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 2022 the Chiefs led at 3.82; the league average was 0.01.

League snapshot — 2022

League leader

KC · 3.82

League average

0.01

Best to worst

9.41

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	KC	3.82	17
2	CIN	3.75	16
3	SF	3.41	17
4	BUF	3.38	16
5	PHI	3.35	17
6	WAS	3.18	17
7	LAC	2	17
8	TB	2	17
9	PIT	1.71	17
10	DAL	1.47	17
11	CLE	1.35	17
12	GB	1.06	17
13	MIN	1.06	17
14	BAL	0.88	17
15	MIA	0.29	17
16	JAX	0	17
17	DET	-0.18	17
18	SEA	-0.35	17
19	NO	-0.71	17
20	NYG	-0.88	17
21	NYJ	-0.88	17
22	LV	-1.06	17
23	DEN	-1.24	17
24	NE	-1.29	17
25	ATL	-1.47	17
26	IND	-1.76	17
27	ARI	-2	17
28	LAR	-2.35	17
29	TEN	-3.76	17
30	CAR	-3.88	17
31	CHI	-4.88	17
32	HOU	-5.59	17

At a glance — 2022

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

KC · 3.82

League laggard

HOU · -5.59

League average

0.01

Spread (max − min)

9.41

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	KC	3.82	3.81	100%
2	CIN	3.75	3.74	96.8%
3	SF	3.41	3.40	93.5%
4	BUF	3.38	3.36	90.3%
5	PHI	3.35	3.34	87.1%
6	WAS	3.18	3.16	83.9%
7	LAC	2	1.99	80.6%
8	TB	2	1.99	77.4%
9	PIT	1.71	1.69	74.2%
10	DAL	1.47	1.46	71%
11	CLE	1.35	1.34	67.7%
12	GB	1.06	1.05	64.5%
13	MIN	1.06	1.05	61.3%
14	BAL	0.88	0.87	58.1%
15	MIA	0.29	0.28	54.8%
16	JAX	0	-0.01	51.6%
17	DET	-0.18	-0.19	48.4%
18	SEA	-0.35	-0.37	45.2%
19	NO	-0.71	-0.72	41.9%
20	NYG	-0.88	-0.90	38.7%
21	NYJ	-0.88	-0.90	35.5%
22	LV	-1.06	-1.07	32.3%
23	DEN	-1.24	-1.25	29%
24	NE	-1.29	-1.31	25.8%
25	ATL	-1.47	-1.48	22.6%
26	IND	-1.76	-1.78	19.4%
27	ARI	-2	-2.01	16.1%
28	LAR	-2.35	-2.37	12.9%
29	TEN	-3.76	-3.78	9.7%
30	CAR	-3.88	-3.90	6.5%
31	CHI	-4.88	-4.90	3.2%
32	HOU	-5.59	-5.60	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 2022 vs 2021

Chiefs lead at 3.82 — they ranked #4 last year. Texans are last at -5.59 — #32 last year.

The league average is 0.01, up 0.01 from 0.00 last year.

Biggest riser: Bengals, #20 → #2. Biggest faller: Cardinals, #8 → #27.

Spread between first and last: 9.41; 22 teams are within 2.48 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2022 vs 2021

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

SEA · +5.47

Biggest faller

CHI · −5.71

Most consistent

KC · +0.53

League trend 2022 vs 2021

▲ 0.01

Rank	Team	2022	2021	Δ
1	SEA	-0.35	-5.82	+5.47
2	MIN	1.06	-3.24	+4.29
3	NYJ	-0.88	-4.94	+4.06
4	CIN	3.75	-0.12	+3.87
5	PIT	1.71	-1.88	+3.59
6	PHI	3.35	-0.18	+3.53
7	ATL	-1.47	-4.59	+3.12
8	WAS	3.18	0.12	+3.06
9	NYG	-0.88	-3.88	+3
10	DET	-0.18	-2.76	+2.59
11	JAX	0	-2.59	+2.59
12	HOU	-5.59	-6.76	+1.18
13	SF	3.41	2.24	+1.18
14	LAC	2	1.18	+0.82
15	MIA	0.29	-0.53	+0.82
16	CLE	1.35	0.71	+0.65
17	KC	3.82	3.29	+0.53
18	LV	-1.06	-0.24	−0.82
19	NO	-0.71	0.24	−0.94
20	GB	1.06	2.18	−1.12
21	TB	2	3.53	−1.53
22	BAL	0.88	3	−2.12
23	DAL	1.47	3.65	−2.18
24	DEN	-1.24	0.94	−2.18
25	LAR	-2.35	0.41	−2.76
26	IND	-1.76	1.18	−2.94
27	BUF	3.38	6.65	−3.27
28	ARI	-2	2.18	−4.18
29	NE	-1.29	2.94	−4.24
30	CAR	-3.88	0.41	−4.29
31	TEN	-3.76	1.88	−5.65
32	CHI	-4.88	0.82	−5.71

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

BUF · 2.78

Multi-year laggard

NYJ · -3.51

Biggest improver

HOU · +1.35/yr

Biggest decliner

MIA · −0.76/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	BUF	2.78	−0.75	2.56	6.65	3.38	4.12	0.24	4.29	-1.80
2	SF	2.74	+0.03	2.50	2.24	3.41	3.82	1.65	2.18	3.40
3	KC	2.45	−0.31	2.38	3.29	3.82	2.82	1.53	2.53	0.75
4	LAR	2.09	+0.61	4.31	0.41	-2.35	1.29	0.06	4.29	6.60
5	TB	1.57	−0.35	2.69	3.53	2	-2.18	3.18	0.94	0.80
6	DAL	1.46	−0.34	0.63	3.65	1.47	4.24	-0.76	1.24	-0.20
7	BAL	1.43	+0.11	-1.13	3	0.88	3.12	3.59	-1.24	1.80
8	LAC	0.90	−0.41	2.94	1.18	2	-1.35	0	2.71	-1.20
9	CHI	0.70	+1.00	0.38	0.82	-4.88	0.82	-1.59	0.53	8.80
10	GB	0.41	−0.67	1.81	2.18	1.06	-0.06	0.76	0.12	-3
11	MIN	0.38	+0.42	0.69	-3.24	1.06	0.47	1.59	-0.53	2.60
12	NE	0.37	+0.51	-0.94	2.94	-1.29	-2.82	-2.76	3.47	4
13	CIN	0.23	+0.12	-1.69	-0.12	3.75	-1.47	0.82	-0.06	0.40
14	CLE	0.16	−0.64	0.19	0.71	1.35	4.12	0.06	-1.29	-4
15	NO	0.14	−0.56	3.19	0.24	-0.71	2.29	-2.94	0.12	-1.20
16	PHI	0.04	−0.69	-0.25	-0.18	3.35	0.88	4	-1.29	-6.20
17	WAS	-0.02	−0.69	2.06	0.12	3.18	-2.88	2.53	-3.18	-2
18	DET	-0.20	+0.62	-4	-2.76	-0.18	2.24	4.53	1.18	-2.40
19	PIT	-0.20	−0.34	2.63	-1.88	1.71	-1.29	-0.59	-3	1
20	IND	-0.33	−0.40	2.19	1.18	-1.76	-1.18	-1.47	-1.06	-0.20
21	ARI	-0.50	−0.46	1.19	2.18	-2	-2.18	0.88	-2.76	-0.80
22	MIA	-0.58	−0.76	0.50	-0.53	0.29	2.41	1.71	-3.06	-5.40
23	ATL	-0.65	+0.45	0	-4.59	-1.47	0.24	0.88	0.18	0.20
24	SEA	-0.72	+1.08	-1.19	-5.82	-0.35	-3.59	0.12	2.82	3
25	DEN	-0.92	−0.04	-1.81	0.94	-1.24	-2.82	-0.47	2.35	-3.40
26	JAX	-0.97	+0.92	-4.81	-2.59	0	1.29	-5.24	2.12	2.40
27	LV	-1.37	−0.19	-0.94	-0.24	-1.06	-2.29	-0.59	-4.47	0
28	CAR	-1.76	+0.11	-1.31	0.41	-3.88	-0.94	-7.41	-0.94	1.75
29	TEN	-1.80	−0.63	-0.63	1.88	-3.76	-2	-0.24	-4.24	-3.60
30	HOU	-1.95	+1.35	-3.94	-6.76	-5.59	-0.24	-0.47	2.76	0.60
31	NYG	-2.22	+0.59	-3.44	-3.88	-0.88	-5.06	-1.76	-0.94	0.40
32	NYJ	-3.51	+0.35	-6.75	-4.94	-0.88	-1.82	-1.82	-5.76	-2.60

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
KC	2.38	3.29	3.82	2.82	1.53	2.53	0.75
CIN	-1.69	-0.12	3.75	-1.47	0.82	-0.06	0.40
SF	2.50	2.24	3.41	3.82	1.65	2.18	3.40
BUF	2.56	6.65	3.38	4.12	0.24	4.29	-1.80
PHI	-0.25	-0.18	3.35	0.88	4	-1.29	-6.20
WAS	2.06	0.12	3.18	-2.88	2.53	-3.18	-2
LAC	2.94	1.18	2	-1.35	0	2.71	-1.20
TB	2.69	3.53	2	-2.18	3.18	0.94	0.80
PIT	2.63	-1.88	1.71	-1.29	-0.59	-3	1
DAL	0.63	3.65	1.47	4.24	-0.76	1.24	-0.20
CLE	0.19	0.71	1.35	4.12	0.06	-1.29	-4
GB	1.81	2.18	1.06	-0.06	0.76	0.12	-3
MIN	0.69	-3.24	1.06	0.47	1.59	-0.53	2.60
BAL	-1.13	3	0.88	3.12	3.59	-1.24	1.80
MIA	0.50	-0.53	0.29	2.41	1.71	-3.06	-5.40
JAX	-4.81	-2.59	0	1.29	-5.24	2.12	2.40
DET	-4	-2.76	-0.18	2.24	4.53	1.18	-2.40
SEA	-1.19	-5.82	-0.35	-3.59	0.12	2.82	3
NO	3.19	0.24	-0.71	2.29	-2.94	0.12	-1.20
NYG	-3.44	-3.88	-0.88	-5.06	-1.76	-0.94	0.40
NYJ	-6.75	-4.94	-0.88	-1.82	-1.82	-5.76	-2.60
LV	-0.94	-0.24	-1.06	-2.29	-0.59	-4.47	0
DEN	-1.81	0.94	-1.24	-2.82	-0.47	2.35	-3.40
NE	-0.94	2.94	-1.29	-2.82	-2.76	3.47	4
ATL	0	-4.59	-1.47	0.24	0.88	0.18	0.20
IND	2.19	1.18	-1.76	-1.18	-1.47	-1.06	-0.20
ARI	1.19	2.18	-2	-2.18	0.88	-2.76	-0.80
LAR	4.31	0.41	-2.35	1.29	0.06	4.29	6.60
TEN	-0.63	1.88	-3.76	-2	-0.24	-4.24	-3.60
CAR	-1.31	0.41	-3.88	-0.94	-7.41	-0.94	1.75
CHI	0.38	0.82	-4.88	0.82	-1.59	0.53	8.80
HOU	-3.94	-6.76	-5.59	-0.24	-0.47	2.76	0.60

1st Down (Off − Def) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Ravens (5.38), 2019 Ravens (6.88), 2020 Rams (4.31), 2021 Bills (6.65), 2022 Chiefs (3.82).

Ravens have led this stat 2 of 5 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 2022.

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.