What 1st Down (Off − Def) is

First downs earned minus first downs allowed. Who moved the chains more often — the team or its opponents.

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

In 2020 the Rams led at 4.31; the league average was 0.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

LAR · 4.31

League average

Best to worst

11.06

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	LAR	4.31	16
2	NO	3.19	16
3	LAC	2.94	16
4	TB	2.69	16
5	PIT	2.63	16
6	BUF	2.56	16
7	SF	2.50	16
8	KC	2.38	16
9	IND	2.19	16
10	WAS	2.06	16
11	GB	1.81	16
12	ARI	1.19	16
13	MIN	0.69	16
14	DAL	0.63	16
15	MIA	0.50	16
16	CHI	0.38	16
17	CLE	0.19	16
18	ATL	0	16
19	PHI	-0.25	16
20	TEN	-0.63	16
21	LV	-0.94	16
22	NE	-0.94	16
23	BAL	-1.13	16
24	SEA	-1.19	16
25	CAR	-1.31	16
26	CIN	-1.69	16
27	DEN	-1.81	16
28	NYG	-3.44	16
29	HOU	-3.94	16
30	DET	-4	16
31	JAX	-4.81	16
32	NYJ	-6.75	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

LAR · 4.31

League laggard

NYJ · -6.75

League average

Spread (max − min)

11.06

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	LAR	4.31	4.31	100%
2	NO	3.19	3.19	96.8%
3	LAC	2.94	2.94	93.5%
4	TB	2.69	2.69	90.3%
5	PIT	2.63	2.63	87.1%
6	BUF	2.56	2.56	83.9%
7	SF	2.50	2.50	80.6%
8	KC	2.38	2.38	77.4%
9	IND	2.19	2.19	74.2%
10	WAS	2.06	2.06	71%
11	GB	1.81	1.81	67.7%
12	ARI	1.19	1.19	64.5%
13	MIN	0.69	0.69	61.3%
14	DAL	0.63	0.63	58.1%
15	MIA	0.50	0.50	54.8%
16	CHI	0.38	0.38	51.6%
17	CLE	0.19	0.19	48.4%
18	ATL	0	0	45.2%
19	PHI	-0.25	-0.25	41.9%
20	TEN	-0.63	-0.63	38.7%
21	LV	-0.94	-0.94	35.5%
22	NE	-0.94	-0.94	32.3%
23	BAL	-1.13	-1.13	29%
24	SEA	-1.19	-1.19	25.8%
25	CAR	-1.31	-1.31	22.6%
26	CIN	-1.69	-1.69	19.4%
27	DEN	-1.81	-1.81	16.1%
28	NYG	-3.44	-3.44	12.9%
29	HOU	-3.94	-3.94	9.7%
30	DET	-4	-4	6.5%
31	JAX	-4.81	-4.81	3.2%
32	NYJ	-6.75	-6.75	0%

Does 1st Down (Off − Def) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 884–694–37 ATS (56.0%) across 2020–2025, #39 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2022 (160–104, 60.6%); its worst 2024 (139–124, 52.9%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	144–110–2	56.7%
2021	272	145–125–2	53.7%
2022	271	160–104–7	60.6%
2023	272	149–109–14	57.8%
2024	272	139–124–9	52.9%
2025	272	147–122–3	54.6%

1st Down (Off − Def) in 2020 vs 2019

Rams lead at 4.31 — they ranked #11 last year. Jets are last at -6.75 — #29 last year.

The league average is 0, the same as last year.

Biggest riser: Commanders, #32 → #10. Biggest faller: Ravens, #1 → #23.

Spread between first and last: 11.06; 21 teams are within 2.56 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

WAS · +8.38

Biggest faller

BAL · −8

Most consistent

DEN · −0.06

League trend 2020 vs 2019

– 0

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	WAS	2.06	-6.31	+8.38
2	PIT	2.63	-2.44	+5.06
3	ARI	1.19	-3.75	+4.94
4	MIA	0.50	-2.75	+3.25
5	LAR	4.31	1.25	+3.06
6	CLE	0.19	-2.38	+2.56
7	KC	2.38	0.31	+2.06
8	MIN	0.69	-1.13	+1.81
9	IND	2.19	0.69	+1.50
10	BUF	2.56	1.25	+1.31
11	TB	2.69	1.56	+1.13
12	GB	1.81	0.75	+1.06
13	CHI	0.38	-0.63	+1
14	LV	-0.94	-1.69	+0.75
15	NO	3.19	2.44	+0.75
16	TEN	-0.63	-1.19	+0.56
17	DEN	-1.81	-1.75	−0.06
18	CAR	-1.31	-0.94	−0.38
19	SF	2.50	2.94	−0.44
20	DET	-4	-3.38	−0.63
21	SEA	-1.19	-0.38	−0.81
22	CIN	-1.69	-0.81	−0.88
23	LAC	2.94	4	−1.06
24	NYG	-3.44	-2.13	−1.31
25	JAX	-4.81	-2.56	−2.25
26	DAL	0.63	3	−2.38
27	ATL	0	3.06	−3.06
28	HOU	-3.94	-0.25	−3.69
29	NYJ	-6.75	-2.81	−3.94
30	PHI	-0.25	4.19	−4.44
31	NE	-0.94	4.94	−5.88
32	BAL	-1.13	6.88	−8

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

BUF · 3.14

Multi-year laggard

NYJ · -3.46

Biggest improver

SEA · +1.36/yr

Biggest decliner

TEN · −0.85/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	BUF	3.14	−0.48	2.56	6.65	3.38	4.12	0.24	4.29	0.71
2	SF	2.75	+0.03	2.50	2.24	3.41	3.82	1.65	2.18	3.43
3	KC	2.36	−0.38	2.38	3.29	3.82	2.82	1.53	2.53	0.14
4	LAR	1.90	+0.46	4.31	0.41	-2.35	1.29	0.06	4.29	5.25
5	TB	1.68	−0.26	2.69	3.53	2	-2.18	3.18	0.94	1.63
6	DAL	1.51	−0.31	0.63	3.65	1.47	4.24	-0.76	1.24	0.13
7	BAL	0.96	−0.25	-1.13	3	0.88	3.12	3.59	-1.24	-1.50
8	LAC	0.74	−0.52	2.94	1.18	2	-1.35	0	2.71	-2.29
9	CLE	0.50	−0.38	0.19	0.71	1.35	4.12	0.06	-1.29	-1.63
10	CHI	0.48	+0.84	0.38	0.82	-4.88	0.82	-1.59	0.53	7.29
11	GB	0.46	−0.63	1.81	2.18	1.06	-0.06	0.76	0.12	-2.63
12	CIN	0.42	+0.26	-1.69	-0.12	3.75	-1.47	0.82	-0.06	1.71
13	DET	0.24	+0.95	-4	-2.76	-0.18	2.24	4.53	1.18	0.71
14	PHI	0.22	−0.57	-0.25	-0.18	3.35	0.88	4	-1.29	-5
15	NE	0.17	+0.37	-0.94	2.94	-1.29	-2.82	-2.76	3.47	2.63
16	MIN	0.13	+0.23	0.69	-3.24	1.06	0.47	1.59	-0.53	0.86
17	NO	0.05	−0.63	3.19	0.24	-0.71	2.29	-2.94	0.12	-1.86
18	WAS	-0.02	−0.69	2.06	0.12	3.18	-2.88	2.53	-3.18	-2
19	PIT	-0.10	−0.26	2.63	-1.88	1.71	-1.29	-0.59	-3	1.75
20	IND	-0.14	−0.26	2.19	1.18	-1.76	-1.18	-1.47	-1.06	1.13
21	MIA	-0.24	−0.51	0.50	-0.53	0.29	2.41	1.71	-3.06	-3
22	ARI	-0.24	−0.27	1.19	2.18	-2	-2.18	0.88	-2.76	1
23	SEA	-0.35	+1.36	-1.19	-5.82	-0.35	-3.59	0.12	2.82	5.57
24	ATL	-1.00	+0.18	0	-4.59	-1.47	0.24	0.88	0.18	-2.25
25	JAX	-1.03	+0.88	-4.81	-2.59	0	1.29	-5.24	2.12	2
26	DEN	-1.06	−0.15	-1.81	0.94	-1.24	-2.82	-0.47	2.35	-4.38
27	LV	-1.57	−0.33	-0.94	-0.24	-1.06	-2.29	-0.59	-4.47	-1.38
28	CAR	-1.97	−0.05	-1.31	0.41	-3.88	-0.94	-7.41	-0.94	0.29
29	NYG	-1.97	+0.78	-3.44	-3.88	-0.88	-5.06	-1.76	-0.94	2.14
30	TEN	-2.09	−0.85	-0.63	1.88	-3.76	-2	-0.24	-4.24	-5.63
31	HOU	-2.14	+1.21	-3.94	-6.76	-5.59	-0.24	-0.47	2.76	-0.71
32	NYJ	-3.46	+0.39	-6.75	-4.94	-0.88	-1.82	-1.82	-5.76	-2.25

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
LAR	4.31	0.41	-2.35	1.29	0.06	4.29	5.25
NO	3.19	0.24	-0.71	2.29	-2.94	0.12	-1.86
LAC	2.94	1.18	2	-1.35	0	2.71	-2.29
TB	2.69	3.53	2	-2.18	3.18	0.94	1.63
PIT	2.63	-1.88	1.71	-1.29	-0.59	-3	1.75
BUF	2.56	6.65	3.38	4.12	0.24	4.29	0.71
SF	2.50	2.24	3.41	3.82	1.65	2.18	3.43
KC	2.38	3.29	3.82	2.82	1.53	2.53	0.14
IND	2.19	1.18	-1.76	-1.18	-1.47	-1.06	1.13
WAS	2.06	0.12	3.18	-2.88	2.53	-3.18	-2
GB	1.81	2.18	1.06	-0.06	0.76	0.12	-2.63
ARI	1.19	2.18	-2	-2.18	0.88	-2.76	1
MIN	0.69	-3.24	1.06	0.47	1.59	-0.53	0.86
DAL	0.63	3.65	1.47	4.24	-0.76	1.24	0.13
MIA	0.50	-0.53	0.29	2.41	1.71	-3.06	-3
CHI	0.38	0.82	-4.88	0.82	-1.59	0.53	7.29
CLE	0.19	0.71	1.35	4.12	0.06	-1.29	-1.63
ATL	0	-4.59	-1.47	0.24	0.88	0.18	-2.25
PHI	-0.25	-0.18	3.35	0.88	4	-1.29	-5
TEN	-0.63	1.88	-3.76	-2	-0.24	-4.24	-5.63
LV	-0.94	-0.24	-1.06	-2.29	-0.59	-4.47	-1.38
NE	-0.94	2.94	-1.29	-2.82	-2.76	3.47	2.63
BAL	-1.13	3	0.88	3.12	3.59	-1.24	-1.50
SEA	-1.19	-5.82	-0.35	-3.59	0.12	2.82	5.57
CAR	-1.31	0.41	-3.88	-0.94	-7.41	-0.94	0.29
CIN	-1.69	-0.12	3.75	-1.47	0.82	-0.06	1.71
DEN	-1.81	0.94	-1.24	-2.82	-0.47	2.35	-4.38
NYG	-3.44	-3.88	-0.88	-5.06	-1.76	-0.94	2.14
HOU	-3.94	-6.76	-5.59	-0.24	-0.47	2.76	-0.71
DET	-4	-2.76	-0.18	2.24	4.53	1.18	0.71
JAX	-4.81	-2.59	0	1.29	-5.24	2.12	2
NYJ	-6.75	-4.94	-0.88	-1.82	-1.82	-5.76	-2.25

1st Down (Off − Def) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Ravens (5.38), 2019 Ravens (6.88), 2020 Rams (4.31).

Ravens have led this stat 2 of 3 seasons.

The best season on record is Ravens 2019 at 6.88; the worst Cardinals 2018 at -7.19.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2020.

About this stat

Stat ID: net_first_down
Side: net
Family: NET (Off − Def)
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.