What Third down success (Off − Def) is

Third downs converted minus third downs opponents converted against this defense.

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 2.06; the league average was 0.

League snapshot — 2023

League leader

DAL · 2.06

League average

Best to worst

3.88

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DAL	2.06	17
2	BUF	1.65	17
3	DET	1.12	17
4	CLE	0.82	17
5	ATL	0.76	17
6	DEN	0.76	17
7	KC	0.76	17
8	NO	0.76	17
9	GB	0.71	17
10	LAR	0.53	17
11	TB	0.35	17
12	HOU	0.29	17
13	JAX	0.18	17
14	MIA	0.06	17
15	CHI	-0.06	17
16	CAR	-0.12	17
17	PHI	-0.12	17
18	SF	-0.12	17
19	LAC	-0.18	17
20	BAL	-0.29	17
21	NYG	-0.29	17
22	CIN	-0.35	17
23	IND	-0.35	17
24	PIT	-0.41	17
25	MIN	-0.47	17
26	ARI	-0.53	17
27	WAS	-0.94	17
28	LV	-1	17
29	TEN	-1	17
30	NE	-1.12	17
31	NYJ	-1.65	17
32	SEA	-1.82	17

At a glance — 2023

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DAL · 2.06

League laggard

SEA · -1.82

League average

Spread (max − min)

3.88

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DAL	2.06	2.06	100%
2	BUF	1.65	1.65	96.8%
3	DET	1.12	1.12	93.5%
4	CLE	0.82	0.82	90.3%
5	ATL	0.76	0.76	87.1%
6	DEN	0.76	0.76	83.9%
7	KC	0.76	0.76	80.6%
8	NO	0.76	0.76	77.4%
9	GB	0.71	0.71	74.2%
10	LAR	0.53	0.53	71%
11	TB	0.35	0.35	67.7%
12	HOU	0.29	0.29	64.5%
13	JAX	0.18	0.18	61.3%
14	MIA	0.06	0.06	58.1%
15	CHI	-0.06	-0.06	54.8%
16	CAR	-0.12	-0.12	51.6%
17	PHI	-0.12	-0.12	48.4%
18	SF	-0.12	-0.12	45.2%
19	LAC	-0.18	-0.18	41.9%
20	BAL	-0.29	-0.29	38.7%
21	NYG	-0.29	-0.29	35.5%
22	CIN	-0.35	-0.35	32.3%
23	IND	-0.35	-0.35	29%
24	PIT	-0.41	-0.41	25.8%
25	MIN	-0.47	-0.47	22.6%
26	ARI	-0.53	-0.53	19.4%
27	WAS	-0.94	-0.94	16.1%
28	LV	-1	-1	12.9%
29	TEN	-1	-1	9.7%
30	NE	-1.12	-1.12	6.5%
31	NYJ	-1.65	-1.65	3.2%
32	SEA	-1.82	-1.82	0%

Does Third down success (Off − Def) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 872–706–37 ATS (55.3%) across 2020–2025, #66 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2020 (150–104, 59.1%); its worst 2021 (139–131, 51.5%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	150–104–2	59.1%
2021	272	139–131–2	51.5%
2022	271	153–111–7	58.0%
2023	272	139–119–14	53.9%
2024	272	152–111–9	57.8%
2025	272	139–130–3	51.7%

Third down success (Off − Def) in 2023 vs 2022

Cowboys lead at 2.06 — they ranked #5 last year. Seahawks are last at -1.82 — #29 last year.

The league average is 0, down 0.00 from 0.00 last year.

Biggest riser: Falcons, #27 → #5. Biggest faller: Steelers, #3 → #24.

Spread between first and last: 3.88; 23 teams are within 0.86 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2023 vs 2022

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

ATL · +1.88

Biggest faller

LAC · −2.41

Most consistent

IND · +0.12

League trend 2023 vs 2022

▼ 0.00

Rank	Team	2023	2022	Δ
1	ATL	0.76	-1.12	+1.88
2	CAR	-0.12	-1.76	+1.65
3	MIA	0.06	-1.53	+1.59
4	DET	1.12	-0.41	+1.53
5	HOU	0.29	-1.18	+1.47
6	DEN	0.76	-0.41	+1.18
7	NO	0.76	-0.41	+1.18
8	DAL	2.06	1	+1.06
9	CLE	0.82	0.12	+0.71
10	LAR	0.53	-0.06	+0.59
11	JAX	0.18	-0.29	+0.47
12	BUF	1.65	1.19	+0.46
13	CHI	-0.06	-0.47	+0.41
14	KC	0.76	0.35	+0.41
15	GB	0.71	0.41	+0.29
16	TB	0.35	0.18	+0.18
17	NE	-1.12	-1.24	+0.12
18	IND	-0.35	-0.47	+0.12
19	ARI	-0.53	-0.29	−0.24
20	SF	-0.12	0.41	−0.53
21	SEA	-1.82	-1.18	−0.65
22	NYG	-0.29	0.41	−0.71
23	LV	-1	-0.24	−0.76
24	MIN	-0.47	0.53	−1
25	NYJ	-1.65	-0.59	−1.06
26	PHI	-0.12	0.94	−1.06
27	CIN	-0.35	0.75	−1.10
28	TEN	-1	0.24	−1.24
29	BAL	-0.29	1.06	−1.35
30	PIT	-0.41	1.12	−1.53
31	WAS	-0.94	0.82	−1.76
32	LAC	-0.18	2.24	−2.41

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

LAC · 0.90

Multi-year laggard

CAR · -1.12

Biggest improver

CHI · +0.57/yr

Biggest decliner

BAL · −0.49/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	LAC	0.90	+0.21	0.56	-0.47	2.24	-0.18	0.53	2.65	1
2	BUF	0.89	−0.32	1.06	2.24	1.19	1.65	-0.06	0.53	-0.40
3	TB	0.81	+0.15	0.25	1	0.18	0.35	1.76	0.94	1.20
4	KC	0.59	−0.25	1.13	1.59	0.35	0.76	1	-0.94	0.25
5	DAL	0.54	−0.06	-0.75	1.35	1	2.06	0.53	-0.41	0
6	MIN	0.43	+0.24	0	0.41	0.53	-0.47	0.24	-0.88	3.20
7	LAR	0.41	+0.02	1.50	-0.18	-0.06	0.53	-0.59	-0.35	2
8	CHI	0.39	+0.57	-0.56	-0.59	-0.47	-0.06	-0.29	1.12	3.60
9	PIT	0.34	−0.18	0.81	0.53	1.12	-0.41	1.18	-0.82	0
10	BAL	0.31	−0.49	2.25	0.65	1.06	-0.29	0.12	-0.24	-1.40
11	ARI	0.19	+0.03	0	1.29	-0.29	-0.53	-0.41	0.29	1
12	NO	0.19	+0.06	0.94	-0.59	-0.41	0.76	-0.94	0.76	0.80
13	CIN	0.18	+0.27	-0.88	-0.47	0.75	-0.35	0.76	0.47	1
14	PHI	0.15	−0.15	0	0.35	0.94	-0.12	1.59	-0.88	-0.80
15	SF	0.13	+0.03	0.44	-0.53	0.41	-0.12	-0.53	1.65	-0.40
16	NYG	0.00	+0.28	-1.13	-0.35	0.41	-0.29	-0.35	0.71	1
17	HOU	-0.06	+0.13	-0.69	0.35	-1.18	0.29	0.53	0.29	0
18	GB	-0.11	−0.44	0.94	0.06	0.41	0.71	-0.18	0.71	-3.40
19	NE	-0.20	+0.05	0.06	0.76	-1.24	-1.12	-0.94	0.47	0.60
20	DET	-0.21	−0.03	-0.81	-1.06	-0.41	1.12	2.24	0.24	-2.80
21	JAX	-0.22	+0.20	-0.19	-1.12	-0.29	0.18	-1.35	-0.18	1.40
22	IND	-0.24	+0.13	-0.50	0.06	-0.47	-0.35	-1.24	-0.59	1.40
23	MIA	-0.26	−0.23	1.25	0.06	-1.53	0.06	0.12	-0.94	-0.80
24	CLE	-0.28	−0.24	0	-0.18	0.12	0.82	-0.59	-0.12	-2
25	DEN	-0.29	−0.02	-0.44	-1	-0.41	0.76	0.12	1.12	-2.20
26	WAS	-0.38	−0.18	0.38	-1.35	0.82	-0.94	1.12	-1.06	-1.60
27	TEN	-0.41	−0.08	-1.69	1.47	0.24	-1	-0.53	-0.53	-0.80
28	ATL	-0.47	−0.16	1.06	-1.35	-1.12	0.76	-0.82	-1	-0.80
29	NYJ	-0.57	+0.33	-1.31	-1.24	-0.59	-1.65	0.06	-0.06	0.80
30	LV	-0.74	−0.03	-0.56	-0.88	-0.24	-1	-0.59	-1.94	0
31	SEA	-0.92	+0.21	-1.75	-0.88	-1.18	-1.82	-0.35	0.53	-1
32	CAR	-1.12	−0.09	-1.38	0.06	-1.76	-0.12	-2.12	-1.53	-1

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	-0.75	1.35	1	2.06	0.53	-0.41	0
BUF	1.06	2.24	1.19	1.65	-0.06	0.53	-0.40
DET	-0.81	-1.06	-0.41	1.12	2.24	0.24	-2.80
CLE	0	-0.18	0.12	0.82	-0.59	-0.12	-2
ATL	1.06	-1.35	-1.12	0.76	-0.82	-1	-0.80
DEN	-0.44	-1	-0.41	0.76	0.12	1.12	-2.20
KC	1.13	1.59	0.35	0.76	1	-0.94	0.25
NO	0.94	-0.59	-0.41	0.76	-0.94	0.76	0.80
GB	0.94	0.06	0.41	0.71	-0.18	0.71	-3.40
LAR	1.50	-0.18	-0.06	0.53	-0.59	-0.35	2
TB	0.25	1	0.18	0.35	1.76	0.94	1.20
HOU	-0.69	0.35	-1.18	0.29	0.53	0.29	0
JAX	-0.19	-1.12	-0.29	0.18	-1.35	-0.18	1.40
MIA	1.25	0.06	-1.53	0.06	0.12	-0.94	-0.80
CHI	-0.56	-0.59	-0.47	-0.06	-0.29	1.12	3.60
CAR	-1.38	0.06	-1.76	-0.12	-2.12	-1.53	-1
PHI	0	0.35	0.94	-0.12	1.59	-0.88	-0.80
SF	0.44	-0.53	0.41	-0.12	-0.53	1.65	-0.40
LAC	0.56	-0.47	2.24	-0.18	0.53	2.65	1
BAL	2.25	0.65	1.06	-0.29	0.12	-0.24	-1.40
NYG	-1.13	-0.35	0.41	-0.29	-0.35	0.71	1
CIN	-0.88	-0.47	0.75	-0.35	0.76	0.47	1
IND	-0.50	0.06	-0.47	-0.35	-1.24	-0.59	1.40
PIT	0.81	0.53	1.12	-0.41	1.18	-0.82	0
MIN	0	0.41	0.53	-0.47	0.24	-0.88	3.20
ARI	0	1.29	-0.29	-0.53	-0.41	0.29	1
WAS	0.38	-1.35	0.82	-0.94	1.12	-1.06	-1.60
LV	-0.56	-0.88	-0.24	-1	-0.59	-1.94	0
TEN	-1.69	1.47	0.24	-1	-0.53	-0.53	-0.80
NE	0.06	0.76	-1.24	-1.12	-0.94	0.47	0.60
NYJ	-1.31	-1.24	-0.59	-1.65	0.06	-0.06	0.80
SEA	-1.75	-0.88	-1.18	-1.82	-0.35	0.53	-1

Third down success (Off − Def) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Ravens (2), 2019 Patriots (2.50), 2020 Ravens (2.25), 2021 Bills (2.24), 2022 Chargers (2.24), 2023 Cowboys (2.06).

Ravens have led this stat 2 of 6 seasons.

The best season on record is Patriots 2019 at 2.50; the worst Commanders 2019 at -3.81.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2023.

About this stat

Stat ID: net_third_down_success
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.