What Penalties (allowed) is

Penalties committed by opponents against this team — flags drawn, not thrown. A measure of how often the other side gave ground.

Higher is better. It is shown per game, so a team's number does not depend on games played. Source: P + N.

In 2021 the Steelers led at 7.24; the league average was 5.77.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

PIT · 7.24

League average

5.77

Best to worst

2.65

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	PIT	7.24	17
2	DAL	7	17
3	ATL	6.94	17
4	CIN	6.82	17
5	KC	6.82	17
6	MIA	6.41	17
7	CAR	6.35	17
8	IND	6.29	17
9	TEN	6.24	17
10	DEN	6.12	17
11	BUF	6	17
12	NE	5.88	17
13	NYG	5.88	17
14	LAC	5.82	17
15	LV	5.82	17
16	CLE	5.76	17
17	JAX	5.71	17
18	WAS	5.65	17
19	BAL	5.53	17
20	MIN	5.41	17
21	PHI	5.41	17
22	ARI	5.24	17
23	CHI	5.24	17
24	NO	5.24	17
25	LAR	5.12	17
26	SEA	5.12	17
27	HOU	5.06	17
28	SF	5.06	17
29	GB	4.94	17
30	NYJ	4.94	17
31	DET	4.88	17
32	TB	4.59	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

PIT · 7.24

League laggard

TB · 4.59

League average

5.77

Spread (max − min)

2.65

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	PIT	7.24	1.47	100%
2	DAL	7	1.23	96.8%
3	ATL	6.94	1.17	93.5%
4	CIN	6.82	1.06	90.3%
5	KC	6.82	1.06	87.1%
6	MIA	6.41	0.65	83.9%
7	CAR	6.35	0.59	80.6%
8	IND	6.29	0.53	77.4%
9	TEN	6.24	0.47	74.2%
10	DEN	6.12	0.35	71%
11	BUF	6	0.23	67.7%
12	NE	5.88	0.12	64.5%
13	NYG	5.88	0.12	61.3%
14	LAC	5.82	0.06	58.1%
15	LV	5.82	0.06	54.8%
16	CLE	5.76	0.00	51.6%
17	JAX	5.71	-0.06	48.4%
18	WAS	5.65	-0.12	45.2%
19	BAL	5.53	-0.24	41.9%
20	MIN	5.41	-0.35	38.7%
21	PHI	5.41	-0.35	35.5%
22	ARI	5.24	-0.53	32.3%
23	CHI	5.24	-0.53	29%
24	NO	5.24	-0.53	25.8%
25	LAR	5.12	-0.65	22.6%
26	SEA	5.12	-0.65	19.4%
27	HOU	5.06	-0.71	16.1%
28	SF	5.06	-0.71	12.9%
29	GB	4.94	-0.83	9.7%
30	NYJ	4.94	-0.83	6.5%
31	DET	4.88	-0.88	3.2%
32	TB	4.59	-1.18	0%

Does Penalties (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 796–782–37 ATS (50.4%) across 2020–2025, #237 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (133–121, 52.4%); its worst 2022 (128–136, 48.5%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	133–121–2	52.4%
2021	272	137–133–2	50.7%
2022	271	128–136–7	48.5%
2023	272	128–130–14	49.6%
2024	272	134–129–9	51.0%
2025	272	136–133–3	50.6%

Penalties (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Steelers lead at 7.24 — they ranked #4 last year. Buccaneers are last at 4.59 — #14 last year.

The league average is 5.77, up 0.29 from 5.47 last year.

Biggest riser: Dolphins, #23 → #6. Biggest faller: Lions, #3 → #31.

Spread between first and last: 2.65; 21 teams are within 0.69 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

DAL · +1.63

Biggest faller

DET · −1.56

Most consistent

GB · +0.00

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 0.29

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	DAL	7	5.38	+1.63
2	MIA	6.41	5	+1.41
3	ATL	6.94	5.69	+1.25
4	NO	5.24	4	+1.24
5	NE	5.88	4.81	+1.07
6	CAR	6.35	5.31	+1.04
7	IND	6.29	5.38	+0.92
8	JAX	5.71	4.88	+0.83
9	BUF	6	5.19	+0.81
10	PIT	7.24	6.44	+0.80
11	KC	6.82	6.06	+0.76
12	BAL	5.53	4.81	+0.72
13	SF	5.06	4.38	+0.68
14	WAS	5.65	5	+0.65
15	CIN	6.82	6.19	+0.64
16	CLE	5.76	5.25	+0.51
17	NYG	5.88	5.44	+0.44
18	HOU	5.06	4.75	+0.31
19	LAR	5.12	4.81	+0.31
20	MIN	5.41	5.19	+0.22
21	LAC	5.82	5.81	+0.01
22	GB	4.94	4.94	+0.00
23	LV	5.82	5.94	−0.11
24	SEA	5.12	5.31	−0.19
25	TEN	6.24	6.44	−0.20
26	CHI	5.24	5.69	−0.45
27	DEN	6.12	6.63	−0.51
28	ARI	5.24	5.81	−0.58
29	NYJ	4.94	5.88	−0.93
30	TB	4.59	5.56	−0.97
31	PHI	5.41	6.75	−1.34
32	DET	4.88	6.44	−1.56

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

DAL · 7.09

Multi-year laggard

SF · 5.08

Biggest improver

DAL · +0.66/yr

Biggest decliner

DEN · −0.23/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	DAL	7.09	+0.66	5.38	7	5.59	5.82	7.76	7.88	10.20
2	TEN	6.77	+0.29	6.44	6.24	6.76	5.76	7	6	9.20
3	PIT	6.68	+0.25	6.44	7.24	5.65	5	7.35	6.29	8.80
4	MIN	6.66	+0.49	5.19	5.41	6.53	6.53	7.88	6.47	8.60
5	CAR	6.54	+0.52	5.31	6.35	5.71	5.24	7.06	6.35	9.75
6	LV	6.41	+0.44	5.94	5.82	5.06	5.65	6.71	6.88	8.80
7	CIN	6.39	+0.15	6.19	6.82	6.25	5.18	5.94	6.12	8.20
8	JAX	6.32	+0.58	4.88	5.71	5.29	6.35	6.18	6.24	9.60
9	NYG	6.30	+0.24	5.44	5.88	6.53	5.65	6.24	7.94	6.40
10	ATL	6.28	+0.08	5.69	6.94	5.71	6.12	7.18	5.35	7
11	CLE	6.20	+0.34	5.25	5.76	5.18	6.53	6.35	7.35	7
12	LAC	6.15	+0.40	5.81	5.82	4.53	6.06	5.94	5.88	9
13	SEA	6.10	+0.53	5.31	5.12	5.35	5.12	6.53	6.06	9.20
14	MIA	6.05	+0.29	5	6.41	4.94	5.65	7	6.12	7.20
15	HOU	5.98	+0.47	4.75	5.06	5.59	5.88	6.24	6.12	8.20
16	KC	5.97	+0.04	6.06	6.82	5.47	4.29	6.29	6.35	6.50
17	TB	5.96	+0.44	5.56	4.59	5.47	5.47	5.53	7.29	7.80
18	DEN	5.92	−0.23	6.63	6.12	6.06	5.82	5.94	6.88	4
19	LAR	5.89	+0.40	4.81	5.12	4.82	6.18	6.65	7.06	6.60
20	IND	5.80	+0.16	5.38	6.29	5.24	5.41	5.41	5.65	7.20
21	BUF	5.71	+0.04	5.19	6	5.31	5.82	6.94	4.88	5.80
22	DET	5.70	−0.05	6.44	4.88	6.06	5.35	6.35	5.24	5.60
23	PHI	5.68	−0.11	6.75	5.41	5.59	6	4.71	5.12	6.20
24	NO	5.68	+0.41	4	5.24	5.06	5.82	6.59	6.65	6.40
25	CHI	5.66	+0.31	5.69	5.24	4.94	4.24	5.94	5.59	8
26	WAS	5.63	+0.15	5	5.65	5	5.53	6.18	6.82	5.20
27	NE	5.60	+0.28	4.81	5.88	5.24	4.41	5.47	6.35	7
28	NYJ	5.59	+0.10	5.88	4.94	5.29	5.47	5.82	5.35	6.40
29	GB	5.51	+0.19	4.94	4.94	5.41	5.29	6.35	5.82	5.80
30	BAL	5.45	+0.15	4.81	5.53	4.65	5.94	5.71	5.88	5.60
31	ARI	5.22	−0.03	5.81	5.24	4.88	4.71	5.35	5.18	5.40
32	SF	5.08	+0.17	4.38	5.06	5.35	5.06	3.94	6	5.80

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
PIT	6.44	7.24	5.65	5	7.35	6.29	8.80
DAL	5.38	7	5.59	5.82	7.76	7.88	10.20
ATL	5.69	6.94	5.71	6.12	7.18	5.35	7
CIN	6.19	6.82	6.25	5.18	5.94	6.12	8.20
KC	6.06	6.82	5.47	4.29	6.29	6.35	6.50
MIA	5	6.41	4.94	5.65	7	6.12	7.20
CAR	5.31	6.35	5.71	5.24	7.06	6.35	9.75
IND	5.38	6.29	5.24	5.41	5.41	5.65	7.20
TEN	6.44	6.24	6.76	5.76	7	6	9.20
DEN	6.63	6.12	6.06	5.82	5.94	6.88	4
BUF	5.19	6	5.31	5.82	6.94	4.88	5.80
NE	4.81	5.88	5.24	4.41	5.47	6.35	7
NYG	5.44	5.88	6.53	5.65	6.24	7.94	6.40
LV	5.94	5.82	5.06	5.65	6.71	6.88	8.80
LAC	5.81	5.82	4.53	6.06	5.94	5.88	9
CLE	5.25	5.76	5.18	6.53	6.35	7.35	7
JAX	4.88	5.71	5.29	6.35	6.18	6.24	9.60
WAS	5	5.65	5	5.53	6.18	6.82	5.20
BAL	4.81	5.53	4.65	5.94	5.71	5.88	5.60
MIN	5.19	5.41	6.53	6.53	7.88	6.47	8.60
PHI	6.75	5.41	5.59	6	4.71	5.12	6.20
ARI	5.81	5.24	4.88	4.71	5.35	5.18	5.40
CHI	5.69	5.24	4.94	4.24	5.94	5.59	8
NO	4	5.24	5.06	5.82	6.59	6.65	6.40
LAR	4.81	5.12	4.82	6.18	6.65	7.06	6.60
SEA	5.31	5.12	5.35	5.12	6.53	6.06	9.20
HOU	4.75	5.06	5.59	5.88	6.24	6.12	8.20
SF	4.38	5.06	5.35	5.06	3.94	6	5.80
GB	4.94	4.94	5.41	5.29	6.35	5.82	5.80
NYJ	5.88	4.94	5.29	5.47	5.82	5.35	6.40
DET	6.44	4.88	6.06	5.35	6.35	5.24	5.60
TB	5.56	4.59	5.47	5.47	5.53	7.29	7.80

Penalties (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Steelers (8.50), 2019 Titans (7.81), 2020 Eagles (6.75), 2021 Steelers (7.24).

Steelers have led this stat 2 of 4 seasons.

The best season on record is Steelers 2018 at 8.50; the worst Saints 2020 at 4.

The league average has fallen from 6.53 in 2018 to 5.77 in 2021.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

Related stats

About this stat

Stat ID: def_team_stats_penalties
Side: defensive
Family: Team Stats
Data source: P + N
Polarity: higher is better (or neutral)
Display grain: count
Algorithm eligibility: Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.