53	22.6%
26	LV	14.06	-2.59	19.4%
27	IND	13.88	-2.77	16.1%
28	LAC	13	-3.65	12.9%
29	WAS	12.94	-3.71	9.7%
30	KC	11.29	-5.35	6.5%
31	NYG	10.82	-5.83	3.2%
32	ATL	10.24	-6.41	0%

Does TFL Yds (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 811–767–37 ATS (51.4%) across 2020–2025, #209 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2023 (141–117, 54.7%); its worst 2025 (131–138, 48.7%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	135–119–2	53.1%
2021	272	133–137–2	49.3%
2022	271	136–128–7	51.5%
2023	272	141–117–14	54.7%
2024	272	135–128–9	51.3%
2025	272	131–138–3	48.7%

TFL Yds (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

49ers lead at 23.12 — they ranked #13 last year. Falcons are last at 10.24 — #15 last year.

The league average is 16.65, down 0.32 from 16.97 last year.

Biggest riser: Vikings, #28 → #4. Biggest faller: Commanders, #4 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 12.88; 21 teams are within 3.21 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

MIN · +9.28

Biggest faller

WAS · −10.37

Most consistent

HOU · −0.25

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▼ -0.32

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	MIN	20.59	11.31	+9.28
2	CIN	16.29	9.44	+6.86
3	DAL	18.06	11.50	+6.56
4	SF	23.12	17	+6.12
5	JAX	15.76	10.56	+5.20
6	TEN	19.71	14.56	+5.14
7	NE	15.53	10.56	+4.97
8	CAR	18.65	14.06	+4.58
9	CHI	19.94	15.50	+4.44
10	CLE	17.06	13.19	+3.87
11	BUF	19.35	15.75	+3.60
12	LV	14.06	11.06	+3.00
13	NYJ	16.88	15.63	+1.26
14	LAC	13	12.06	+0.94
15	DET	14.12	13.50	+0.62
16	HOU	16.06	16.31	−0.25
17	MIA	20.82	21.44	−0.61
18	NO	20.24	21.31	−1.08
19	GB	14.65	15.75	−1.10
20	IND	13.88	16	−2.12
21	KC	11.29	13.69	−2.39
22	LAR	19.82	22.56	−2.74
23	DEN	16.65	20.50	−3.85
24	PIT	22.06	26.19	−4.13
25	BAL	15.82	20.19	−4.36
26	PHI	16.88	21.94	−5.06
27	SEA	14.71	20.19	−5.48
28	ATL	10.24	16.13	−5.89
29	TB	18.53	26.25	−7.72
30	ARI	15.24	24.44	−9.20
31	NYG	10.82	21.19	−10.36
32	WAS	12.94	23.31	−10.37

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

HOU · 22.14

Multi-year laggard

JAX · 15.49

Biggest improver

CLE · +2.97/yr

Biggest decliner

LAR · −1.00/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	HOU	22.14	+2.40	16.31	16.06	16.29	22.94	28.65	28.35	26.40
2	CLE	21.80	+2.97	13.19	17.06	14.41	24.88	24.71	28.59	29.80
3	TB	21.45	−0.53	26.25	18.53	20.35	20.71	23.41	24.71	16.20
4	PIT	21.21	−0.37	26.19	22.06	15.82	19.29	22.82	21.47	20.80
5	SEA	20.78	+1.10	20.19	14.71	19.65	21.76	22.53	22	24.60
6	MIN	20.48	+2.22	11.31	20.59	16.59	16.35	27.29	27.24	24
7	DEN	20.28	+1.27	20.50	16.65	15.12	15.59	26.12	24.59	23.40
8	BUF	20.28	+0.47	15.75	19.35	22.31	20.35	25.06	21.12	18
9	BAL	20.17	+0.64	20.19	15.82	18.53	24.65	21.29	14.71	26
10	NO	19.75	+0.08	21.31	20.24	16.65	16.18	23.53	21.35	19
11	NYJ	19.52	+1.18	15.63	16.88	18.94	20.18	22.53	17.29	25.20
12	ARI	19.38	−0.11	24.44	15.24	19.47	16.94	20.65	17.29	21.60
13	DET	19.31	+2.04	13.50	14.12	17.41	23	18.59	21.18	27.40
14	PHI	19.22	−0.57	21.94	16.88	24.18	16.12	20.35	17.88	17.20
15	WAS	19.20	−0.03	23.31	12.94	22	15.71	23.82	16.59	20
16	MIA	19.17	−0.76	21.44	20.82	17.18	20.59	21.41	17.76	15
17	TEN	18.96	+0.70	14.56	19.71	17.18	20.88	19.94	21.47	19
18	LAR	18.72	−1.00	22.56	19.82	16.53	17.88	23.41	20.06	10.80
19	DAL	18.58	+0.60	11.50	18.06	21.65	20.76	21.82	21.47	14.80
20	GB	18.38	+1.57	15.75	14.65	12.65	18.65	25.65	16.29	25
21	IND	18.16	+0.19	16	13.88	19.24	22.24	23.12	20.88	11.80
22	NYG	17.80	+0.29	21.19	10.82	16.47	17.59	21.76	22.18	14.60
23	SF	17.70	−0.96	17	23.12	18.71	20.53	14.47	15.71	14.40
24	NE	17.65	+1.83	10.56	15.53	19.76	18.18	12.88	19.06	27.60
25	CHI	16.98	+0.94	15.50	19.94	11.41	12.12	19.47	16.59	23.80
26	LAC	16.87	+0.71	12.06	13	19.59	20.65	18.18	20.41	14.20
27	KC	16.67	+0.11	13.69	11.29	21.18	22.35	21.41	13.76	13
28	CAR	16.66	−0.28	14.06	18.65	19.35	17	17.59	16.47	13.50
29	LV	16.61	+1.18	11.06	14.06	13.76	19.82	21.59	21.35	14.60
30	ATL	16.10	+1.06	16.13	10.24	13.71	14.76	18.06	25.24	14.60
31	CIN	16.07	+2.10	9.44	16.29	10.31	16.06	18.53	14.06	27.80
32	JAX	15.49	+0.36	10.56	15.76	14.94	18	20.82	17.53	10.80

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
SF	17	23.12	18.71	20.53	14.47	15.71	14.40
PIT	26.19	22.06	15.82	19.29	22.82	21.47	20.80
MIA	21.44	20.82	17.18	20.59	21.41	17.76	15
MIN	11.31	20.59	16.59	16.35	27.29	27.24	24
NO	21.31	20.24	16.65	16.18	23.53	21.35	19
CHI	15.50	19.94	11.41	12.12	19.47	16.59	23.80
LAR	22.56	19.82	16.53	17.88	23.41	20.06	10.80
TEN	14.56	19.71	17.18	20.88	19.94	21.47	19
BUF	15.75	19.35	22.31	20.35	25.06	21.12	18
CAR	14.06	18.65	19.35	17	17.59	16.47	13.50
TB	26.25	18.53	20.35	20.71	23.41	24.71	16.20
DAL	11.50	18.06	21.65	20.76	21.82	21.47	14.80
CLE	13.19	17.06	14.41	24.88	24.71	28.59	29.80
NYJ	15.63	16.88	18.94	20.18	22.53	17.29	25.20
PHI	21.94	16.88	24.18	16.12	20.35	17.88	17.20
DEN	20.50	16.65	15.12	15.59	26.12	24.59	23.40
CIN	9.44	16.29	10.31	16.06	18.53	14.06	27.80
HOU	16.31	16.06	16.29	22.94	28.65	28.35	26.40
BAL	20.19	15.82	18.53	24.65	21.29	14.71	26
JAX	10.56	15.76	14.94	18	20.82	17.53	10.80
NE	10.56	15.53	19.76	18.18	12.88	19.06	27.60
ARI	24.44	15.24	19.47	16.94	20.65	17.29	21.60
SEA	20.19	14.71	19.65	21.76	22.53	22	24.60
GB	15.75	14.65	12.65	18.65	25.65	16.29	25
DET	13.50	14.12	17.41	23	18.59	21.18	27.40
LV	11.06	14.06	13.76	19.82	21.59	21.35	14.60
IND	16	13.88	19.24	22.24	23.12	20.88	11.80
LAC	12.06	13	19.59	20.65	18.18	20.41	14.20
WAS	23.31	12.94	22	15.71	23.82	16.59	20
KC	13.69	11.29	21.18	22.35	21.41	13.76	13
NYG	21.19	10.82	16.47	17.59	21.76	22.18	14.60
ATL	16.13	10.24	13.71	14.76	18.06	25.24	14.60

TFL Yds (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Vikings (27.75), 2019 Bills (26.56), 2020 Buccaneers (26.25), 2021 49ers (23.12).

The best season on record is Vikings 2018 at 27.75; the worst Bengals 2020 at 9.44.

The league average has fallen from 20.15 in 2018 to 16.65 in 2021.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_advanced_defense_tackles_for_loss_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.