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 2023 the Cowboys led at 4.24; the league average was 0.00.

League snapshot — 2023

League leader

DAL · 4.24

League average

0.00

Best to worst

9.29

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DAL	4.24	17
2	BUF	4.12	17
3	CLE	4.12	17
4	SF	3.82	17
5	BAL	3.12	17
6	KC	2.82	17
7	MIA	2.41	17
8	NO	2.29	17
9	DET	2.24	17
10	JAX	1.29	17
11	LAR	1.29	17
12	PHI	0.88	17
13	CHI	0.82	17
14	MIN	0.47	17
15	ATL	0.24	17
16	GB	-0.06	17
17	HOU	-0.24	17
18	CAR	-0.94	17
19	IND	-1.18	17
20	PIT	-1.29	17
21	LAC	-1.35	17
22	CIN	-1.47	17
23	NYJ	-1.82	17
24	TEN	-2	17
25	ARI	-2.18	17
26	TB	-2.18	17
27	LV	-2.29	17
28	DEN	-2.82	17
29	NE	-2.82	17
30	WAS	-2.88	17
31	SEA	-3.59	17
32	NYG	-5.06	17

At a glance — 2023

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DAL · 4.24

League laggard

NYG · -5.06

League average

0.00

Spread (max − min)

9.29

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DAL	4.24	4.24	100%
2	BUF	4.12	4.12	96.8%
3	CLE	4.12	4.12	93.5%
4	SF	3.82	3.82	90.3%
5	BAL	3.12	3.12	87.1%
6	KC	2.82	2.82	83.9%
7	MIA	2.41	2.41	80.6%
8	NO	2.29	2.29	77.4%
9	DET	2.24	2.24	74.2%
10	JAX	1.29	1.29	71%
11	LAR	1.29	1.29	67.7%
12	PHI	0.88	0.88	64.5%
13	CHI	0.82	0.82	61.3%
14	MIN	0.47	0.47	58.1%
15	ATL	0.24	0.24	54.8%
16	GB	-0.06	-0.06	51.6%
17	HOU	-0.24	-0.24	48.4%
18	CAR	-0.94	-0.94	45.2%
19	IND	-1.18	-1.18	41.9%
20	PIT	-1.29	-1.29	38.7%
21	LAC	-1.35	-1.35	35.5%
22	CIN	-1.47	-1.47	32.3%
23	NYJ	-1.82	-1.82	29%
24	TEN	-2	-2	25.8%
25	ARI	-2.18	-2.18	22.6%
26	TB	-2.18	-2.18	19.4%
27	LV	-2.29	-2.29	16.1%
28	DEN	-2.82	-2.82	12.9%
29	NE	-2.82	-2.82	9.7%
30	WAS	-2.88	-2.88	6.5%
31	SEA	-3.59	-3.59	3.2%
32	NYG	-5.06	-5.06	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 2023 vs 2022

Cowboys lead at 4.24 — they ranked #10 last year. Giants are last at -5.06 — #20 last year.

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

Biggest riser: Bears, #31 → #13. Biggest faller: Commanders, #6 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 9.29; 21 teams are within 2.49 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2023 vs 2022

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CHI · +5.71

Biggest faller

WAS · −6.06

Most consistent

ARI · −0.18

League trend 2023 vs 2022

▼ -0.01

Rank	Team	2023	2022	Δ
1	CHI	0.82	-4.88	+5.71
2	HOU	-0.24	-5.59	+5.35
3	LAR	1.29	-2.35	+3.65
4	NO	2.29	-0.71	+3
5	CAR	-0.94	-3.88	+2.94
6	DAL	4.24	1.47	+2.76
7	CLE	4.12	1.35	+2.76
8	DET	2.24	-0.18	+2.41
9	BAL	3.12	0.88	+2.24
10	MIA	2.41	0.29	+2.12
11	TEN	-2	-3.76	+1.76
12	ATL	0.24	-1.47	+1.71
13	JAX	1.29	0	+1.29
14	BUF	4.12	3.38	+0.74
15	IND	-1.18	-1.76	+0.59
16	SF	3.82	3.41	+0.41
17	ARI	-2.18	-2	−0.18
18	MIN	0.47	1.06	−0.59
19	NYJ	-1.82	-0.88	−0.94
20	KC	2.82	3.82	−1
21	GB	-0.06	1.06	−1.12
22	LV	-2.29	-1.06	−1.24
23	NE	-2.82	-1.29	−1.53
24	DEN	-2.82	-1.24	−1.59
25	PHI	0.88	3.35	−2.47
26	PIT	-1.29	1.71	−3
27	SEA	-3.59	-0.35	−3.24
28	LAC	-1.35	2	−3.35
29	NYG	-5.06	-0.88	−4.18
30	TB	-2.18	2	−4.18
31	CIN	-1.47	3.75	−5.22
32	WAS	-2.88	3.18	−6.06

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

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), 2023 Cowboys (4.24).

Ravens have led this stat 2 of 6 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 2023.

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.