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 2025 the Jets led at 950.54; the league average was 886.78.

League snapshot — 2025

League leader

NYJ · 950.54

League average

886.78

Best to worst

137.40

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NYJ	950.54	17
2	WAS	930.80	17
3	MIA	926.01	17
4	DEN	921.17	17
5	CLE	919.80	17
6	LV	918.25	17
7	TEN	916.56	17
8	PIT	911.42	17
9	CAR	908.81	17
10	HOU	907.78	17
11	NYG	903.85	17
12	ARI	903.71	17
13	TB	902.99	17
14	PHI	896.31	17
15	ATL	894.23	17
16	JAX	893.45	17
17	KC	891.48	17
18	CIN	888.73	17
19	CHI	887.55	17
20	NO	882.52	17
21	DET	875.98	17
22	MIN	873.98	17
23	GB	869.17	17
24	NE	866.41	17
25	LAC	863.00	17
26	BUF	858.24	17
27	BAL	849.90	17
28	LAR	848.92	17
29	DAL	840.57	17
30	SF	835.13	17
31	SEA	826.42	17
32	IND	813.14	17

At a glance — 2025

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NYJ · 950.54

League laggard

IND · 813.14

League average

886.78

Spread (max − min)

137.40

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NYJ	950.54	63.76	100%
2	WAS	930.80	44.02	96.8%
3	MIA	926.01	39.23	93.5%
4	DEN	921.17	34.39	90.3%
5	CLE	919.80	33.02	87.1%
6	LV	918.25	31.47	83.9%
7	TEN	916.56	29.78	80.6%
8	PIT	911.42	24.64	77.4%
9	CAR	908.81	22.03	74.2%
10	HOU	907.78	21.00	71%
11	NYG	903.85	17.07	67.7%
12	ARI	903.71	16.93	64.5%
13	TB	902.99	16.21	61.3%
14	PHI	896.31	9.53	58.1%
15	ATL	894.23	7.45	54.8%
16	JAX	893.45	6.67	51.6%
17	KC	891.48	4.70	48.4%
18	CIN	888.73	1.95	45.2%
19	CHI	887.55	0.77	41.9%
20	NO	882.52	-4.26	38.7%
21	DET	875.98	-10.80	35.5%
22	MIN	873.98	-12.80	32.3%
23	GB	869.17	-17.61	29%
24	NE	866.41	-20.37	25.8%
25	LAC	863.00	-23.78	22.6%
26	BUF	858.24	-28.54	19.4%
27	BAL	849.90	-36.88	16.1%
28	LAR	848.92	-37.86	12.9%
29	DAL	840.57	-46.21	9.7%
30	SF	835.13	-51.65	6.5%
31	SEA	826.42	-60.36	3.2%
32	IND	813.14	-73.64	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 2025 vs 2024

Jets lead at 950.54 — they ranked #13 last year. Colts are last at 813.14 — #17 last year.

The league average is 886.78, down 5.91 from 892.69 last year.

Biggest riser: Commanders, #31 → #2. Biggest faller: Seahawks, #8 → #31.

Spread between first and last: 137.40; 21 teams are within 32.28 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2025 vs 2024

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

WAS · +98.05

Biggest faller

SEA · −97.04

Most consistent

CAR · −1.24

League trend 2025 vs 2024

▼ -5.91

Rank	Team	2025	2024	Δ
1	WAS	930.80	832.75	+98.05
2	TB	902.99	805.98	+97.01
3	MIA	926.01	857.19	+68.82
4	PHI	896.31	836.01	+60.30
5	NYJ	950.54	902.45	+48.09
6	LV	918.25	872.48	+45.77
7	ATL	894.23	852.36	+41.87
8	DET	875.98	837.35	+38.63
9	ARI	903.71	879.68	+24.03
10	CIN	888.73	871.67	+17.06
11	PIT	911.42	894.45	+16.97
12	KC	891.48	881.08	+10.40
13	BUF	858.24	853.14	+5.10
14	BAL	849.90	847.57	+2.33
15	CAR	908.81	910.05	−1.24
16	GB	869.17	871.98	−2.81
17	TEN	916.56	923.46	−6.90
18	MIN	873.98	881.23	−7.25
19	DEN	921.17	930.72	−9.55
20	SF	835.13	848.83	−13.70
21	LAC	863.00	900.71	−37.71
22	NYG	903.85	941.59	−37.74
23	CLE	919.80	963.60	−43.80
24	NE	866.41	916.17	−49.76
25	HOU	907.78	958.42	−50.64
26	DAL	840.57	892.51	−51.94
27	JAX	893.45	953.24	−59.79
28	CHI	887.55	956.95	−69.40
29	LAR	848.92	918.50	−69.58
30	IND	813.14	888.79	−75.65
31	NO	882.52	961.63	−79.11
32	SEA	826.42	923.46	−97.04

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

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).

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

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2025.

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.