What Turnovers (allowed) is

Turnovers taken by this defense: interceptions plus opponent fumbles recovered. Each one takes a possession away from the opponent and usually hands the offense field position.

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 Cowboys led at 2; the league average was 1.30.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

DAL · 2

League average

1.30

Best to worst

1.47

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DAL	2	17
2	IND	1.94	17
3	BUF	1.76	17
4	NE	1.76	17
5	KC	1.71	17
6	TB	1.71	17
7	ARI	1.59	17
8	GB	1.53	17
9	MIA	1.53	17
10	HOU	1.47	17
11	LAR	1.47	17
12	NO	1.47	17
13	MIN	1.41	17
14	NYG	1.29	17
15	PIT	1.29	17
16	TEN	1.29	17
17	CIN	1.24	17
18	LAC	1.24	17
19	ATL	1.18	17
20	SF	1.18	17
21	CLE	1.12	17
22	DEN	1.12	17
23	DET	1.12	17
24	SEA	1.06	17
25	WAS	1.06	17
26	CAR	0.94	17
27	CHI	0.94	17
28	PHI	0.94	17
29	BAL	0.88	17
30	LV	0.88	17
31	NYJ	0.82	17
32	JAX	0.53	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DAL · 2

League laggard

JAX · 0.53

League average

1.30

Spread (max − min)

1.47

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DAL	2	0.70	100%
2	IND	1.94	0.65	96.8%
3	BUF	1.76	0.47	93.5%
4	NE	1.76	0.47	90.3%
5	KC	1.71	0.41	87.1%
6	TB	1.71	0.41	83.9%
7	ARI	1.59	0.29	80.6%
8	GB	1.53	0.23	77.4%
9	MIA	1.53	0.23	74.2%
10	HOU	1.47	0.17	71%
11	LAR	1.47	0.17	67.7%
12	NO	1.47	0.17	64.5%
13	MIN	1.41	0.12	61.3%
14	NYG	1.29	0.00	58.1%
15	PIT	1.29	0.00	54.8%
16	TEN	1.29	0.00	51.6%
17	CIN	1.24	-0.06	48.4%
18	LAC	1.24	-0.06	45.2%
19	ATL	1.18	-0.12	41.9%
20	SF	1.18	-0.12	38.7%
21	CLE	1.12	-0.18	35.5%
22	DEN	1.12	-0.18	32.3%
23	DET	1.12	-0.18	29%
24	SEA	1.06	-0.24	25.8%
25	WAS	1.06	-0.24	22.6%
26	CAR	0.94	-0.35	19.4%
27	CHI	0.94	-0.35	16.1%
28	PHI	0.94	-0.35	12.9%
29	BAL	0.88	-0.41	9.7%
30	LV	0.88	-0.41	6.5%
31	NYJ	0.82	-0.47	3.2%
32	JAX	0.53	-0.77	0%

Does Turnovers (allowed) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 876–702–37 ATS (55.5%) across 2020–2025, #56 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2025 (154–115, 57.2%); its worst 2024 (142–121, 54.0%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	143–111–2	56.3%
2021	272	148–122–2	54.8%
2022	271	149–115–7	56.4%
2023	272	140–118–14	54.3%
2024	272	142–121–9	54.0%
2025	272	154–115–3	57.2%

Turnovers (allowed) in 2021 vs 2020

Cowboys lead at 2 — they ranked #11 last year. Jaguars are last at 0.53 — #28 last year.

The league average is 1.30, up 0.00 from 1.29 last year.

Biggest riser: Texans, #32 → #10. Biggest faller: Ravens, #9 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 1.47; 19 teams are within 0.34 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

HOU · +0.91

Biggest faller

JAX · −0.53

Most consistent

MIN · +0.04

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 0.00

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	HOU	1.47	0.56	+0.91
2	DAL	2	1.38	+0.63
3	GB	1.53	1.13	+0.40
4	NE	1.76	1.38	+0.39
5	IND	1.94	1.56	+0.38
6	DET	1.12	0.75	+0.37
7	KC	1.71	1.38	+0.33
8	ARI	1.59	1.31	+0.28
9	CIN	1.24	1.06	+0.17
10	TB	1.71	1.56	+0.14
11	BUF	1.76	1.63	+0.14
12	DEN	1.12	1	+0.12
13	LAR	1.47	1.38	+0.10
14	LAC	1.24	1.19	+0.05
15	MIN	1.41	1.38	+0.04
16	LV	0.88	0.94	−0.06
17	SF	1.18	1.25	−0.07
18	NYG	1.29	1.38	−0.08
19	ATL	1.18	1.31	−0.14
20	TEN	1.29	1.44	−0.14
21	NO	1.47	1.63	−0.15
22	CHI	0.94	1.13	−0.18
23	CLE	1.12	1.31	−0.19
24	MIA	1.53	1.75	−0.22
25	PHI	0.94	1.19	−0.25
26	SEA	1.06	1.38	−0.32
27	NYJ	0.82	1.19	−0.36
28	WAS	1.06	1.44	−0.38
29	PIT	1.29	1.69	−0.39
30	CAR	0.94	1.38	−0.43
31	BAL	0.88	1.38	−0.49
32	JAX	0.53	1.06	−0.53

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

PIT · 1.58

Multi-year laggard

TEN · 0.99

Biggest improver

LV · +0.12/yr

Biggest decliner

DAL · −0.22/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	PIT	1.58	+0.03	1.69	1.29	1.35	1.59	1.94	1.59	1.60
2	BUF	1.56	−0.10	1.63	1.76	1.69	1.76	1.88	1.18	1
3	MIN	1.53	+0.07	1.38	1.41	1.47	1.29	1.94	1.24	2
4	SEA	1.39	+0.10	1.38	1.06	1.47	1.12	1.06	1.47	2.20
5	TB	1.39	−0.05	1.56	1.71	1.18	1.47	1.06	1.35	1.40
6	CHI	1.37	+0.08	1.13	0.94	1.35	1.65	1.41	1.94	1.20
7	CIN	1.37	+0.05	1.06	1.24	1.50	1.53	1.47	1.18	1.60
8	GB	1.37	+0.04	1.13	1.53	1.41	1.06	1.82	0.82	1.80
9	HOU	1.34	+0.07	0.56	1.47	1.59	1.41	1.65	1.71	1
10	LAC	1.32	+0.05	1.19	1.24	1.41	1.24	1.24	1.35	1.60
11	IND	1.32	−0.17	1.56	1.94	1.24	1.41	1.47	1.24	0.40
12	DAL	1.32	−0.22	1.38	2	1.94	1.53	1.29	0.71	0.40
13	SF	1.31	−0.03	1.25	1.18	1.76	1.65	1	0.94	1.40
14	KC	1.29	−0.02	1.38	1.71	1.18	1	1.18	0.82	1.75
15	NE	1.28	−0.10	1.38	1.76	1.76	1.06	0.71	1.12	1.20
16	NYG	1.28	−0.01	1.38	1.29	1.12	1.82	0.88	0.88	1.60
17	BAL	1.28	−0.01	1.38	0.88	1.47	1.82	1	1.18	1.20
18	NO	1.26	−0.08	1.63	1.47	0.82	1.71	1	1.18	1
19	JAX	1.25	+0.11	1.06	0.53	1.59	1.59	0.53	1.82	1.60
20	LAR	1.24	−0.04	1.38	1.47	1.29	0.88	1.18	1.47	1
21	DEN	1.23	+0.02	1	1.12	1.35	1.53	1.41	0.82	1.40
22	MIA	1.23	−0.12	1.75	1.53	0.82	1.59	0.94	1.18	0.80
23	ARI	1.23	−0.03	1.31	1.59	1.18	1	1	1.12	1.40
24	CLE	1.17	−0.03	1.31	1.12	1.18	1.65	0.71	1.06	1.20
25	PHI	1.15	−0.04	1.19	0.94	1.59	1	1.53	1.24	0.60
26	DET	1.14	+0.03	0.75	1.12	1.29	1.29	1.41	1.12	1
27	CAR	1.14	+0.06	1.38	0.94	1	0.65	1	1.24	1.75
28	ATL	1.09	−0.04	1.31	1.18	1	0.94	1.06	1.35	0.80
29	WAS	1.09	−0.04	1.44	1.06	1.06	1.06	1	0.59	1.40
30	LV	1.08	+0.12	0.94	0.88	0.76	1.29	0.76	0.94	2
31	NYJ	1.00	−0.04	1.19	0.82	0.94	1.59	1	0.24	1.20
32	TEN	0.99	−0.16	1.44	1.29	1.18	0.82	1	0.76	0.40

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
DAL	1.38	2	1.94	1.53	1.29	0.71	0.40
IND	1.56	1.94	1.24	1.41	1.47	1.24	0.40
BUF	1.63	1.76	1.69	1.76	1.88	1.18	1
NE	1.38	1.76	1.76	1.06	0.71	1.12	1.20
KC	1.38	1.71	1.18	1	1.18	0.82	1.75
TB	1.56	1.71	1.18	1.47	1.06	1.35	1.40
ARI	1.31	1.59	1.18	1	1	1.12	1.40
GB	1.13	1.53	1.41	1.06	1.82	0.82	1.80
MIA	1.75	1.53	0.82	1.59	0.94	1.18	0.80
HOU	0.56	1.47	1.59	1.41	1.65	1.71	1
LAR	1.38	1.47	1.29	0.88	1.18	1.47	1
NO	1.63	1.47	0.82	1.71	1	1.18	1
MIN	1.38	1.41	1.47	1.29	1.94	1.24	2
NYG	1.38	1.29	1.12	1.82	0.88	0.88	1.60
PIT	1.69	1.29	1.35	1.59	1.94	1.59	1.60
TEN	1.44	1.29	1.18	0.82	1	0.76	0.40
CIN	1.06	1.24	1.50	1.53	1.47	1.18	1.60
LAC	1.19	1.24	1.41	1.24	1.24	1.35	1.60
ATL	1.31	1.18	1	0.94	1.06	1.35	0.80
SF	1.25	1.18	1.76	1.65	1	0.94	1.40
CLE	1.31	1.12	1.18	1.65	0.71	1.06	1.20
DEN	1	1.12	1.35	1.53	1.41	0.82	1.40
DET	0.75	1.12	1.29	1.29	1.41	1.12	1
SEA	1.38	1.06	1.47	1.12	1.06	1.47	2.20
WAS	1.44	1.06	1.06	1.06	1	0.59	1.40
CAR	1.38	0.94	1	0.65	1	1.24	1.75
CHI	1.13	0.94	1.35	1.65	1.41	1.94	1.20
PHI	1.19	0.94	1.59	1	1.53	1.24	0.60
BAL	1.38	0.88	1.47	1.82	1	1.18	1.20
LV	0.94	0.88	0.76	1.29	0.76	0.94	2
NYJ	1.19	0.82	0.94	1.59	1	0.24	1.20
JAX	1.06	0.53	1.59	1.59	0.53	1.82	1.60

Turnovers (allowed) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bears (2.25), 2019 Steelers (2.38), 2020 Dolphins (1.75), 2021 Cowboys (2).

The best season on record is Steelers 2019 at 2.38; the worst 49ers 2018 at 0.44.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

Related stats

About this stat

Stat ID: def_team_stats_turnovers
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.