NET: Start avg (Off − Def)
What Start avg (Off − Def) is
The offense's average starting field position minus the opponents' — both in yards from the goal line being attacked. Lower is better: it means this team started closer to scoring than its opponents did. The field-position battle in one number.
Lower is better. It is a rate, so a team's number does not grow with games played. Source: P + N.
Through Week 7 of 2026, the Titans lead at -30.36; the league average is 0.00.
League snapshot — 2026
All 32 teams, lower is better.
| Rank | Team | Value | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TEN | -30.36 | 6 |
| 2 | CIN | -26.40 | 5 |
| 3 | PHI | -24.35 | 6 |
| 4 | DEN | -18.37 | 6 |
| 5 | NYJ | -17.93 | 6 |
| 6 | LV | -17.71 | 6 |
| 7 | BAL | -16.55 | 6 |
| 8 | GB | -16.13 | 6 |
| 9 | DAL | -15.24 | 6 |
| 10 | PIT | -13.80 | 6 |
| 11 | WAS | -12.84 | 6 |
| 12 | MIA | -12.08 | 5 |
| 13 | DET | -11.43 | 5 |
| 14 | CAR | -7.30 | 5 |
| 15 | NYG | -1.99 | 6 |
| 16 | HOU | -1.93 | 6 |
| 17 | CLE | -1.42 | 6 |
| 18 | ARI | -0.99 | 6 |
| 19 | KC | -0.86 | 5 |
| 20 | NO | 1.87 | 6 |
| 21 | BUF | 11.81 | 6 |
| 22 | JAX | 12.95 | 6 |
| 23 | TB | 14.73 | 6 |
| 24 | CHI | 15.39 | 6 |
| 25 | NE | 15.55 | 6 |
| 26 | SEA | 20.90 | 6 |
| 27 | LAR | 21.32 | 6 |
| 28 | SF | 22.43 | 6 |
| 29 | IND | 22.45 | 6 |
| 30 | MIN | 23.20 | 5 |
| 31 | LAC | 27.39 | 6 |
| 32 | ATL | 37.69 | 6 |
At a glance — 2026
Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.
All teams — 2026
| Rank | Team | Value | Δ vs avg | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TEN | -30.36 | -30.36 | 100% |
| 2 | CIN | -26.40 | -26.40 | 96.8% |
| 3 | PHI | -24.35 | -24.35 | 93.5% |
| 4 | DEN | -18.37 | -18.37 | 90.3% |
| 5 | NYJ | -17.93 | -17.93 | 87.1% |
| 6 | LV | -17.71 | -17.71 | 83.9% |
| 7 | BAL | -16.55 | -16.55 | 80.6% |
| 8 | GB | -16.13 | -16.13 | 77.4% |
| 9 | DAL | -15.24 | -15.24 | 74.2% |
| 10 | PIT | -13.80 | -13.80 | 71% |
| 11 | WAS | -12.84 | -12.84 | 67.7% |
| 12 | MIA | -12.08 | -12.08 | 64.5% |
| 13 | DET | -11.43 | -11.43 | 61.3% |
| 14 | CAR | -7.30 | -7.30 | 58.1% |
| 15 | NYG | -1.99 | -1.99 | 54.8% |
| 16 | HOU | -1.93 | -1.93 | 51.6% |
| 17 | CLE | -1.42 | -1.42 | 48.4% |
| 18 | ARI | -0.99 | -0.99 | 45.2% |
| 19 | KC | -0.86 | -0.86 | 41.9% |
| 20 | NO | 1.87 | 1.87 | 38.7% |
| 21 | BUF | 11.81 | 11.81 | 35.5% |
| 22 | JAX | 12.95 | 12.95 | 32.3% |
| 23 | TB | 14.73 | 14.73 | 29% |
| 24 | CHI | 15.39 | 15.39 | 25.8% |
| 25 | NE | 15.55 | 15.55 | 22.6% |
| 26 | SEA | 20.90 | 20.90 | 19.4% |
| 27 | LAR | 21.32 | 21.32 | 16.1% |
| 28 | SF | 22.43 | 22.43 | 12.9% |
| 29 | IND | 22.45 | 22.45 | 9.7% |
| 30 | MIN | 23.20 | 23.20 | 6.5% |
| 31 | LAC | 27.39 | 27.39 | 3.2% |
| 32 | ATL | 37.69 | 37.69 | 0% |
Does Start avg (Off − Def) matter against the spread?
Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 858–720–37 ATS (54.4%) across 2020–2025, #85 of 296 ranked.
Its best season was 2025 (162–107, 60.2%); its worst 2023 (123–135, 47.7%).
For picks, this is a strong signal. One stat is not a recipe — the algorithms combine many.
| Season | Games | ATS record | ATS % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 256 | 136–118–2 | 53.5% |
| 2021 | 272 | 147–123–2 | 54.4% |
| 2022 | 271 | 149–115–7 | 56.4% |
| 2023 | 272 | 123–135–14 | 47.7% |
| 2024 | 272 | 141–122–9 | 53.6% |
| 2025 | 272 | 162–107–3 | 60.2% |
Start avg (Off − Def) in 2026 vs 2025
Titans lead at -30.36 — they ranked #4 last year. Falcons are last at 37.69 — #13 last year.
The league average is 0.00, the same as last year.
Biggest riser: Eagles, #25 → #3. Biggest faller: Falcons, #13 → #32.
Spread between first and last: 68.05; 20 teams are within 17.91 of the average.
Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025
Biggest movers from last season.
YoY by team — 2026 vs 2025
| Rank | Team | 2026 | 2025 | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARI | -0.99 | -88.75 | +87.76 |
| 2 | NYJ | -17.93 | -105.29 | +87.36 |
| 3 | WAS | -12.84 | -94.81 | +81.97 |
| 4 | TEN | -30.36 | -74.49 | +44.13 |
| 5 | ATL | 37.69 | -6.04 | +43.73 |
| 6 | NYG | -1.99 | -43.73 | +41.74 |
| 7 | CHI | 15.39 | -22.31 | +37.70 |
| 8 | TB | 14.73 | -18.95 | +33.68 |
| 9 | CAR | -7.30 | -40.04 | +32.74 |
| 10 | PIT | -13.80 | -45.82 | +32.02 |
| 11 | MIA | -12.08 | -33.78 | +21.70 |
| 12 | JAX | 12.95 | -2.78 | +15.73 |
| 13 | NO | 1.87 | -0.90 | +2.77 |
| 14 | CLE | -1.42 | 0.61 | −2.03 |
| 15 | LV | -17.71 | -15.40 | −2.31 |
| 16 | CIN | -26.40 | -22.02 | −4.38 |
| 17 | MIN | 23.20 | 28.08 | −4.88 |
| 18 | LAC | 27.39 | 34.44 | −7.05 |
| 19 | DET | -11.43 | -1.68 | −9.75 |
| 20 | DAL | -15.24 | -0.43 | −14.81 |
| 21 | KC | -0.86 | 18.40 | −19.26 |
| 22 | BAL | -16.55 | 3.86 | −20.41 |
| 23 | NE | 15.55 | 40.78 | −25.23 |
| 24 | HOU | -1.93 | 25.57 | −27.50 |
| 25 | IND | 22.45 | 55.21 | −32.76 |
| 26 | SF | 22.43 | 56.36 | −33.93 |
| 27 | DEN | -18.37 | 28.96 | −47.33 |
| 28 | LAR | 21.32 | 69.40 | −48.08 |
| 29 | BUF | 11.81 | 61.20 | −49.39 |
| 30 | GB | -16.13 | 43.30 | −59.43 |
| 31 | PHI | -24.35 | 38.95 | −63.30 |
| 32 | SEA | 20.90 | 112.10 | −91.20 |
Multi-year context
7-year window (2020–2026)
Multi-year averages
| Rank | Team | Avg | Slope/yr | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYJ | -44.33 | +0.76 | -56.31 | -67.06 | 3.99 | -54.27 | -13.41 | -105.29 | -17.93 |
| 2 | JAX | -36.12 | +12.69 | -64.19 | -78.29 | -35.66 | -22.18 | -62.70 | -2.78 | 12.95 |
| 3 | NYG | -35.21 | −0.61 | -44.28 | -2.55 | -6.58 | -79.25 | -68.12 | -43.73 | -1.99 |
| 4 | TEN | -31.32 | −8.26 | -12.34 | 14.79 | -27.88 | -62.36 | -26.63 | -74.49 | -30.36 |
| 5 | HOU | -26.39 | +11.99 | -34.93 | -103.74 | -41.50 | 35.15 | -63.35 | 25.57 | -1.93 |
| 6 | NO | -23.59 | −1.43 | 1.70 | -22.96 | -20.38 | -19.30 | -105.13 | -0.90 | 1.87 |
| 7 | CHI | -23.06 | +5.03 | -23.30 | -35.74 | -60.64 | 27.87 | -62.70 | -22.31 | 15.39 |
| 8 | DET | -22.29 | +17.84 | -80.55 | -99.89 | -17.84 | -22.44 | 77.79 | -1.68 | -11.43 |
| 9 | LV | -17.16 | −0.80 | -6.12 | -32.75 | 26.01 | -77.81 | 3.68 | -15.40 | -17.71 |
| 10 | WAS | -14.96 | −6.38 | -2.95 | -19.20 | 25.96 | -29.10 | 28.25 | -94.81 | -12.84 |
| 11 | CAR | -14.51 | −9.54 | -5.87 | 37.10 | 13.50 | -3.99 | -94.98 | -40.04 | -7.30 |
| 12 | DEN | -13.76 | +2.02 | -12.08 | -14.37 | -4.78 | -59.69 | -15.96 | 28.96 | -18.37 |
| 13 | CIN | -11.10 | −4.40 | -35.09 | 37.06 | 16.02 | -32.07 | -15.18 | -22.02 | -26.40 |
| 14 | ATL | -7.97 | +7.96 | 30.28 | -81.00 | -36.49 | -14.44 | 14.20 | -6.04 | 37.69 |
| 15 | NE | -4.33 | +8.98 | -81.05 | 51.39 | -26.72 | 13.49 | -43.77 | 40.78 | 15.55 |
| 16 | PIT | -3.73 | −7.00 | 8.39 | 15.24 | 2.71 | 11.83 | -4.68 | -45.82 | -13.80 |
| 17 | CLE | -1.54 | −0.97 | 19.53 | -24.66 | -30.24 | 70.55 | -45.13 | 0.61 | -1.42 |
| 18 | SEA | -0.13 | +18.62 | -44.16 | -49.25 | 2.52 | -49.10 | 6.10 | 112.10 | 20.90 |
| 19 | IND | 5.72 | +8.56 | 0.62 | -9.29 | -25.17 | -23.69 | 19.93 | 55.21 | 22.45 |
| 20 | MIA | 10.39 | −3.82 | 22.13 | -18.33 | 27.13 | 34.02 | 53.64 | -33.78 | -12.08 |
| 21 | ARI | 10.49 | −14.14 | 34.88 | 69.92 | -1.93 | 33.16 | 27.12 | -88.75 | -0.99 |
| 22 | GB | 15.02 | −5.84 | 72.77 | 27.40 | -36.77 | -19.98 | 34.58 | 43.30 | -16.13 |
| 23 | DAL | 17.93 | −8.11 | 32.93 | 2.04 | 60.95 | 61.88 | -16.60 | -0.43 | -15.24 |
| 24 | MIN | 18.11 | +3.85 | 40.49 | -4.55 | -43.90 | 32.87 | 50.59 | 28.08 | 23.20 |
| 25 | TB | 25.29 | −4.60 | 33.91 | 49.34 | 24.19 | -15.81 | 89.60 | -18.95 | 14.73 |
| 26 | LAC | 26.59 | +1.76 | 50.47 | 26.72 | -50.55 | 45.22 | 52.43 | 34.44 | 27.39 |
| 27 | PHI | 28.07 | +0.62 | -30.29 | 23.07 | 103.94 | 13.40 | 71.74 | 38.95 | -24.35 |
| 28 | KC | 28.45 | −4.45 | 29.94 | 33.83 | 26.61 | 65.85 | 25.41 | 18.40 | -0.86 |
| 29 | BAL | 31.49 | −5.24 | 25.35 | 48.68 | 22.94 | 44.59 | 91.54 | 3.86 | -16.55 |
| 30 | SF | 34.68 | +0.09 | 9.85 | 79.09 | 22.23 | 20.35 | 32.46 | 56.36 | 22.43 |
| 31 | LAR | 34.79 | −6.73 | 63.34 | 70.87 | 17.68 | 42.72 | -41.77 | 69.40 | 21.32 |
| 32 | BUF | 44.47 | −8.45 | 56.93 | 77.09 | 70.65 | 32.53 | 1.05 | 61.20 | 11.81 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEN | -12.34 | 14.79 | -27.88 | -62.36 | -26.63 | -74.49 | -30.36 |
| CIN | -35.09 | 37.06 | 16.02 | -32.07 | -15.18 | -22.02 | -26.40 |
| PHI | -30.29 | 23.07 | 103.94 | 13.40 | 71.74 | 38.95 | -24.35 |
| DEN | -12.08 | -14.37 | -4.78 | -59.69 | -15.96 | 28.96 | -18.37 |
| NYJ | -56.31 | -67.06 | 3.99 | -54.27 | -13.41 | -105.29 | -17.93 |
| LV | -6.12 | -32.75 | 26.01 | -77.81 | 3.68 | -15.40 | -17.71 |
| BAL | 25.35 | 48.68 | 22.94 | 44.59 | 91.54 | 3.86 | -16.55 |
| GB | 72.77 | 27.40 | -36.77 | -19.98 | 34.58 | 43.30 | -16.13 |
| DAL | 32.93 | 2.04 | 60.95 | 61.88 | -16.60 | -0.43 | -15.24 |
| PIT | 8.39 | 15.24 | 2.71 | 11.83 | -4.68 | -45.82 | -13.80 |
| WAS | -2.95 | -19.20 | 25.96 | -29.10 | 28.25 | -94.81 | -12.84 |
| MIA | 22.13 | -18.33 | 27.13 | 34.02 | 53.64 | -33.78 | -12.08 |
| DET | -80.55 | -99.89 | -17.84 | -22.44 | 77.79 | -1.68 | -11.43 |
| CAR | -5.87 | 37.10 | 13.50 | -3.99 | -94.98 | -40.04 | -7.30 |
| NYG | -44.28 | -2.55 | -6.58 | -79.25 | -68.12 | -43.73 | -1.99 |
| HOU | -34.93 | -103.74 | -41.50 | 35.15 | -63.35 | 25.57 | -1.93 |
| CLE | 19.53 | -24.66 | -30.24 | 70.55 | -45.13 | 0.61 | -1.42 |
| ARI | 34.88 | 69.92 | -1.93 | 33.16 | 27.12 | -88.75 | -0.99 |
| KC | 29.94 | 33.83 | 26.61 | 65.85 | 25.41 | 18.40 | -0.86 |
| NO | 1.70 | -22.96 | -20.38 | -19.30 | -105.13 | -0.90 | 1.87 |
| BUF | 56.93 | 77.09 | 70.65 | 32.53 | 1.05 | 61.20 | 11.81 |
| JAX | -64.19 | -78.29 | -35.66 | -22.18 | -62.70 | -2.78 | 12.95 |
| TB | 33.91 | 49.34 | 24.19 | -15.81 | 89.60 | -18.95 | 14.73 |
| CHI | -23.30 | -35.74 | -60.64 | 27.87 | -62.70 | -22.31 | 15.39 |
| NE | -81.05 | 51.39 | -26.72 | 13.49 | -43.77 | 40.78 | 15.55 |
| SEA | -44.16 | -49.25 | 2.52 | -49.10 | 6.10 | 112.10 | 20.90 |
| LAR | 63.34 | 70.87 | 17.68 | 42.72 | -41.77 | 69.40 | 21.32 |
| SF | 9.85 | 79.09 | 22.23 | 20.35 | 32.46 | 56.36 | 22.43 |
| IND | 0.62 | -9.29 | -25.17 | -23.69 | 19.93 | 55.21 | 22.45 |
| MIN | 40.49 | -4.55 | -43.90 | 32.87 | 50.59 | 28.08 | 23.20 |
| LAC | 50.47 | 26.72 | -50.55 | 45.22 | 52.43 | 34.44 | 27.39 |
| ATL | 30.28 | -81.00 | -36.49 | -14.44 | 14.20 | -6.04 | 37.69 |
Start avg (Off − Def) since 2018
Leaders since 2018: 2018 Dolphins (-88.76), 2019 Dolphins (-80.77), 2020 Patriots (-81.05), 2021 Texans (-103.74), 2022 Bears (-60.64), 2023 Giants (-79.25), 2024 Saints (-105.13), 2025 Jets (-105.29), 2026 Titans (-30.36).
Dolphins have led this stat 2 of 9 seasons.
The best season on record is Jets 2025 at -105.29; the worst Seahawks 2025 at 112.10.
Distribution
How the 32 teams cluster for 2026.
About this stat
- Stat ID
- net_start_avg
- Side
- net
- Family
- NET (Off − Def)
- Data source
- P + N
- Polarity
- lower is better
- Display grain
- rate
- Algorithm eligibility
- Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.