Detroit Lions — Start avg (allowed), 2026

Value256.53
Rank#17 of 32
League average258.20
Rank in 2025#21 of 32

Detroit Lions — every stat for 2026, ranked →

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.

Through Week 6 of 2026, the Packers lead at 297.85; the league average is 258.20.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

GB · 297.85

League average

258.20

Best to worst

99.30

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	GB	297.85	5
2	TEN	291.78	5
3	PHI	283.32	5
4	DEN	281.78	5
5	NYG	277.95	5
6	NYJ	277.34	5
7	BAL	273.54	5
8	NE	272.37	5
9	LV	271.46	5
10	CLE	269.28	5
11	MIA	266.32	5
12	ARI	265.31	5
13	HOU	262.58	5
14	PIT	262.26	5
15	MIN	261.78	5
16	JAX	260.98	5
17	DET	256.53	5
18	CHI	256.03	5
19	TB	255.77	5
20	SEA	255.57	5
21	WAS	254.77	5
22	CIN	252.21	5
23	LAC	246.98	5
24	SF	246.48	5
25	LAR	245.99	5
26	ATL	244.31	5
27	NO	242.61	5
28	BUF	242.36	5
29	DAL	241.10	5
30	IND	236.75	5
31	KC	210.42	4
32	CAR	198.55	4

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

GB · 297.85

League laggard

CAR · 198.55

League average

258.20

Spread (max − min)

99.30

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	GB	297.85	39.65	100%
2	TEN	291.78	33.58	96.8%
3	PHI	283.32	25.12	93.5%
4	DEN	281.78	23.58	90.3%
5	NYG	277.95	19.75	87.1%
6	NYJ	277.34	19.14	83.9%
7	BAL	273.54	15.34	80.6%
8	NE	272.37	14.17	77.4%
9	LV	271.46	13.26	74.2%
10	CLE	269.28	11.08	71%
11	MIA	266.32	8.12	67.7%
12	ARI	265.31	7.11	64.5%
13	HOU	262.58	4.38	61.3%
14	PIT	262.26	4.06	58.1%
15	MIN	261.78	3.58	54.8%
16	JAX	260.98	2.78	51.6%
17	DET	256.53	-1.67	48.4%
18	CHI	256.03	-2.17	45.2%
19	TB	255.77	-2.43	41.9%
20	SEA	255.57	-2.63	38.7%
21	WAS	254.77	-3.43	35.5%
22	CIN	252.21	-5.99	32.3%
23	LAC	246.98	-11.22	29%
24	SF	246.48	-11.72	25.8%
25	LAR	245.99	-12.21	22.6%
26	ATL	244.31	-13.89	19.4%
27	NO	242.61	-15.59	16.1%
28	BUF	242.36	-15.84	12.9%
29	DAL	241.10	-17.10	9.7%
30	IND	236.75	-21.45	6.5%
31	KC	210.42	-47.78	3.2%
32	CAR	198.55	-59.65	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 2026 vs 2025

Packers lead at 297.85 — they ranked #23 last year. Panthers are last at 198.55 — #9 last year.

The league average is 258.20, down 628.58 from 886.78 last year.

Biggest riser: Packers, #23 → #1. Biggest faller: Panthers, #9 → #32.

Spread between first and last: 99.30; 25 teams are within 20.40 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

SEA · −570.85

Biggest faller

CAR · −710.26

Most consistent

SEA · −570.85

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▼ -628.58

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	SEA	255.57	826.42	−570.85
2	GB	297.85	869.17	−571.32
3	BAL	273.54	849.90	−576.36
4	IND	236.75	813.14	−576.39
5	SF	246.48	835.13	−588.65
6	NE	272.37	866.41	−594.04
7	DAL	241.10	840.57	−599.47
8	LAR	245.99	848.92	−602.93
9	MIN	261.78	873.98	−612.20
10	PHI	283.32	896.31	−612.99
11	BUF	242.36	858.24	−615.88
12	LAC	246.98	863.00	−616.02
13	DET	256.53	875.98	−619.45
14	TEN	291.78	916.56	−624.78
15	NYG	277.95	903.85	−625.90
16	CHI	256.03	887.55	−631.52
17	JAX	260.98	893.45	−632.47
18	CIN	252.21	888.73	−636.52
19	ARI	265.31	903.71	−638.40
20	DEN	281.78	921.17	−639.39
21	NO	242.61	882.52	−639.91
22	HOU	262.58	907.78	−645.20
23	LV	271.46	918.25	−646.79
24	TB	255.77	902.99	−647.22
25	PIT	262.26	911.42	−649.16
26	ATL	244.31	894.23	−649.92
27	CLE	269.28	919.80	−650.52
28	MIA	266.32	926.01	−659.69
29	NYJ	277.34	950.54	−673.20
30	WAS	254.77	930.80	−676.03
31	KC	210.42	891.48	−681.06
32	CAR	198.55	908.81	−710.26

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), 2020 Patriots (882.10), 2021 Seahawks (962.07), 2022 Titans (963.80), 2023 Giants (970.11), 2024 Browns (963.60), 2025 Jets (950.54), 2026 Packers (297.85).

The best season on record is Giants 2023 at 970.11; the worst Panthers 2026 at 198.55.

The league average has fallen from 849.77 in 2018 to 258.20 in 2026.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2026.

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.