What Tackles missed (allowed) is

Missed tackles: times a defender had a ball carrier and failed to bring him down. It turns short gains into long ones, and it is a real skill gap rather than luck.

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

In 2021 the Broncos led at 4.94; the league average was 6.38.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

DEN · 4.94

League average

6.38

Best to worst

2.82

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DEN	4.94	17
2	GB	5.12	17
3	IND	5.29	17
4	KC	5.47	17
5	NYG	5.47	17
6	NE	5.53	17
7	TEN	5.53	17
8	WAS	5.71	17
9	SF	5.76	17
10	PHI	5.94	17
11	CAR	6.24	17
12	CHI	6.24	17
13	CIN	6.24	17
14	DAL	6.24	17
15	MIN	6.35	17
16	NO	6.35	17
17	LV	6.41	17
18	ARI	6.47	17
19	CLE	6.65	17
20	SEA	6.65	17
21	BAL	6.71	17
22	MIA	6.71	17
23	ATL	6.88	17
24	BUF	6.88	17
25	TB	6.94	17
26	LAR	7	17
27	NYJ	7.12	17
28	HOU	7.29	17
29	PIT	7.35	17
30	LAC	7.41	17
31	JAX	7.65	17
32	DET	7.76	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DEN · 4.94

League laggard

DET · 7.76

League average

6.38

Spread (max − min)

2.82

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DEN	4.94	-1.44	100%
2	GB	5.12	-1.27	96.8%
3	IND	5.29	-1.09	93.5%
4	KC	5.47	-0.91	90.3%
5	NYG	5.47	-0.91	87.1%
6	NE	5.53	-0.85	83.9%
7	TEN	5.53	-0.85	80.6%
8	WAS	5.71	-0.68	77.4%
9	SF	5.76	-0.62	74.2%
10	PHI	5.94	-0.44	71%
11	CAR	6.24	-0.15	67.7%
12	CHI	6.24	-0.15	64.5%
13	CIN	6.24	-0.15	61.3%
14	DAL	6.24	-0.15	58.1%
15	MIN	6.35	-0.03	54.8%
16	NO	6.35	-0.03	51.6%
17	LV	6.41	0.03	48.4%
18	ARI	6.47	0.09	45.2%
19	CLE	6.65	0.26	41.9%
20	SEA	6.65	0.26	38.7%
21	BAL	6.71	0.32	35.5%
22	MIA	6.71	0.32	32.3%
23	ATL	6.88	0.50	29%
24	BUF	6.88	0.50	25.8%
25	TB	6.94	0.56	22.6%
26	LAR	7	0.62	19.4%
27	NYJ	7.12	0.73	16.1%
28	HOU	7.29	0.91	12.9%
29	PIT	7.35	0.97	9.7%
30	LAC	7.41	1.03	6.5%
31	JAX	7.65	1.26	3.2%
32	DET	7.76	1.38	0%

Does Tackles missed (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 832–746–37 ATS (52.7%) across 2020–2025, #144 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2022 (149–115, 56.4%); its worst 2023 (130–128, 50.4%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	138–116–2	54.3%
2021	272	140–130–2	51.9%
2022	271	149–115–7	56.4%
2023	272	130–128–14	50.4%
2024	272	137–126–9	52.1%
2025	272	138–131–3	51.3%

Tackles missed (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Broncos lead at 4.94 — they ranked #8 last year. Lions are last at 7.76 — #28 last year.

The league average is 6.38, down 0.32 from 6.70 last year.

Biggest riser: Chiefs, #23 → #4. Biggest faller: Rams, #3 → #26.

Spread between first and last: 2.82; 20 teams are within 0.74 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

LAR · +2.19

Biggest faller

LV · −2.53

Most consistent

MIA · +0.08

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▼ -0.32

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	LAR	7	4.81	+2.19
2	SF	5.76	4.25	+1.51
3	NO	6.35	5.13	+1.23
4	SEA	6.65	5.50	+1.15
5	IND	5.29	4.38	+0.92
6	CHI	6.24	5.56	+0.67
7	CLE	6.65	6	+0.65
8	LAC	7.41	6.81	+0.60
9	ATL	6.88	6.31	+0.57
10	JAX	7.65	7.13	+0.52
11	TB	6.94	6.44	+0.50
12	PIT	7.35	6.94	+0.42
13	MIA	6.71	6.63	+0.08
14	NE	5.53	5.63	−0.10
15	DAL	6.24	6.38	−0.14
16	DET	7.76	8	−0.24
17	ARI	6.47	6.88	−0.40
18	HOU	7.29	7.81	−0.52
19	NYG	5.47	6.06	−0.59
20	CIN	6.24	6.88	−0.64
21	BUF	6.88	7.81	−0.93
22	DEN	4.94	5.88	−0.93
23	NYJ	7.12	8.25	−1.13
24	PHI	5.94	7.19	−1.25
25	CAR	6.24	7.56	−1.33
26	TEN	5.53	7.06	−1.53
27	BAL	6.71	8.38	−1.67
28	GB	5.12	6.81	−1.69
29	WAS	5.71	7.50	−1.79
30	MIN	6.35	8.19	−1.83
31	KC	5.47	7.44	−1.97
32	LV	6.41	8.94	−2.53

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

NE · 4.83

Multi-year laggard

LV · 6.68

Biggest improver

DET · −0.85/yr

Biggest decliner

IND · +0.54/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	NE	4.83	−0.26	5.63	5.53	4.29	5.24	5.12	4.18	3.80
2	SF	4.96	+0.17	4.25	5.76	3.76	4.06	6.29	5.18	5.40
3	LAR	5.10	−0.35	4.81	7	3.94	6.12	7	4.82	2
4	TEN	5.14	−0.47	7.06	5.53	5.06	4.88	5.59	5.06	2.80
5	NYG	5.14	−0.18	6.06	5.47	2.88	6.88	6.24	4.65	3.80
6	CHI	5.21	−0.30	5.56	6.24	4.35	6.47	5.53	5.35	3
7	GB	5.24	−0.22	6.81	5.12	3.47	5.94	6.35	5.18	3.80
8	KC	5.29	−0.32	7.44	5.47	4.82	4.47	5.41	4.41	5
9	MIN	5.33	−0.61	8.19	6.35	3.76	5.88	4.65	6.29	2.20
10	DAL	5.37	+0.01	6.38	6.24	3.76	3.71	5.12	6.59	5.80
11	DET	5.43	−0.85	8	7.76	3.71	7.29	5	4.47	1.80
12	ARI	5.45	−0.39	6.88	6.47	4.88	4.29	6.24	6.76	2.60
13	ATL	5.51	−0.16	6.31	6.88	3.18	5.59	6.71	5.12	4.80
14	WAS	5.57	−0.10	7.50	5.71	2.88	5.88	4.71	7.71	4.60
15	TB	5.65	−0.04	6.44	6.94	4	4.41	5.88	5.47	6.40
16	NO	5.67	+0.11	5.13	6.35	4.35	5.12	7.59	5.53	5.60
17	LAC	5.71	−0.27	6.81	7.41	3.82	5.88	5.41	5.82	4.80
18	SEA	5.76	−0.14	5.50	6.65	4.53	7.59	5.59	6.47	4
19	BAL	5.80	−0.41	8.38	6.71	4.65	5.41	4.47	5.76	5.20
20	DEN	5.81	+0.28	5.88	4.94	5.76	5.71	4.59	5	8.80
21	PHI	5.88	+0.03	7.19	5.94	4	5.76	5.29	5.76	7.20
22	BUF	6.00	−0.29	7.81	6.88	4.81	5.94	5.59	4.59	6.40
23	JAX	6.09	−0.45	7.13	7.65	4.82	7.47	6.12	5.41	4
24	CLE	6.10	+0.10	6	6.65	4.47	6.82	5.94	5.82	7
25	PIT	6.15	+0.03	6.94	7.35	4	6.06	4.06	7.41	7.20
26	MIA	6.21	−0.13	6.63	6.71	4.59	7.59	6.59	6.59	4.80
27	IND	6.23	+0.54	4.38	5.29	5	5.76	9.24	7.35	6.60
28	CAR	6.24	−0.25	7.56	6.24	4.18	7.82	7.76	5.59	4.50
29	NYJ	6.31	−0.40	8.25	7.12	4	6.82	7.53	7.06	3.40
30	HOU	6.34	−0.50	7.81	7.29	5.29	7.65	7	5.76	3.60
31	CIN	6.49	+0.37	6.88	6.24	4.31	4.18	6.82	10	7
32	LV	6.68	−0.11	8.94	6.41	4.06	6.12	7.88	7.12	6.20

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
DEN	5.88	4.94	5.76	5.71	4.59	5	8.80
GB	6.81	5.12	3.47	5.94	6.35	5.18	3.80
IND	4.38	5.29	5	5.76	9.24	7.35	6.60
KC	7.44	5.47	4.82	4.47	5.41	4.41	5
NYG	6.06	5.47	2.88	6.88	6.24	4.65	3.80
NE	5.63	5.53	4.29	5.24	5.12	4.18	3.80
TEN	7.06	5.53	5.06	4.88	5.59	5.06	2.80
WAS	7.50	5.71	2.88	5.88	4.71	7.71	4.60
SF	4.25	5.76	3.76	4.06	6.29	5.18	5.40
PHI	7.19	5.94	4	5.76	5.29	5.76	7.20
CAR	7.56	6.24	4.18	7.82	7.76	5.59	4.50
CHI	5.56	6.24	4.35	6.47	5.53	5.35	3
CIN	6.88	6.24	4.31	4.18	6.82	10	7
DAL	6.38	6.24	3.76	3.71	5.12	6.59	5.80
MIN	8.19	6.35	3.76	5.88	4.65	6.29	2.20
NO	5.13	6.35	4.35	5.12	7.59	5.53	5.60
LV	8.94	6.41	4.06	6.12	7.88	7.12	6.20
ARI	6.88	6.47	4.88	4.29	6.24	6.76	2.60
CLE	6	6.65	4.47	6.82	5.94	5.82	7
SEA	5.50	6.65	4.53	7.59	5.59	6.47	4
BAL	8.38	6.71	4.65	5.41	4.47	5.76	5.20
MIA	6.63	6.71	4.59	7.59	6.59	6.59	4.80
ATL	6.31	6.88	3.18	5.59	6.71	5.12	4.80
BUF	7.81	6.88	4.81	5.94	5.59	4.59	6.40
TB	6.44	6.94	4	4.41	5.88	5.47	6.40
LAR	4.81	7	3.94	6.12	7	4.82	2
NYJ	8.25	7.12	4	6.82	7.53	7.06	3.40
HOU	7.81	7.29	5.29	7.65	7	5.76	3.60
PIT	6.94	7.35	4	6.06	4.06	7.41	7.20
LAC	6.81	7.41	3.82	5.88	5.41	5.82	4.80
JAX	7.13	7.65	4.82	7.47	6.12	5.41	4
DET	8	7.76	3.71	7.29	5	4.47	1.80

Tackles missed (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Patriots (4.56), 2019 Patriots (4.13), 2020 49ers (4.25), 2021 Broncos (4.94).

Patriots have led this stat 2 of 4 seasons.

The best season on record is Patriots 2019 at 4.13; the worst Browns 2018 at 9.31.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

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