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 2019 the Lions led at 902.40; the league average was 848.11.

League snapshot — 2019

League leader

DET · 902.40

League average

848.11

Best to worst

154.24

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DET	902.40	16
2	LV	900.16	16
3	CHI	898.25	16
4	CIN	896.43	16
5	TEN	895.45	16
6	NE	883.57	16
7	BUF	883.27	16
8	WAS	882.98	16
9	CAR	871.97	16
10	DEN	871.73	16
11	NYJ	871.56	16
12	MIA	866.08	16
13	PHI	865.22	16
14	GB	862.21	16
15	JAX	860.77	16
16	HOU	858.23	16
17	SEA	858.12	16
18	CLE	855.26	16
19	NYG	852.71	16
20	PIT	844.93	16
21	LAR	836.47	16
22	ARI	828.36	16
23	NO	828.17	16
24	IND	825.68	16
25	LAC	821.15	16
26	MIN	820.51	16
27	ATL	819.68	16
28	DAL	798.86	16
29	SF	787.70	16
30	KC	781.85	16
31	TB	761.78	16
32	BAL	748.16	16

At a glance — 2019

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DET · 902.40

League laggard

BAL · 748.16

League average

848.11

Spread (max − min)

154.24

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DET	902.40	54.29	100%
2	LV	900.16	52.05	96.8%
3	CHI	898.25	50.14	93.5%
4	CIN	896.43	48.32	90.3%
5	TEN	895.45	47.34	87.1%
6	NE	883.57	35.46	83.9%
7	BUF	883.27	35.16	80.6%
8	WAS	882.98	34.87	77.4%
9	CAR	871.97	23.86	74.2%
10	DEN	871.73	23.62	71%
11	NYJ	871.56	23.45	67.7%
12	MIA	866.08	17.97	64.5%
13	PHI	865.22	17.11	61.3%
14	GB	862.21	14.10	58.1%
15	JAX	860.77	12.66	54.8%
16	HOU	858.23	10.12	51.6%
17	SEA	858.12	10.01	48.4%
18	CLE	855.26	7.15	45.2%
19	NYG	852.71	4.60	41.9%
20	PIT	844.93	-3.18	38.7%
21	LAR	836.47	-11.64	35.5%
22	ARI	828.36	-19.75	32.3%
23	NO	828.17	-19.94	29%
24	IND	825.68	-22.43	25.8%
25	LAC	821.15	-26.96	22.6%
26	MIN	820.51	-27.60	19.4%
27	ATL	819.68	-28.43	16.1%
28	DAL	798.86	-49.25	12.9%
29	SF	787.70	-60.41	9.7%
30	KC	781.85	-66.26	6.5%
31	TB	761.78	-86.33	3.2%
32	BAL	748.16	-99.95	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 2019 vs 2018

Lions lead at 902.40 — they ranked #17 last year. Ravens are last at 748.16 — #27 last year.

The league average is 848.11, down 1.66 from 849.77 last year.

Biggest riser: Bears, #20 → #3. Biggest faller: Cardinals, #1 → #22.

Spread between first and last: 154.24; 22 teams are within 39.93 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2019 vs 2018

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

NO · +54.93

Biggest faller

ARI · −98.12

Most consistent

SEA · −0.86

League trend 2019 vs 2018

▼ -1.66

Rank	Team	2019	2018	Δ
1	NO	828.17	773.24	+54.93
2	LAR	836.47	781.76	+54.71
3	CHI	898.25	843.67	+54.58
4	DET	902.40	851.05	+51.35
5	CIN	896.43	848.71	+47.72
6	LV	900.16	853.47	+46.69
7	NE	883.57	839.33	+44.24
8	GB	862.21	828.30	+33.91
9	LAC	821.15	800.54	+20.61
10	NYJ	871.56	851.69	+19.87
11	BUF	883.27	870.63	+12.64
12	TEN	895.45	883.34	+12.11
13	PHI	865.22	854.84	+10.38
14	KC	781.85	775.66	+6.19
15	NYG	852.71	851.81	+0.90
16	SEA	858.12	858.98	−0.86
17	PIT	844.93	847.23	−2.30
18	CAR	871.97	878.37	−6.40
19	ATL	819.68	826.58	−6.90
20	IND	825.68	838.25	−12.57
21	CLE	855.26	867.98	−12.72
22	HOU	858.23	872.46	−14.23
23	WAS	882.98	899.07	−16.09
24	MIA	866.08	886.66	−20.58
25	DAL	798.86	827.92	−29.06
26	DEN	871.73	907.44	−35.71
27	SF	787.70	823.61	−35.91
28	MIN	820.51	856.82	−36.31
29	JAX	860.77	907.04	−46.27
30	TB	761.78	835.61	−73.83
31	BAL	748.16	824.18	−76.02
32	ARI	828.36	926.48	−98.12

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

Start avg (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Cardinals (926.48), 2019 Lions (902.40).

The best season on record is Cardinals 2018 at 926.48; the worst Ravens 2019 at 748.16.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2019.

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.