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 2022 the Titans led at 963.80; the league average was 899.80.

League snapshot — 2022

League leader

TEN · 963.80

League average

899.80

Best to worst

163.20

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	TEN	963.80	17
2	NO	951.11	17
3	DEN	946.29	17
4	HOU	946.03	17
5	NYJ	943.47	17
6	WAS	940.76	17
7	TB	935.03	17
8	PIT	928.93	17
9	CAR	927.35	17
10	LAC	926.54	17
11	CLE	913.24	17
12	NE	912.45	17
13	JAX	910.26	17
14	IND	909.61	17
15	MIN	909.07	17
16	CHI	905.62	17
17	NYG	902.35	17
18	GB	901.14	17
19	BAL	894.55	17
20	SF	889.57	17
21	ATL	888.10	17
22	ARI	887.13	17
23	MIA	883.54	17
24	LAR	878.09	17
25	DET	877.39	17
26	SEA	875.91	17
27	LV	870.70	17
28	KC	859.35	17
29	DAL	853.65	17
30	PHI	836.09	17
31	CIN	826.03	16
32	BUF	800.60	16

At a glance — 2022

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

TEN · 963.80

League laggard

BUF · 800.60

League average

899.80

Spread (max − min)

163.20

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	TEN	963.80	64.00	100%
2	NO	951.11	51.31	96.8%
3	DEN	946.29	46.49	93.5%
4	HOU	946.03	46.23	90.3%
5	NYJ	943.47	43.67	87.1%
6	WAS	940.76	40.96	83.9%
7	TB	935.03	35.23	80.6%
8	PIT	928.93	29.13	77.4%
9	CAR	927.35	27.55	74.2%
10	LAC	926.54	26.74	71%
11	CLE	913.24	13.44	67.7%
12	NE	912.45	12.65	64.5%
13	JAX	910.26	10.46	61.3%
14	IND	909.61	9.81	58.1%
15	MIN	909.07	9.27	54.8%
16	CHI	905.62	5.82	51.6%
17	NYG	902.35	2.55	48.4%
18	GB	901.14	1.34	45.2%
19	BAL	894.55	-5.25	41.9%
20	SF	889.57	-10.23	38.7%
21	ATL	888.10	-11.70	35.5%
22	ARI	887.13	-12.67	32.3%
23	MIA	883.54	-16.26	29%
24	LAR	878.09	-21.71	25.8%
25	DET	877.39	-22.41	22.6%
26	SEA	875.91	-23.89	19.4%
27	LV	870.70	-29.10	16.1%
28	KC	859.35	-40.45	12.9%
29	DAL	853.65	-46.15	9.7%
30	PHI	836.09	-63.71	6.5%
31	CIN	826.03	-73.77	3.2%
32	BUF	800.60	-99.20	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 2022 vs 2021

Titans lead at 963.80 — they ranked #23 last year. Bills are last at 800.60 — #29 last year.

The league average is 899.80, up 15.11 from 884.69 last year.

Biggest riser: Titans, #23 → #1. Biggest faller: Seahawks, #1 → #26.

Spread between first and last: 163.20; 21 teams are within 37.52 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2022 vs 2021

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

LAC · +117.62

Biggest faller

SEA · −86.16

Most consistent

BAL · +4.08

League trend 2022 vs 2021

▲ 15.11

Rank	Team	2022	2021	Δ
1	LAC	926.54	808.92	+117.62
2	TEN	963.80	858.09	+105.71
3	TB	935.03	846.76	+88.27
4	NE	912.45	825.04	+87.41
5	ARI	887.13	826.69	+60.44
6	CAR	927.35	872.49	+54.86
7	PIT	928.93	875.52	+53.41
8	LAR	878.09	837.83	+40.26
9	NYJ	943.47	904.37	+39.10
10	WAS	940.76	905.71	+35.05
11	GB	901.14	866.60	+34.54
12	IND	909.61	876.46	+33.15
13	NO	951.11	922.05	+29.06
14	SF	889.57	864.78	+24.79
15	KC	859.35	836.59	+22.76
16	DEN	946.29	930.51	+15.78
17	MIN	909.07	894.32	+14.75
18	CHI	905.62	895.18	+10.44
19	BAL	894.55	890.47	+4.08
20	NYG	902.35	909.67	−7.32
21	CLE	913.24	920.63	−7.39
22	HOU	946.03	955.95	−9.92
23	PHI	836.09	846.35	−10.26
24	DAL	853.65	877.85	−24.20
25	CIN	826.03	851.11	−25.08
26	ATL	888.10	914.60	−26.50
27	MIA	883.54	911.75	−28.21
28	BUF	800.60	829.33	−28.73
29	LV	870.70	908.62	−37.92
30	JAX	910.26	950.99	−40.73
31	DET	877.39	932.90	−55.51
32	SEA	875.91	962.07	−86.16

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
TEN	803.97	858.09	963.80	944.97	923.46	916.56	291.78
NO	812.59	922.05	951.11	909.12	961.63	882.52	242.61
DEN	831.50	930.51	946.29	911.44	930.72	921.17	281.78
HOU	841.76	955.95	946.03	907.53	958.42	907.78	262.58
NYJ	873.86	904.37	943.47	941.59	902.45	950.54	277.34
WAS	866.72	905.71	940.76	891.25	832.75	930.80	254.77
TB	789.60	846.76	935.03	930.53	805.98	902.99	255.77
PIT	843.52	875.52	928.93	936.02	894.45	911.42	262.26
CAR	799.60	872.49	927.35	931.59	910.05	908.81	198.55
LAC	780.22	808.92	926.54	897.21	900.71	863.00	246.98
CLE	801.97	920.63	913.24	892.84	963.60	919.80	269.28
NE	882.10	825.04	912.45	940.80	916.17	866.41	272.37
JAX	854.94	950.99	910.26	915.46	953.24	893.45	260.98
IND	807.17	876.46	909.61	889.79	888.79	813.14	236.75
MIN	761.67	894.32	909.07	894.56	881.23	873.98	261.78
CHI	823.59	895.18	905.62	856.24	956.95	887.55	256.03
NYG	854.93	909.67	902.35	970.11	941.59	903.85	277.95
GB	753.29	866.60	901.14	884.25	871.98	869.17	297.85
BAL	815.73	890.47	894.55	856.59	847.57	849.90	273.54
SF	830.11	864.78	889.57	874.97	848.83	835.13	246.48
ATL	818.38	914.60	888.10	914.96	852.36	894.23	244.31
ARI	814.34	826.69	887.13	857.72	879.68	903.71	265.31
MIA	835.98	911.75	883.54	850.85	857.19	926.01	266.32
LAR	840.89	837.83	878.09	861.64	918.50	848.92	245.99
DET	850.71	932.90	877.39	892.11	837.35	875.98	256.53
SEA	851.53	962.07	875.91	922.42	923.46	826.42	255.57
LV	765.35	908.62	870.70	956.41	872.48	918.25	271.46
KC	817.50	836.59	859.35	872.24	881.08	891.48	210.42
DAL	782.28	877.85	853.65	827.57	892.51	840.57	241.10
PHI	871.15	846.35	836.09	855.05	836.01	896.31	283.32
CIN	853.88	851.11	826.03	922.12	871.67	888.73	252.21
BUF	772.65	829.33	800.60	880.31	853.14	858.24	242.36

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).

The best season on record is Titans 2022 at 963.80; the worst Ravens 2019 at 748.16.

The league average has risen from 849.77 in 2018 to 899.80 in 2022.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2022.

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.