What Turnover pct (allowed) is

Turnover rate forced: opponent drives that ended in a turnover divided by all opponent drives, as a percentage. How often this defense ended a possession by taking the ball.

Higher is better. It is a rate, so a team's number does not grow with games played. Source: P + N.

In 2021 the Patriots led at 18.92; the league average was 12.54.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

NE · 18.92

League average

12.54

Best to worst

11.62

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NE	18.92	17
2	IND	18.38	17
3	DAL	18.36	17
4	KC	16.18	17
5	LAR	16.04	17
6	ARI	15.93	17
7	TB	15.46	17
8	BUF	14.81	17
9	GB	14.12	17
10	NO	14.07	17
11	MIA	13.92	17
12	NYG	13.76	17
13	ATL	12.71	17
14	DEN	12.64	17
15	MIN	12.63	17
16	LAC	12.50	17
17	CIN	12.37	17
18	HOU	12.11	17
19	WAS	12.02	17
20	PIT	11.62	17
21	DET	11.35	17
22	TEN	10.53	17
23	CHI	10.38	17
24	CLE	10.38	17
25	CAR	10.00	17
26	SEA	9.33	17
27	PHI	9.29	17
28	SF	9.14	17
29	BAL	9.09	17
30	LV	8.56	17
31	NYJ	7.33	17
32	JAX	7.30	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NE · 18.92

League laggard

JAX · 7.30

League average

12.54

Spread (max − min)

11.62

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NE	18.92	6.38	100%
2	IND	18.38	5.84	96.8%
3	DAL	18.36	5.82	93.5%
4	KC	16.18	3.65	90.3%
5	LAR	16.04	3.50	87.1%
6	ARI	15.93	3.40	83.9%
7	TB	15.46	2.93	80.6%
8	BUF	14.81	2.28	77.4%
9	GB	14.12	1.59	74.2%
10	NO	14.07	1.53	71%
11	MIA	13.92	1.38	67.7%
12	NYG	13.76	1.22	64.5%
13	ATL	12.71	0.17	61.3%
14	DEN	12.64	0.11	58.1%
15	MIN	12.63	0.09	54.8%
16	LAC	12.50	-0.04	51.6%
17	CIN	12.37	-0.17	48.4%
18	HOU	12.11	-0.43	45.2%
19	WAS	12.02	-0.52	41.9%
20	PIT	11.62	-0.92	38.7%
21	DET	11.35	-1.19	35.5%
22	TEN	10.53	-2.01	32.3%
23	CHI	10.38	-2.16	29%
24	CLE	10.38	-2.16	25.8%
25	CAR	10.00	-2.54	22.6%
26	SEA	9.33	-3.21	19.4%
27	PHI	9.29	-3.25	16.1%
28	SF	9.14	-3.40	12.9%
29	BAL	9.09	-3.45	9.7%
30	LV	8.56	-3.98	6.5%
31	NYJ	7.33	-5.21	3.2%
32	JAX	7.30	-5.24	0%

Does Turnover pct (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 864–714–37 ATS (54.8%) across 2020–2025, #79 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (150–104, 59.1%); its worst 2023 (132–126, 51.2%).

For picks, this is a strong signal. One stat is not a recipe — the algorithms combine many.

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	150–104–2	59.1%
2021	272	146–124–2	54.1%
2022	271	151–113–7	57.2%
2023	272	132–126–14	51.2%
2024	272	136–127–9	51.7%
2025	272	149–120–3	55.4%

Turnover pct (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Patriots lead at 18.92 — they ranked #2 last year. Jaguars are last at 7.30 — #26 last year.

The league average is 12.54, up 0.02 from 12.52 last year.

Biggest riser: Cardinals, #23 → #6. Biggest faller: Ravens, #10 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 11.62; 19 teams are within 3.09 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

HOU · +5.63

Biggest faller

NYJ · −4.89

Most consistent

TB · −0.01

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 0.02

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	HOU	12.11	6.47	+5.63
2	DAL	18.36	13.44	+4.92
3	ARI	15.93	11.80	+4.14
4	IND	18.38	15.52	+2.86
5	KC	16.18	13.37	+2.81
6	NE	18.92	16.25	+2.67
7	DEN	12.64	10.00	+2.64
8	LAR	16.04	13.76	+2.29
9	DET	11.35	9.20	+2.16
10	CIN	12.37	10.44	+1.93
11	NO	14.07	12.71	+1.36
12	LAC	12.50	11.24	+1.26
13	GB	14.12	12.88	+1.24
14	NYG	13.76	12.65	+1.11
15	CHI	10.38	9.84	+0.55
16	ATL	12.71	12.43	+0.28
17	MIN	12.63	12.57	+0.05
18	TB	15.46	15.47	−0.01
19	WAS	12.02	12.57	−0.54
20	PHI	9.29	10.15	−0.86
21	BUF	14.81	15.88	−1.07
22	LV	8.56	10.00	−1.44
23	PIT	11.62	14.29	−2.67
24	CLE	10.38	13.17	−2.79
25	CAR	10.00	12.80	−2.80
26	SF	9.14	12.04	−2.90
27	TEN	10.53	13.45	−2.92
28	JAX	7.30	10.33	−3.02
29	SEA	9.33	12.36	−3.03
30	MIA	13.92	17.84	−3.92
31	BAL	9.09	13.37	−4.28
32	NYJ	7.33	12.22	−4.89

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

BUF · 14.42

Multi-year laggard

NYJ · 9.34

Biggest improver

JAX · +1.05/yr

Biggest decliner

DAL · −2.03/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	BUF	14.42	−0.86	15.88	14.81	15.03	16.85	17.82	11.30	9.26
2	PIT	14.31	+0.38	14.29	11.62	13.41	14.21	17.39	15.00	14.29
3	MIN	14.18	+0.90	12.57	12.63	13.20	11.58	16.84	12.83	19.64
4	CIN	14.14	+0.99	10.44	12.37	14.44	14.29	13.90	16.22	17.31
5	GB	13.27	−0.05	12.88	14.12	14.61	10.29	17.49	7.98	15.52
6	LAR	13.26	−0.33	13.76	16.04	14.12	9.42	11.56	17.03	10.91
7	TB	13.24	−0.27	15.47	15.46	10.10	14.05	9.73	13.59	14.29
8	CHI	13.14	+0.57	9.84	10.38	13.19	16.75	13.90	18.28	9.62
9	NE	12.98	−1.31	16.25	18.92	15.23	10.05	6.74	12.57	11.11
10	IND	12.76	−1.65	15.52	18.38	12.87	12.62	13.43	12.92	3.57
11	SEA	12.70	+0.91	12.36	9.33	13.68	10.27	10.05	14.87	18.33
12	DAL	12.51	−2.03	13.44	18.36	17.41	15.56	12.06	6.74	4.00
13	MIA	12.40	−1.14	17.84	13.92	9.04	16.06	9.78	11.80	8.33
14	NYG	12.17	−0.14	12.65	13.76	8.70	15.61	11.70	9.78	12.96
15	BAL	12.14	−0.11	13.37	9.09	14.12	15.66	9.04	10.99	12.73
16	LAC	12.13	+0.23	11.24	12.50	11.52	11.98	11.54	13.26	12.90
17	KC	12.10	−0.49	13.37	16.18	10.75	10.93	11.24	8.24	13.95
18	JAX	12.08	+1.05	10.33	7.30	14.75	13.20	4.97	17.37	16.67
19	SF	11.94	−0.27	12.04	9.14	16.04	16.00	9.39	9.41	11.54
20	HOU	11.93	+0.44	6.47	12.11	15.27	11.68	13.92	14.81	9.26
21	ARI	11.93	−0.26	11.80	15.93	11.34	10.00	10.53	10.93	12.96
22	DET	11.75	−0.04	9.20	11.35	13.89	13.76	14.21	10.58	9.26
23	NO	11.66	−0.68	12.71	14.07	8.95	15.66	11.23	11.96	7.02
24	DEN	11.34	−0.13	10.00	12.64	11.82	13.23	12.12	7.25	12.28
25	PHI	11.28	−0.33	10.15	9.29	15.85	10.73	15.56	12.02	5.36
26	ATL	11.24	−0.16	12.43	12.71	10.53	8.63	10.67	13.19	10.53
27	CLE	10.71	−0.47	13.17	10.38	10.58	13.48	7.48	9.36	10.53
28	LV	10.66	+0.92	10.00	8.56	8.15	11.76	8.42	10.50	17.24
29	CAR	10.62	+0.10	12.80	10.00	9.14	8.51	9.52	12.35	12.00
30	WAS	10.33	−0.41	12.57	12.02	8.54	11.28	9.04	7.02	11.86
31	TEN	9.87	−1.08	13.45	10.53	11.46	8.33	11.98	9.52	3.85
32	NYJ	9.34	−0.56	12.22	7.33	9.69	13.43	9.55	3.74	9.43

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
NE	16.25	18.92	15.23	10.05	6.74	12.57	11.11
IND	15.52	18.38	12.87	12.62	13.43	12.92	3.57
DAL	13.44	18.36	17.41	15.56	12.06	6.74	4.00
KC	13.37	16.18	10.75	10.93	11.24	8.24	13.95
LAR	13.76	16.04	14.12	9.42	11.56	17.03	10.91
ARI	11.80	15.93	11.34	10.00	10.53	10.93	12.96
TB	15.47	15.46	10.10	14.05	9.73	13.59	14.29
BUF	15.88	14.81	15.03	16.85	17.82	11.30	9.26
GB	12.88	14.12	14.61	10.29	17.49	7.98	15.52
NO	12.71	14.07	8.95	15.66	11.23	11.96	7.02
MIA	17.84	13.92	9.04	16.06	9.78	11.80	8.33
NYG	12.65	13.76	8.70	15.61	11.70	9.78	12.96
ATL	12.43	12.71	10.53	8.63	10.67	13.19	10.53
DEN	10.00	12.64	11.82	13.23	12.12	7.25	12.28
MIN	12.57	12.63	13.20	11.58	16.84	12.83	19.64
LAC	11.24	12.50	11.52	11.98	11.54	13.26	12.90
CIN	10.44	12.37	14.44	14.29	13.90	16.22	17.31
HOU	6.47	12.11	15.27	11.68	13.92	14.81	9.26
WAS	12.57	12.02	8.54	11.28	9.04	7.02	11.86
PIT	14.29	11.62	13.41	14.21	17.39	15.00	14.29
DET	9.20	11.35	13.89	13.76	14.21	10.58	9.26
TEN	13.45	10.53	11.46	8.33	11.98	9.52	3.85
CHI	9.84	10.38	13.19	16.75	13.90	18.28	9.62
CLE	13.17	10.38	10.58	13.48	7.48	9.36	10.53
CAR	12.80	10.00	9.14	8.51	9.52	12.35	12.00
SEA	12.36	9.33	13.68	10.27	10.05	14.87	18.33
PHI	10.15	9.29	15.85	10.73	15.56	12.02	5.36
SF	12.04	9.14	16.04	16.00	9.39	9.41	11.54
BAL	13.37	9.09	14.12	15.66	9.04	10.99	12.73
LV	10.00	8.56	8.15	11.76	8.42	10.50	17.24
NYJ	12.22	7.33	9.69	13.43	9.55	3.74	9.43
JAX	10.33	7.30	14.75	13.20	4.97	17.37	16.67

Turnover pct (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bears (19.05), 2019 Steelers (20.94), 2020 Dolphins (17.84), 2021 Patriots (18.92).

The best season on record is Steelers 2019 at 20.94; the worst 49ers 2018 at 5.91.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_drives_turnover_pct
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.