What Rush 1stD (allowed) is

Rushing first downs allowed: first downs opponents earned on running plays against this defense.

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

In 2021 the Ravens led at 4.88; the league average was 6.86.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

BAL · 4.88

League average

6.86

Best to worst

3.94

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	BAL	4.88	17
2	NO	5.12	17
3	TEN	5.47	17
4	TB	5.76	17
5	SF	5.88	17
6	WAS	5.94	17
7	IND	6	17
8	DAL	6.06	17
9	DEN	6.06	17
10	MIA	6.24	17
11	CIN	6.35	17
12	ARI	6.41	17
13	BUF	6.53	17
14	LV	6.65	17
15	CAR	6.71	17
16	CLE	6.71	17
17	LAR	6.71	17
18	NE	6.82	17
19	PHI	7.12	17
20	GB	7.18	17
21	KC	7.18	17
22	CHI	7.24	17
23	SEA	7.41	17
24	JAX	7.47	17
25	NYG	7.65	17
26	MIN	7.82	17
27	NYJ	7.82	17
28	DET	8.12	17
29	HOU	8.24	17
30	ATL	8.47	17
31	PIT	8.59	17
32	LAC	8.82	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

BAL · 4.88

League laggard

LAC · 8.82

League average

6.86

Spread (max − min)

3.94

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	BAL	4.88	-1.97	100%
2	NO	5.12	-1.74	96.8%
3	TEN	5.47	-1.39	93.5%
4	TB	5.76	-1.09	90.3%
5	SF	5.88	-0.97	87.1%
6	WAS	5.94	-0.92	83.9%
7	IND	6	-0.86	80.6%
8	DAL	6.06	-0.80	77.4%
9	DEN	6.06	-0.80	74.2%
10	MIA	6.24	-0.62	71%
11	CIN	6.35	-0.50	67.7%
12	ARI	6.41	-0.44	64.5%
13	BUF	6.53	-0.33	61.3%
14	LV	6.65	-0.21	58.1%
15	CAR	6.71	-0.15	54.8%
16	CLE	6.71	-0.15	51.6%
17	LAR	6.71	-0.15	48.4%
18	NE	6.82	-0.03	45.2%
19	PHI	7.12	0.26	41.9%
20	GB	7.18	0.32	38.7%
21	KC	7.18	0.32	35.5%
22	CHI	7.24	0.38	32.3%
23	SEA	7.41	0.56	29%
24	JAX	7.47	0.61	25.8%
25	NYG	7.65	0.79	22.6%
26	MIN	7.82	0.97	19.4%
27	NYJ	7.82	0.97	16.1%
28	DET	8.12	1.26	12.9%
29	HOU	8.24	1.38	9.7%
30	ATL	8.47	1.61	6.5%
31	PIT	8.59	1.73	3.2%
32	LAC	8.82	1.97	0%

Does Rush 1stD (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 845–733–37 ATS (53.5%) across 2020–2025, #116 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (141–113, 55.5%); its worst 2021 (138–132, 51.1%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	141–113–2	55.5%
2021	272	138–132–2	51.1%
2022	271	145–119–7	54.9%
2023	272	137–121–14	53.1%
2024	272	143–120–9	54.4%
2025	272	141–128–3	52.4%

Rush 1stD (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Ravens lead at 4.88 — they ranked #6 last year. Chargers are last at 8.82 — #15 last year.

The league average is 6.86, down 0.25 from 7.11 last year.

Biggest riser: Cowboys, #32 → #8. Biggest faller: Steelers, #4 → #31.

Spread between first and last: 3.94; 23 teams are within 0.99 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

PIT · +2.65

Biggest faller

DAL · −3.13

Most consistent

KC · −0.07

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▼ -0.25

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	PIT	8.59	5.94	+2.65
2	ATL	8.47	6.13	+2.35
3	LAC	8.82	7.13	+1.70
4	NYJ	7.82	6.50	+1.32
5	SEA	7.41	6.25	+1.16
6	LAR	6.71	5.81	+0.89
7	TB	5.76	4.88	+0.89
8	PHI	7.12	6.50	+0.62
9	CHI	7.24	6.69	+0.55
10	NYG	7.65	7.25	+0.40
11	DET	8.12	8	+0.12
12	KC	7.18	7.25	−0.07
13	IND	6	6.19	−0.19
14	NO	5.12	5.50	−0.38
15	GB	7.18	7.56	−0.39
16	WAS	5.94	6.44	−0.50
17	CLE	6.71	7.25	−0.54
18	SF	5.88	6.50	−0.62
19	MIN	7.82	8.56	−0.74
20	DEN	6.06	6.81	−0.75
21	CAR	6.71	7.50	−0.79
22	LV	6.65	7.50	−0.85
23	MIA	6.24	7.13	−0.89
24	HOU	8.24	9.13	−0.89
25	ARI	6.41	7.44	−1.03
26	BAL	4.88	6.13	−1.24
27	BUF	6.53	7.81	−1.28
28	JAX	7.47	8.88	−1.40
29	NE	6.82	8.31	−1.49
30	CIN	6.35	8	−1.65
31	TEN	5.47	7.38	−1.90
32	DAL	6.06	9.19	−3.13

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

TB · 5.63

Multi-year laggard

DAL · 7.85

Biggest improver

HOU · −0.69/yr

Biggest decliner

NO · +0.64/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	TB	5.63	−0.01	4.88	5.76	6.29	6.12	5.82	5.35	5.20
2	BAL	5.67	+0.12	6.13	4.88	5.41	5.88	4.29	6.47	6.60
3	SF	6.11	+0.07	6.50	5.88	4.76	5.82	7.12	7.06	5.60
4	DEN	6.43	+0.05	6.81	6.06	6.53	7.06	5	5.12	8.40
5	NE	6.53	−0.28	8.31	6.82	5.47	6	7.53	6.18	5.40
6	KC	6.55	−0.18	7.25	7.18	6.06	6.41	6.65	6.29	6
7	MIA	6.58	+0.07	7.13	6.24	5.88	6.53	5.94	7.35	7
8	TEN	6.61	+0.18	7.38	5.47	5.65	6.18	7.41	6.41	7.80
9	WAS	6.63	+0.09	6.44	5.94	6.06	7.18	7.35	7.82	5.60
10	LAR	6.66	+0.21	5.81	6.71	6.41	6.53	6.94	6.41	7.80
11	JAX	6.69	−0.60	8.88	7.47	6.82	6	8.18	5.06	4.40
12	CLE	6.71	−0.08	7.25	6.71	7.82	5.24	6.41	6.12	7.40
13	PIT	6.73	+0.06	5.94	8.59	5.88	5.71	6.53	7.24	7.20
14	MIN	6.75	−0.49	8.56	7.82	7	6.24	4.94	8.47	4.20
15	SEA	6.81	−0.24	6.25	7.41	7.82	8.59	6.59	5	6
16	BUF	6.88	+0.01	7.81	6.53	6.56	5.82	6.47	7.94	7
17	PHI	6.95	+0.09	6.50	7.12	6.94	6.65	6.53	7.88	7
18	CHI	6.97	−0.19	6.69	7.24	9.06	5.35	7.71	7.53	5.20
19	ATL	6.98	−0.24	6.13	8.47	8.06	6.35	7.88	7.18	4.80
20	NO	7.02	+0.64	5.50	5.12	7.35	6	8	7.59	9.60
21	DET	7.05	−0.23	8	8.12	8.18	5.53	5.29	6.06	8.20
22	LAC	7.09	−0.21	7.13	8.82	7.06	6.71	6.65	6.29	7
23	LV	7.10	−0.03	7.50	6.65	7.65	7.12	6.06	7.71	7
24	HOU	7.18	−0.69	9.13	8.24	9.06	6.65	6.53	4.88	5.80
25	IND	7.20	+0.28	6.19	6	7.71	7.53	7.76	7.41	7.80
26	NYJ	7.30	+0.10	6.50	7.82	7	6.94	7.82	8	7
27	GB	7.37	+0.03	7.56	7.18	7.65	7.29	6.41	7.29	8.20
28	CIN	7.37	+0.04	8	6.35	6.56	7.65	8.35	7.88	6.80
29	ARI	7.49	+0.11	7.44	6.41	7.41	8.35	7.35	8.06	7.40
30	NYG	7.55	−0.11	7.25	7.65	8.12	8	7.76	7.88	6.20
31	CAR	7.68	+0.10	7.50	6.71	7.41	7.29	10.65	7.24	7
32	DAL	7.85	+0.18	9.19	6.06	7.24	6.76	8.53	8.18	9

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
BAL	6.13	4.88	5.41	5.88	4.29	6.47	6.60
NO	5.50	5.12	7.35	6	8	7.59	9.60
TEN	7.38	5.47	5.65	6.18	7.41	6.41	7.80
TB	4.88	5.76	6.29	6.12	5.82	5.35	5.20
SF	6.50	5.88	4.76	5.82	7.12	7.06	5.60
WAS	6.44	5.94	6.06	7.18	7.35	7.82	5.60
IND	6.19	6	7.71	7.53	7.76	7.41	7.80
DAL	9.19	6.06	7.24	6.76	8.53	8.18	9
DEN	6.81	6.06	6.53	7.06	5	5.12	8.40
MIA	7.13	6.24	5.88	6.53	5.94	7.35	7
CIN	8	6.35	6.56	7.65	8.35	7.88	6.80
ARI	7.44	6.41	7.41	8.35	7.35	8.06	7.40
BUF	7.81	6.53	6.56	5.82	6.47	7.94	7
LV	7.50	6.65	7.65	7.12	6.06	7.71	7
CAR	7.50	6.71	7.41	7.29	10.65	7.24	7
CLE	7.25	6.71	7.82	5.24	6.41	6.12	7.40
LAR	5.81	6.71	6.41	6.53	6.94	6.41	7.80
NE	8.31	6.82	5.47	6	7.53	6.18	5.40
PHI	6.50	7.12	6.94	6.65	6.53	7.88	7
GB	7.56	7.18	7.65	7.29	6.41	7.29	8.20
KC	7.25	7.18	6.06	6.41	6.65	6.29	6
CHI	6.69	7.24	9.06	5.35	7.71	7.53	5.20
SEA	6.25	7.41	7.82	8.59	6.59	5	6
JAX	8.88	7.47	6.82	6	8.18	5.06	4.40
NYG	7.25	7.65	8.12	8	7.76	7.88	6.20
MIN	8.56	7.82	7	6.24	4.94	8.47	4.20
NYJ	6.50	7.82	7	6.94	7.82	8	7
DET	8	8.12	8.18	5.53	5.29	6.06	8.20
HOU	9.13	8.24	9.06	6.65	6.53	4.88	5.80
ATL	6.13	8.47	8.06	6.35	7.88	7.18	4.80
PIT	5.94	8.59	5.88	5.71	6.53	7.24	7.20
LAC	7.13	8.82	7.06	6.71	6.65	6.29	7

Rush 1stD (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bears (4.25), 2019 Saints (4.50), 2020 Buccaneers (4.88), 2021 Ravens (4.88).

The best season on record is Bears 2018 at 4.25; the worst Cowboys 2020 at 9.19.

The league average has risen from 6.46 in 2018 to 6.86 in 2021.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

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