What Total yards (allowed) is

Total yards allowed from scrimmage, passing and rushing together. Volume, not efficiency — a defense protecting a lead gives up yards it does not care about.

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 Bills led at 272.8; the league average was 343.6.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

BUF · 272.8

League average

343.6

Best to worst

124.9

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	BUF	272.8	17
2	CAR	305.9	17
3	SF	310	17
4	NE	310.8	17
5	CLE	311.5	17
6	CHI	316.7	17
7	NO	318.2	17
8	DEN	326.1	17
9	GB	328.2	17
10	PHI	328.8	17
11	ARI	329.2	17
12	TEN	329.8	17
13	TB	331.5	17
14	LV	337.2	17
15	MIA	337.5	17
16	IND	343.2	17
17	LAR	344.9	17
18	CIN	350.8	17
19	DAL	351	17
20	JAX	353.1	17
21	NYG	354.8	17
22	WAS	359.3	17
23	LAC	360.1	17
24	PIT	361.1	17
25	BAL	363.4	17
26	ATL	364.4	17
27	KC	368.9	17
28	SEA	379.1	17
29	DET	379.8	17
30	MIN	383.6	17
31	HOU	384.4	17
32	NYJ	397.6	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

BUF · 272.8

League laggard

NYJ · 397.6

League average

343.6

Spread (max − min)

124.9

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	BUF	272.8	-70.80	100%
2	CAR	305.9	-37.62	96.8%
3	SF	310	-33.56	93.5%
4	NE	310.8	-32.74	90.3%
5	CLE	311.5	-32.03	87.1%
6	CHI	316.7	-26.85	83.9%
7	NO	318.2	-25.33	80.6%
8	DEN	326.1	-17.44	77.4%
9	GB	328.2	-15.38	74.2%
10	PHI	328.8	-14.74	71%
11	ARI	329.2	-14.33	67.7%
12	TEN	329.8	-13.74	64.5%
13	TB	331.5	-12.09	61.3%
14	LV	337.2	-6.38	58.1%
15	MIA	337.5	-6.03	54.8%
16	IND	343.2	-0.38	51.6%
17	LAR	344.9	1.32	48.4%
18	CIN	350.8	7.26	45.2%
19	DAL	351	7.44	41.9%
20	JAX	353.1	9.50	38.7%
21	NYG	354.8	11.26	35.5%
22	WAS	359.3	15.73	32.3%
23	LAC	360.1	16.56	29%
24	PIT	361.1	17.56	25.8%
25	BAL	363.4	19.85	22.6%
26	ATL	364.4	20.79	19.4%
27	KC	368.9	25.38	16.1%
28	SEA	379.1	35.56	12.9%
29	DET	379.8	36.20	9.7%
30	MIN	383.6	40.09	6.5%
31	HOU	384.4	40.85	3.2%
32	NYJ	397.6	54.09	0%

Does Total yards (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 815–763–37 ATS (51.6%) across 2020–2025, #195 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (153–101, 60.2%); its worst 2023 (122–136, 47.3%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	153–101–2	60.2%
2021	272	130–140–2	48.1%
2022	271	141–123–7	53.4%
2023	272	122–136–14	47.3%
2024	272	126–137–9	47.9%
2025	272	143–126–3	53.2%

Total yards (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Bills lead at 272.8 — they ranked #14 last year. Jets are last at 397.6 — #24 last year.

The league average is 343.6, down 15.47 from 359.0 last year.

Biggest riser: Panthers, #18 → #2. Biggest faller: Steelers, #3 → #24.

Spread between first and last: 124.9; 22 teams are within 27.27 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

LAR · +62.94

Biggest faller

BUF · −79.74

Most consistent

SEA · −1.44

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▼ -15.47

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	LAR	344.9	281.9	+62.94
2	PIT	361.1	305.8	+55.31
3	WAS	359.3	304.6	+54.73
4	BAL	363.4	329.8	+33.66
5	LAC	360.1	343.4	+16.68
6	IND	343.2	332.1	+11.05
7	KC	368.9	358.3	+10.63
8	NYJ	397.6	387.6	+10.08
9	NO	318.2	310.9	+7.36
10	NYG	354.8	349.3	+5.51
11	TB	331.5	327.1	+4.35
12	SEA	379.1	380.6	−1.44
13	SF	310	314.4	−4.38
14	GB	328.2	334	−5.82
15	MIN	383.6	393.3	−9.60
16	ARI	329.2	351.9	−22.70
17	CHI	316.7	344.9	−28.23
18	MIA	337.5	367.9	−30.35
19	HOU	384.4	416.8	−32.34
20	ATL	364.4	398.4	−34.02
21	PHI	328.8	363.1	−34.30
22	DAL	351	386.4	−35.44
23	CIN	350.8	389.2	−38.36
24	DET	379.8	419.8	−39.99
25	DEN	326.1	367.9	−41.82
26	NE	310.8	353.8	−42.93
27	CLE	311.5	358.4	−46.91
28	LV	337.2	389.1	−51.89
29	CAR	305.9	360.1	−54.12
30	JAX	353.1	417.7	−64.63
31	TEN	329.8	398.3	−68.43
32	BUF	272.8	352.5	−79.74

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

SF · 312.0

Multi-year laggard

DET · 372.4

Biggest improver

MIN · −23.42/yr

Biggest decliner

WAS · +7.47/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	SF	312.0	+0.92	314.4	310	300.6	303.9	317.4	340.2	297.2
2	NE	317.5	−6.53	353.8	310.8	322	301.6	342.9	295.2	296.2
3	CLE	318.7	−4.22	358.4	311.5	331.2	270.2	342.1	283.6	334
4	GB	324.1	−4.68	334	328.2	336.5	335.1	314.5	311.8	308.6
5	LAR	324.5	−0.46	281.9	344.9	341.1	337.9	353.1	327.5	285.2
6	BUF	325.0	+6.12	352.5	272.8	319.1	307.2	341.5	293.1	388.6
7	KC	326.4	−9.43	358.3	368.9	328.2	289.8	320.6	301.5	317.8
8	PHI	328.4	−2.55	363.1	328.8	301.5	356.1	278.4	314.2	356.8
9	TB	329.4	−1.93	327.1	331.5	324.3	344.2	341.8	337.2	299.4
10	NO	330.3	+6.38	310.9	318.2	314.8	327.2	379.9	299.8	361
11	BAL	331.9	−1.08	329.8	363.4	324.3	301.4	324.2	354.5	325.6
12	DEN	332.5	−5.72	367.9	326.1	320	370.8	317.1	278.2	347.4
13	LAC	333.4	−9.54	343.4	360.1	346.2	362.9	324.4	285.2	311.6
14	PIT	335.3	+1.54	305.8	361.1	330.4	342.1	326.7	356.9	324.2
15	NYJ	335.8	−13.06	387.6	397.6	311.1	292.3	313.8	355.6	292.8
16	MIA	336.4	−4.11	367.9	337.5	337.8	318.3	314.4	348.8	329.8
17	SEA	337.5	−21.56	380.6	379.1	361.7	371.4	332.7	285.9	251.2
18	MIN	339.5	−23.42	393.3	383.6	388.7	333.2	335.4	282.6	259.8
19	CHI	341.3	−1.15	344.9	316.7	375.9	324.2	354.2	361.8	311.4
20	TEN	343.3	−7.47	398.3	329.8	351.6	335.1	311.2	345.1	331.8
21	HOU	345.1	−21.14	416.8	384.4	379.5	330.7	315	277.2	312.4
22	WAS	345.5	+7.47	304.6	359.3	304.6	388.9	326.9	384	350.4
23	CAR	347.0	+6.38	360.1	305.9	350.2	293.9	404.5	327.2	387.3
24	ATL	349.5	−10.77	398.4	364.4	362.1	321.1	345.2	326.6	328.6
25	ARI	349.9	+3.03	351.9	329.2	348.9	355.7	342.5	357.7	363.4
26	LV	350.1	−3.84	389.1	337.2	365.6	330.9	333.1	317.8	377
27	IND	350.6	+7.02	332.1	343.2	334	349.8	361.2	349.8	384.2
28	NYG	351.1	−2.46	349.3	354.8	358.2	361.7	346.8	359.5	327
29	JAX	355.8	−11.62	417.7	353.1	353.3	342.8	389.9	303.6	330
30	DAL	356.4	+3.71	386.4	351	330.2	299.7	355.2	377	395.4
31	CIN	360.5	−2.22	389.2	350.8	335.7	374.6	348.3	380.9	344.2
32	DET	372.4	−6.85	419.8	379.8	392.4	336.1	342.4	331.9	404.4

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
BUF	352.5	272.8	319.1	307.2	341.5	293.1	388.6
CAR	360.1	305.9	350.2	293.9	404.5	327.2	387.3
SF	314.4	310	300.6	303.9	317.4	340.2	297.2
NE	353.8	310.8	322	301.6	342.9	295.2	296.2
CLE	358.4	311.5	331.2	270.2	342.1	283.6	334
CHI	344.9	316.7	375.9	324.2	354.2	361.8	311.4
NO	310.9	318.2	314.8	327.2	379.9	299.8	361
DEN	367.9	326.1	320	370.8	317.1	278.2	347.4
GB	334	328.2	336.5	335.1	314.5	311.8	308.6
PHI	363.1	328.8	301.5	356.1	278.4	314.2	356.8
ARI	351.9	329.2	348.9	355.7	342.5	357.7	363.4
TEN	398.3	329.8	351.6	335.1	311.2	345.1	331.8
TB	327.1	331.5	324.3	344.2	341.8	337.2	299.4
LV	389.1	337.2	365.6	330.9	333.1	317.8	377
MIA	367.9	337.5	337.8	318.3	314.4	348.8	329.8
IND	332.1	343.2	334	349.8	361.2	349.8	384.2
LAR	281.9	344.9	341.1	337.9	353.1	327.5	285.2
CIN	389.2	350.8	335.7	374.6	348.3	380.9	344.2
DAL	386.4	351	330.2	299.7	355.2	377	395.4
JAX	417.7	353.1	353.3	342.8	389.9	303.6	330
NYG	349.3	354.8	358.2	361.7	346.8	359.5	327
WAS	304.6	359.3	304.6	388.9	326.9	384	350.4
LAC	343.4	360.1	346.2	362.9	324.4	285.2	311.6
PIT	305.8	361.1	330.4	342.1	326.7	356.9	324.2
BAL	329.8	363.4	324.3	301.4	324.2	354.5	325.6
ATL	398.4	364.4	362.1	321.1	345.2	326.6	328.6
KC	358.3	368.9	328.2	289.8	320.6	301.5	317.8
SEA	380.6	379.1	361.7	371.4	332.7	285.9	251.2
DET	419.8	379.8	392.4	336.1	342.4	331.9	404.4
MIN	393.3	383.6	388.7	333.2	335.4	282.6	259.8
HOU	416.8	384.4	379.5	330.7	315	277.2	312.4
NYJ	387.6	397.6	311.1	292.3	313.8	355.6	292.8

Total yards (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Ravens (292.9), 2019 Patriots (275.9), 2020 Rams (281.9), 2021 Bills (272.8).

The best season on record is Bills 2021 at 272.8; the worst Lions 2020 at 419.8.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

Stat ID: def_team_stats_total_yards
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.