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 2024 the Browns led at 963.60; the league average was 892.69.

League snapshot — 2024

League leader

CLE · 963.60

League average

892.69

Best to worst

157.62

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CLE	963.60	17
2	NO	961.63	17
3	HOU	958.42	17
4	CHI	956.95	17
5	JAX	953.24	17
6	NYG	941.59	17
7	DEN	930.72	17
8	SEA	923.46	17
9	TEN	923.46	17
10	LAR	918.50	17
11	NE	916.17	17
12	CAR	910.05	17
13	NYJ	902.45	17
14	LAC	900.71	17
15	PIT	894.45	17
16	DAL	892.51	17
17	IND	888.79	17
18	MIN	881.23	17
19	KC	881.08	17
20	ARI	879.68	17
21	LV	872.48	17
22	GB	871.98	17
23	CIN	871.67	17
24	MIA	857.19	17
25	BUF	853.14	17
26	ATL	852.36	17
27	SF	848.83	17
28	BAL	847.57	17
29	DET	837.35	17
30	PHI	836.01	17
31	WAS	832.75	17
32	TB	805.98	17

At a glance — 2024

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CLE · 963.60

League laggard

TB · 805.98

League average

892.69

Spread (max − min)

157.62

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CLE	963.60	70.91	100%
2	NO	961.63	68.94	96.8%
3	HOU	958.42	65.73	93.5%
4	CHI	956.95	64.26	90.3%
5	JAX	953.24	60.55	87.1%
6	NYG	941.59	48.90	83.9%
7	DEN	930.72	38.03	80.6%
8	SEA	923.46	30.77	77.4%
9	TEN	923.46	30.77	74.2%
10	LAR	918.50	25.81	71%
11	NE	916.17	23.48	67.7%
12	CAR	910.05	17.36	64.5%
13	NYJ	902.45	9.76	61.3%
14	LAC	900.71	8.02	58.1%
15	PIT	894.45	1.76	54.8%
16	DAL	892.51	-0.18	51.6%
17	IND	888.79	-3.90	48.4%
18	MIN	881.23	-11.46	45.2%
19	KC	881.08	-11.61	41.9%
20	ARI	879.68	-13.01	38.7%
21	LV	872.48	-20.21	35.5%
22	GB	871.98	-20.71	32.3%
23	CIN	871.67	-21.02	29%
24	MIA	857.19	-35.50	25.8%
25	BUF	853.14	-39.55	22.6%
26	ATL	852.36	-40.33	19.4%
27	SF	848.83	-43.86	16.1%
28	BAL	847.57	-45.12	12.9%
29	DET	837.35	-55.34	9.7%
30	PHI	836.01	-56.68	6.5%
31	WAS	832.75	-59.94	3.2%
32	TB	805.98	-86.71	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 2024 vs 2023

Browns lead at 963.60 — they ranked #18 last year. Buccaneers are last at 805.98 — #8 last year.

The league average is 892.69, down 7.01 from 899.70 last year.

Biggest riser: Bears, #29 → #4. Biggest faller: Buccaneers, #8 → #32.

Spread between first and last: 157.62; 20 teams are within 42.14 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2024 vs 2023

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CHI · +100.71

Biggest faller

TB · −124.55

Most consistent

IND · −1.00

League trend 2024 vs 2023

▼ -7.01

Rank	Team	2024	2023	Δ
1	CHI	956.95	856.24	+100.71
2	CLE	963.60	892.84	+70.76
3	DAL	892.51	827.57	+64.94
4	LAR	918.50	861.64	+56.86
5	NO	961.63	909.12	+52.51
6	HOU	958.42	907.53	+50.89
7	JAX	953.24	915.46	+37.78
8	ARI	879.68	857.72	+21.96
9	DEN	930.72	911.44	+19.28
10	KC	881.08	872.24	+8.84
11	MIA	857.19	850.85	+6.34
12	LAC	900.71	897.21	+3.50
13	SEA	923.46	922.42	+1.04
14	IND	888.79	889.79	−1.00
15	BAL	847.57	856.59	−9.02
16	GB	871.98	884.25	−12.27
17	MIN	881.23	894.56	−13.33
18	PHI	836.01	855.05	−19.04
19	TEN	923.46	944.97	−21.51
20	CAR	910.05	931.59	−21.54
21	NE	916.17	940.80	−24.63
22	SF	848.83	874.97	−26.14
23	BUF	853.14	880.31	−27.17
24	NYG	941.59	970.11	−28.52
25	NYJ	902.45	941.59	−39.14
26	PIT	894.45	936.02	−41.57
27	CIN	871.67	922.12	−50.45
28	DET	837.35	892.11	−54.76
29	WAS	832.75	891.25	−58.50
30	ATL	852.36	914.96	−62.60
31	LV	872.48	956.41	−83.93
32	TB	805.98	930.53	−124.55

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

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).

The best season on record is Giants 2023 at 970.11; the worst Ravens 2019 at 748.16.

The league average has risen from 849.77 in 2018 to 892.69 in 2024.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2024.

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.