What Start avg (allowed) is

Opponents' average starting field position against this team, in yards from this team's goal line — a higher number means opponents started farther away. It is mostly this team's special teams and offense (punts, kickoffs, turnovers) handing opponents their starting point.

Higher is better. It is a rate, so a team's number does not grow with games played. Source: P + N.

Through Week 7 of 2026, the Packers lead at 342.35; the league average is 304.75.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

GB · 342.35

League average

304.75

Best to worst

90.14

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	GB	342.35	6
2	DEN	341.53	6
3	PHI	341.40	6
4	TEN	340.42	6
5	BAL	333.99	6
6	CLE	332.19	6
7	NYG	327.08	6
8	NYJ	325.61	6
9	NE	321.28	6
10	SEA	318.72	6
11	PIT	318.47	6
12	WAS	316.33	6
13	LV	315.56	6
14	JAX	315.08	6
15	ARI	313.01	6
16	HOU	311.88	6
17	CHI	310.86	6
18	DAL	305.00	6
19	LAC	304.98	6
20	LAR	302.99	6
21	TB	301.70	6
22	NO	300.86	6
23	SF	299.18	6
24	ATL	289.67	6
25	BUF	286.16	6
26	IND	280.39	6
27	MIA	266.32	5
28	KC	264.34	5
29	MIN	261.78	5
30	DET	256.53	5
31	CAR	254.00	5
32	CIN	252.21	5

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

GB · 342.35

League laggard

CIN · 252.21

League average

304.75

Spread (max − min)

90.14

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	GB	342.35	37.60	100%
2	DEN	341.53	36.78	96.8%
3	PHI	341.40	36.65	93.5%
4	TEN	340.42	35.67	90.3%
5	BAL	333.99	29.24	87.1%
6	CLE	332.19	27.44	83.9%
7	NYG	327.08	22.33	80.6%
8	NYJ	325.61	20.86	77.4%
9	NE	321.28	16.53	74.2%
10	SEA	318.72	13.97	71%
11	PIT	318.47	13.72	67.7%
12	WAS	316.33	11.58	64.5%
13	LV	315.56	10.81	61.3%
14	JAX	315.08	10.33	58.1%
15	ARI	313.01	8.26	54.8%
16	HOU	311.88	7.13	51.6%
17	CHI	310.86	6.11	48.4%
18	DAL	305.00	0.25	45.2%
19	LAC	304.98	0.23	41.9%
20	LAR	302.99	-1.76	38.7%
21	TB	301.70	-3.05	35.5%
22	NO	300.86	-3.89	32.3%
23	SF	299.18	-5.57	29%
24	ATL	289.67	-15.08	25.8%
25	BUF	286.16	-18.59	22.6%
26	IND	280.39	-24.36	19.4%
27	MIA	266.32	-38.43	16.1%
28	KC	264.34	-40.41	12.9%
29	MIN	261.78	-42.97	9.7%
30	DET	256.53	-48.22	6.5%
31	CAR	254.00	-50.75	3.2%
32	CIN	252.21	-52.54	0%

Does Start avg (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 761–817–37 ATS (48.2%) across 2020–2025, #281 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (138–116, 54.3%); its worst 2023 (117–141, 45.3%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	138–116–2	54.3%
2021	272	125–145–2	46.3%
2022	271	133–131–7	50.4%
2023	272	117–141–14	45.3%
2024	272	120–143–9	45.6%
2025	272	128–141–3	47.6%

Start avg (allowed) in 2026 vs 2025

Packers lead at 342.35 — they ranked #23 last year. Bengals are last at 252.21 — #18 last year.

The league average is 304.75, down 582.03 from 886.78 last year.

Biggest riser: Packers, #23 → #1. Biggest faller: Dolphins, #3 → #27.

Spread between first and last: 90.14; 20 teams are within 26.77 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

SEA · −507.70

Biggest faller

MIA · −659.69

Most consistent

SEA · −507.70

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▼ -582.03

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	SEA	318.72	826.42	−507.70
2	BAL	333.99	849.90	−515.91
3	GB	342.35	869.17	−526.82
4	IND	280.39	813.14	−532.75
5	DAL	305.00	840.57	−535.57
6	SF	299.18	835.13	−535.95
7	NE	321.28	866.41	−545.13
8	LAR	302.99	848.92	−545.93
9	PHI	341.40	896.31	−554.91
10	LAC	304.98	863.00	−558.02
11	BUF	286.16	858.24	−572.08
12	TEN	340.42	916.56	−576.14
13	CHI	310.86	887.55	−576.69
14	NYG	327.08	903.85	−576.77
15	JAX	315.08	893.45	−578.37
16	DEN	341.53	921.17	−579.64
17	NO	300.86	882.52	−581.66
18	CLE	332.19	919.80	−587.61
19	ARI	313.01	903.71	−590.70
20	PIT	318.47	911.42	−592.95
21	HOU	311.88	907.78	−595.90
22	TB	301.70	902.99	−601.29
23	LV	315.56	918.25	−602.69
24	ATL	289.67	894.23	−604.56
25	MIN	261.78	873.98	−612.20
26	WAS	316.33	930.80	−614.47
27	DET	256.53	875.98	−619.45
28	NYJ	325.61	950.54	−624.93
29	KC	264.34	891.48	−627.14
30	CIN	252.21	888.73	−636.52
31	CAR	254.00	908.81	−654.81
32	MIA	266.32	926.01	−659.69

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

NYJ · 834.56

Multi-year laggard

BUF · 754.35

Biggest improver

GB · −44.89/yr

Biggest decliner

DET · −69.16/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	NYJ	834.56	−56.91	873.86	904.37	943.47	941.59	902.45	950.54	325.61
2	HOU	832.76	−59.77	841.76	955.95	946.03	907.53	958.42	907.78	311.88
3	DEN	830.45	−53.72	831.50	930.51	946.29	911.44	930.72	921.17	341.53
4	NYG	829.94	−55.57	854.93	909.67	902.35	970.11	941.59	903.85	327.08
5	JAX	827.63	−60.42	854.94	950.99	910.26	915.46	953.24	893.45	315.08
6	TEN	821.61	−46.93	803.97	858.09	963.80	944.97	923.46	916.56	340.42
7	CLE	820.61	−48.59	801.97	920.63	913.24	892.84	963.60	919.80	332.19
8	NO	819.98	−57.28	812.59	922.05	951.11	909.12	961.63	882.52	300.86
9	PIT	815.48	−54.92	843.52	875.52	928.93	936.02	894.45	911.42	318.47
10	WAS	812.05	−61.04	866.72	905.71	940.76	891.25	832.75	930.80	316.33
11	SEA	811.50	−65.08	851.53	962.07	875.91	922.42	923.46	826.42	318.72
12	NE	809.18	−57.00	882.10	825.04	912.45	940.80	916.17	866.41	321.28
13	CHI	805.14	−53.65	823.59	895.18	905.62	856.24	956.95	887.55	310.86
14	LV	801.05	−47.44	765.35	908.62	870.70	956.41	872.48	918.25	315.56
15	CAR	800.56	−56.48	799.60	872.49	927.35	931.59	910.05	908.81	254.00
16	ATL	796.04	−59.38	818.38	914.60	888.10	914.96	852.36	894.23	289.67
17	MIA	790.23	−60.96	835.98	911.75	883.54	850.85	857.19	926.01	266.32
18	DET	789.00	−69.16	850.71	932.90	877.39	892.11	837.35	875.98	256.53
19	TB	787.51	−52.87	789.60	846.76	935.03	930.53	805.98	902.99	301.70
20	LAR	784.12	−55.40	840.89	837.83	878.09	861.64	918.50	848.92	302.99
21	BAL	784.11	−56.19	815.73	890.47	894.55	856.59	847.57	849.90	333.99
22	GB	784.11	−44.89	753.29	866.60	901.14	884.25	871.98	869.17	342.35
23	PHI	783.19	−53.19	871.15	846.35	836.09	855.05	836.01	896.31	341.40
24	ARI	783.18	−48.48	814.34	826.69	887.13	857.72	879.68	903.71	313.01
25	LAC	783.08	−47.98	780.22	808.92	926.54	897.21	900.71	863.00	304.98
26	MIN	782.37	−56.01	761.67	894.32	909.07	894.56	881.23	873.98	261.78
27	CIN	780.82	−60.15	853.88	851.11	826.03	922.12	871.67	888.73	252.21
28	IND	780.76	−61.71	807.17	876.46	909.61	889.79	888.79	813.14	280.39
29	SF	777.51	−60.46	830.11	864.78	889.57	874.97	848.83	835.13	299.18
30	KC	774.65	−54.57	817.50	836.59	859.35	872.24	881.08	891.48	264.34
31	DAL	768.49	−52.41	782.28	877.85	853.65	827.57	892.51	840.57	305.00
32	BUF	754.35	−48.18	772.65	829.33	800.60	880.31	853.14	858.24	286.16

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
GB	753.29	866.60	901.14	884.25	871.98	869.17	342.35
DEN	831.50	930.51	946.29	911.44	930.72	921.17	341.53
PHI	871.15	846.35	836.09	855.05	836.01	896.31	341.40
TEN	803.97	858.09	963.80	944.97	923.46	916.56	340.42
BAL	815.73	890.47	894.55	856.59	847.57	849.90	333.99
CLE	801.97	920.63	913.24	892.84	963.60	919.80	332.19
NYG	854.93	909.67	902.35	970.11	941.59	903.85	327.08
NYJ	873.86	904.37	943.47	941.59	902.45	950.54	325.61
NE	882.10	825.04	912.45	940.80	916.17	866.41	321.28
SEA	851.53	962.07	875.91	922.42	923.46	826.42	318.72
PIT	843.52	875.52	928.93	936.02	894.45	911.42	318.47
WAS	866.72	905.71	940.76	891.25	832.75	930.80	316.33
LV	765.35	908.62	870.70	956.41	872.48	918.25	315.56
JAX	854.94	950.99	910.26	915.46	953.24	893.45	315.08
ARI	814.34	826.69	887.13	857.72	879.68	903.71	313.01
HOU	841.76	955.95	946.03	907.53	958.42	907.78	311.88
CHI	823.59	895.18	905.62	856.24	956.95	887.55	310.86
DAL	782.28	877.85	853.65	827.57	892.51	840.57	305.00
LAC	780.22	808.92	926.54	897.21	900.71	863.00	304.98
LAR	840.89	837.83	878.09	861.64	918.50	848.92	302.99
TB	789.60	846.76	935.03	930.53	805.98	902.99	301.70
NO	812.59	922.05	951.11	909.12	961.63	882.52	300.86
SF	830.11	864.78	889.57	874.97	848.83	835.13	299.18
ATL	818.38	914.60	888.10	914.96	852.36	894.23	289.67
BUF	772.65	829.33	800.60	880.31	853.14	858.24	286.16
IND	807.17	876.46	909.61	889.79	888.79	813.14	280.39
MIA	835.98	911.75	883.54	850.85	857.19	926.01	266.32
KC	817.50	836.59	859.35	872.24	881.08	891.48	264.34
MIN	761.67	894.32	909.07	894.56	881.23	873.98	261.78
DET	850.71	932.90	877.39	892.11	837.35	875.98	256.53
CAR	799.60	872.49	927.35	931.59	910.05	908.81	254.00
CIN	853.88	851.11	826.03	922.12	871.67	888.73	252.21

Start avg (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Cardinals (926.48), 2019 Lions (902.40), 2020 Patriots (882.10), 2021 Seahawks (962.07), 2022 Titans (963.80), 2023 Giants (970.11), 2024 Browns (963.60), 2025 Jets (950.54), 2026 Packers (342.35).

The best season on record is Giants 2023 at 970.11; the worst Bengals 2026 at 252.21.

The league average has fallen from 849.77 in 2018 to 304.75 in 2026.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2026.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_drives_start_avg
Side: defensive
Family: Drive Averages
Data source: P + N
Polarity: higher is better (or neutral)
Display grain: rate
Algorithm eligibility: Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.