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.

In 2018 the Cardinals led at 926.48; the league average was 849.77.

League snapshot — 2018

League leader

ARI · 926.48

League average

849.77

Best to worst

153.24

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	ARI	926.48	16
2	DEN	907.44	16
3	JAX	907.04	16
4	WAS	899.07	16
5	MIA	886.66	16
6	TEN	883.34	16
7	CAR	878.37	16
8	HOU	872.46	16
9	BUF	870.63	16
10	CLE	867.98	16
11	SEA	858.98	16
12	MIN	856.82	16
13	PHI	854.84	16
14	LV	853.47	16
15	NYG	851.81	16
16	NYJ	851.69	16
17	DET	851.05	16
18	CIN	848.71	16
19	PIT	847.23	16
20	CHI	843.67	16
21	NE	839.33	16
22	IND	838.25	16
23	TB	835.61	16
24	GB	828.30	16
25	DAL	827.92	16
26	ATL	826.58	16
27	BAL	824.18	16
28	SF	823.61	16
29	LAC	800.54	16
30	LAR	781.76	16
31	KC	775.66	16
32	NO	773.24	16

At a glance — 2018

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

ARI · 926.48

League laggard

NO · 773.24

League average

849.77

Spread (max − min)

153.24

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	ARI	926.48	76.71	100%
2	DEN	907.44	57.67	96.8%
3	JAX	907.04	57.27	93.5%
4	WAS	899.07	49.30	90.3%
5	MIA	886.66	36.89	87.1%
6	TEN	883.34	33.57	83.9%
7	CAR	878.37	28.60	80.6%
8	HOU	872.46	22.69	77.4%
9	BUF	870.63	20.86	74.2%
10	CLE	867.98	18.21	71%
11	SEA	858.98	9.21	67.7%
12	MIN	856.82	7.05	64.5%
13	PHI	854.84	5.07	61.3%
14	LV	853.47	3.70	58.1%
15	NYG	851.81	2.04	54.8%
16	NYJ	851.69	1.92	51.6%
17	DET	851.05	1.28	48.4%
18	CIN	848.71	-1.06	45.2%
19	PIT	847.23	-2.54	41.9%
20	CHI	843.67	-6.10	38.7%
21	NE	839.33	-10.44	35.5%
22	IND	838.25	-11.52	32.3%
23	TB	835.61	-14.16	29%
24	GB	828.30	-21.47	25.8%
25	DAL	827.92	-21.85	22.6%
26	ATL	826.58	-23.19	19.4%
27	BAL	824.18	-25.59	16.1%
28	SF	823.61	-26.16	12.9%
29	LAC	800.54	-49.23	9.7%
30	LAR	781.76	-68.01	6.5%
31	KC	775.66	-74.11	3.2%
32	NO	773.24	-76.53	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%

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

NYJ · 827.66

Multi-year laggard

BUF · 748.09

Biggest improver

GB · −49.66/yr

Biggest decliner

SEA · −71.84/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	NYJ	827.66	−62.08	873.86	904.37	943.47	941.59	902.45	950.54	277.34
2	HOU	825.72	−65.05	841.76	955.95	946.03	907.53	958.42	907.78	262.58
3	NYG	822.92	−60.83	854.93	909.67	902.35	970.11	941.59	903.85	277.95
4	DEN	821.92	−60.12	831.50	930.51	946.29	911.44	930.72	921.17	281.78
5	JAX	819.90	−66.21	854.94	950.99	910.26	915.46	953.24	893.45	260.98
6	TEN	814.66	−52.14	803.97	858.09	963.80	944.97	923.46	916.56	291.78
7	NO	811.66	−63.52	812.59	922.05	951.11	909.12	961.63	882.52	242.61
8	CLE	811.62	−55.33	801.97	920.63	913.24	892.84	963.60	919.80	269.28
9	PIT	807.45	−60.94	843.52	875.52	928.93	936.02	894.45	911.42	262.26
10	WAS	803.25	−67.63	866.72	905.71	940.76	891.25	832.75	930.80	254.77
11	SEA	802.48	−71.84	851.53	962.07	875.91	922.42	923.46	826.42	255.57
12	NE	802.19	−62.24	882.10	825.04	912.45	940.80	916.17	866.41	272.37
13	CHI	797.31	−59.52	823.59	895.18	905.62	856.24	956.95	887.55	256.03
14	LV	794.75	−52.17	765.35	908.62	870.70	956.41	872.48	918.25	271.46
15	CAR	792.63	−62.42	799.60	872.49	927.35	931.59	910.05	908.81	198.55
16	MIA	790.23	−60.96	835.98	911.75	883.54	850.85	857.19	926.01	266.32
17	ATL	789.56	−64.24	818.38	914.60	888.10	914.96	852.36	894.23	244.31
18	DET	789.00	−69.16	850.71	932.90	877.39	892.11	837.35	875.98	256.53
19	MIN	782.37	−56.01	761.67	894.32	909.07	894.56	881.23	873.98	261.78
20	TB	780.95	−57.79	789.60	846.76	935.03	930.53	805.98	902.99	255.77
21	CIN	780.82	−60.15	853.88	851.11	826.03	922.12	871.67	888.73	252.21
22	GB	777.75	−49.66	753.29	866.60	901.14	884.25	871.98	869.17	297.85
23	ARI	776.37	−53.59	814.34	826.69	887.13	857.72	879.68	903.71	265.31
24	LAR	775.98	−61.50	840.89	837.83	878.09	861.64	918.50	848.92	245.99
25	BAL	775.48	−62.67	815.73	890.47	894.55	856.59	847.57	849.90	273.54
26	PHI	774.90	−59.42	871.15	846.35	836.09	855.05	836.01	896.31	283.32
27	LAC	774.80	−54.19	780.22	808.92	926.54	897.21	900.71	863.00	246.98
28	IND	774.53	−66.38	807.17	876.46	909.61	889.79	888.79	813.14	236.75
29	SF	769.98	−66.10	830.11	864.78	889.57	874.97	848.83	835.13	246.48
30	KC	766.95	−60.35	817.50	836.59	859.35	872.24	881.08	891.48	210.42
31	DAL	759.36	−59.26	782.28	877.85	853.65	827.57	892.51	840.57	241.10
32	BUF	748.09	−52.88	772.65	829.33	800.60	880.31	853.14	858.24	242.36

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	297.85
TEN	803.97	858.09	963.80	944.97	923.46	916.56	291.78
PHI	871.15	846.35	836.09	855.05	836.01	896.31	283.32
DEN	831.50	930.51	946.29	911.44	930.72	921.17	281.78
NYG	854.93	909.67	902.35	970.11	941.59	903.85	277.95
NYJ	873.86	904.37	943.47	941.59	902.45	950.54	277.34
BAL	815.73	890.47	894.55	856.59	847.57	849.90	273.54
NE	882.10	825.04	912.45	940.80	916.17	866.41	272.37
LV	765.35	908.62	870.70	956.41	872.48	918.25	271.46
CLE	801.97	920.63	913.24	892.84	963.60	919.80	269.28
MIA	835.98	911.75	883.54	850.85	857.19	926.01	266.32
ARI	814.34	826.69	887.13	857.72	879.68	903.71	265.31
HOU	841.76	955.95	946.03	907.53	958.42	907.78	262.58
PIT	843.52	875.52	928.93	936.02	894.45	911.42	262.26
MIN	761.67	894.32	909.07	894.56	881.23	873.98	261.78
JAX	854.94	950.99	910.26	915.46	953.24	893.45	260.98
DET	850.71	932.90	877.39	892.11	837.35	875.98	256.53
CHI	823.59	895.18	905.62	856.24	956.95	887.55	256.03
TB	789.60	846.76	935.03	930.53	805.98	902.99	255.77
SEA	851.53	962.07	875.91	922.42	923.46	826.42	255.57
WAS	866.72	905.71	940.76	891.25	832.75	930.80	254.77
CIN	853.88	851.11	826.03	922.12	871.67	888.73	252.21
LAC	780.22	808.92	926.54	897.21	900.71	863.00	246.98
SF	830.11	864.78	889.57	874.97	848.83	835.13	246.48
LAR	840.89	837.83	878.09	861.64	918.50	848.92	245.99
ATL	818.38	914.60	888.10	914.96	852.36	894.23	244.31
NO	812.59	922.05	951.11	909.12	961.63	882.52	242.61
BUF	772.65	829.33	800.60	880.31	853.14	858.24	242.36
DAL	782.28	877.85	853.65	827.57	892.51	840.57	241.10
IND	807.17	876.46	909.61	889.79	888.79	813.14	236.75
KC	817.50	836.59	859.35	872.24	881.08	891.48	210.42
CAR	799.60	872.49	927.35	931.59	910.05	908.81	198.55

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2018.

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.