What Start avg is

Average starting field position, in yards from the opponent's goal line — so a lower number means the offense started closer to scoring. It is mostly a product of the defense and special teams, which hand the offense its starting point.

Lower is better. It is a rate, so a team's number does not grow with games played. Source: P + N.

In 2021 the Lions led at 833.01; the league average was 884.69.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

DET · 833.01

League average

884.69

Best to worst

110.86

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DET	833.01	17
2	ATL	833.60	17
3	LAC	835.64	17
4	NYJ	837.31	17
5	HOU	852.21	17
6	CHI	859.44	17
7	IND	867.17	17
8	PHI	869.42	17
9	KC	870.42	17
10	JAX	872.70	17
11	TEN	872.88	17
12	LV	875.87	17
13	NE	876.43	17
14	DAL	879.89	17
15	WAS	886.51	17
16	CIN	888.17	17
17	MIN	889.77	17
18	PIT	890.76	17
19	MIA	893.42	17
20	GB	894.00	17
21	CLE	895.97	17
22	TB	896.10	17
23	ARI	896.61	17
24	NO	899.09	17
25	BUF	906.42	17
26	NYG	907.12	17
27	LAR	908.70	17
28	CAR	909.59	17
29	SEA	912.82	17
30	DEN	916.14	17
31	BAL	939.15	17
32	SF	943.87	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DET · 833.01

League laggard

SF · 943.87

League average

884.69

Spread (max − min)

110.86

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DET	833.01	-51.68	100%
2	ATL	833.60	-51.09	96.8%
3	LAC	835.64	-49.05	93.5%
4	NYJ	837.31	-47.38	90.3%
5	HOU	852.21	-32.48	87.1%
6	CHI	859.44	-25.25	83.9%
7	IND	867.17	-17.52	80.6%
8	PHI	869.42	-15.27	77.4%
9	KC	870.42	-14.27	74.2%
10	JAX	872.70	-11.99	71%
11	TEN	872.88	-11.81	67.7%
12	LV	875.87	-8.82	64.5%
13	NE	876.43	-8.26	61.3%
14	DAL	879.89	-4.80	58.1%
15	WAS	886.51	1.82	54.8%
16	CIN	888.17	3.48	51.6%
17	MIN	889.77	5.08	48.4%
18	PIT	890.76	6.07	45.2%
19	MIA	893.42	8.73	41.9%
20	GB	894.00	9.31	38.7%
21	CLE	895.97	11.28	35.5%
22	TB	896.10	11.41	32.3%
23	ARI	896.61	11.92	29%
24	NO	899.09	14.40	25.8%
25	BUF	906.42	21.73	22.6%
26	NYG	907.12	22.43	19.4%
27	LAR	908.70	24.01	16.1%
28	CAR	909.59	24.90	12.9%
29	SEA	912.82	28.13	9.7%
30	DEN	916.14	31.45	6.5%
31	BAL	939.15	54.46	3.2%
32	SF	943.87	59.18	0%

Does Start avg matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 822–756–37 ATS (52.1%) across 2020–2025, #165 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2025 (155–114, 57.6%); its worst 2024 (130–133, 49.4%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	133–121–2	52.4%
2021	272	135–135–2	50.0%
2022	271	140–124–7	53.0%
2023	272	129–129–14	50.0%
2024	272	130–133–9	49.4%
2025	272	155–114–3	57.6%

Start avg in 2021 vs 2020

Lions lead at 833.01 — they ranked #2 last year. 49ers are last at 943.87 — #23 last year.

The league average is 884.69, up 62.71 from 821.98 last year.

Biggest riser: Falcons, #27 → #2. Biggest faller: Panthers, #5 → #28.

Spread between first and last: 110.86; 23 teams are within 27.44 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

LV · +116.64

Biggest faller

ATL · −15.06

Most consistent

LAR · +4.47

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 62.71

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	LV	875.87	759.23	+116.64
2	CAR	909.59	793.73	+115.86
3	SEA	912.82	807.37	+105.45
4	SF	943.87	839.96	+103.91
5	BAL	939.15	841.08	+98.07
6	DEN	916.14	819.42	+96.72
7	NYG	907.12	810.65	+96.47
8	MIN	889.77	802.16	+87.61
9	NO	899.09	814.29	+84.80
10	JAX	872.70	790.75	+81.95
11	TEN	872.88	791.63	+81.25
12	BUF	906.42	829.58	+76.84
13	NE	876.43	801.05	+75.38
14	CLE	895.97	821.50	+74.47
15	TB	896.10	823.51	+72.59
16	CIN	888.17	818.79	+69.38
17	GB	894.00	826.06	+67.94
18	DAL	879.89	815.21	+64.68
19	DET	833.01	770.16	+62.85
20	IND	867.17	807.79	+59.38
21	CHI	859.44	800.29	+59.15
22	ARI	896.61	849.22	+47.39
23	HOU	852.21	806.83	+45.38
24	PIT	890.76	851.91	+38.85
25	MIA	893.42	858.11	+35.31
26	PHI	869.42	840.86	+28.56
27	KC	870.42	847.44	+22.98
28	WAS	886.51	863.77	+22.74
29	NYJ	837.31	817.55	+19.76
30	LAC	835.64	830.69	+4.95
31	LAR	908.70	904.23	+4.47
32	ATL	833.60	848.66	−15.06

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

DET · 766.70

Multi-year laggard

LAR · 812.10

Biggest improver

WAS · −73.06/yr

Biggest decliner

DET · −51.32/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	DET	766.70	−51.32	770.16	833.01	859.55	869.67	915.14	874.30	245.10
2	CIN	769.72	−64.55	818.79	888.17	842.05	890.05	856.49	866.71	225.81
3	CHI	775.60	−53.48	800.29	859.44	844.98	884.11	894.25	865.24	280.89
4	LV	777.64	−52.93	759.23	875.87	896.71	878.60	876.16	902.85	254.05
5	CAR	777.75	−72.24	793.73	909.59	940.85	927.60	815.07	868.77	188.62
6	IND	779.54	−58.36	807.79	867.17	884.44	866.10	908.72	868.35	254.20
7	DAL	780.07	−65.29	815.21	879.89	914.60	889.45	875.91	840.14	245.26
8	ATL	780.24	−57.30	848.66	833.60	851.61	900.52	866.56	888.19	272.53
9	NYJ	783.24	−61.39	817.55	837.31	947.46	887.32	889.04	845.25	258.77
10	TEN	784.05	−59.87	791.63	872.88	935.92	882.61	896.83	842.07	266.42
11	JAX	784.47	−53.01	790.75	872.70	874.60	893.28	890.54	890.67	278.73
12	ARI	785.53	−68.72	849.22	896.61	885.20	890.88	906.80	814.96	255.02
13	NYG	786.40	−62.42	810.65	907.12	895.77	890.86	873.47	860.12	266.84
14	NO	789.38	−63.97	814.29	899.09	930.73	889.82	856.50	881.62	253.60
15	WAS	789.56	−73.06	863.77	886.51	966.72	862.15	861.00	835.99	250.79
16	GB	790.01	−57.57	826.06	894.00	864.37	864.27	906.56	912.47	262.32
17	BUF	792.51	−61.36	829.58	906.42	871.25	912.84	854.19	919.44	253.87
18	KC	794.82	−65.23	847.44	870.42	885.96	938.09	906.49	909.88	205.48
19	NE	797.95	−53.19	801.05	876.43	885.73	954.29	872.40	907.19	288.56
20	HOU	798.65	−53.58	806.83	852.21	904.53	942.68	895.07	933.35	255.85
21	MIN	800.48	−52.15	802.16	889.77	865.17	927.43	931.82	902.06	284.98
22	MIA	800.62	−64.78	858.11	893.42	910.67	884.87	910.83	892.23	254.24
23	LAC	801.97	−52.00	830.69	835.64	875.99	942.43	953.14	897.44	278.45
24	SEA	802.84	−52.86	807.37	912.82	878.43	873.32	929.56	938.52	279.87
25	PHI	803.34	−58.51	840.86	869.42	940.03	868.45	907.75	935.26	261.60
26	SF	803.40	−66.96	839.96	943.87	911.80	895.32	881.29	891.49	260.05
27	TB	804.77	−63.49	823.51	896.10	959.22	914.72	895.58	884.04	260.22
28	PIT	805.18	−66.85	851.91	890.76	931.64	947.85	889.77	865.60	258.74
29	BAL	806.61	−68.17	841.08	939.15	917.49	901.18	939.11	853.76	254.53
30	DEN	807.67	−58.46	819.42	916.14	941.51	851.75	914.76	950.13	260.01
31	CLE	810.44	−56.04	821.50	895.97	883.00	963.39	918.47	920.41	270.32
32	LAR	812.10	−67.24	904.23	908.70	895.77	904.36	876.73	918.32	276.61

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
DET	770.16	833.01	859.55	869.67	915.14	874.30	245.10
ATL	848.66	833.60	851.61	900.52	866.56	888.19	272.53
LAC	830.69	835.64	875.99	942.43	953.14	897.44	278.45
NYJ	817.55	837.31	947.46	887.32	889.04	845.25	258.77
HOU	806.83	852.21	904.53	942.68	895.07	933.35	255.85
CHI	800.29	859.44	844.98	884.11	894.25	865.24	280.89
IND	807.79	867.17	884.44	866.10	908.72	868.35	254.20
PHI	840.86	869.42	940.03	868.45	907.75	935.26	261.60
KC	847.44	870.42	885.96	938.09	906.49	909.88	205.48
JAX	790.75	872.70	874.60	893.28	890.54	890.67	278.73
TEN	791.63	872.88	935.92	882.61	896.83	842.07	266.42
LV	759.23	875.87	896.71	878.60	876.16	902.85	254.05
NE	801.05	876.43	885.73	954.29	872.40	907.19	288.56
DAL	815.21	879.89	914.60	889.45	875.91	840.14	245.26
WAS	863.77	886.51	966.72	862.15	861.00	835.99	250.79
CIN	818.79	888.17	842.05	890.05	856.49	866.71	225.81
MIN	802.16	889.77	865.17	927.43	931.82	902.06	284.98
PIT	851.91	890.76	931.64	947.85	889.77	865.60	258.74
MIA	858.11	893.42	910.67	884.87	910.83	892.23	254.24
GB	826.06	894.00	864.37	864.27	906.56	912.47	262.32
CLE	821.50	895.97	883.00	963.39	918.47	920.41	270.32
TB	823.51	896.10	959.22	914.72	895.58	884.04	260.22
ARI	849.22	896.61	885.20	890.88	906.80	814.96	255.02
NO	814.29	899.09	930.73	889.82	856.50	881.62	253.60
BUF	829.58	906.42	871.25	912.84	854.19	919.44	253.87
NYG	810.65	907.12	895.77	890.86	873.47	860.12	266.84
LAR	904.23	908.70	895.77	904.36	876.73	918.32	276.61
CAR	793.73	909.59	940.85	927.60	815.07	868.77	188.62
SEA	807.37	912.82	878.43	873.32	929.56	938.52	279.87
DEN	819.42	916.14	941.51	851.75	914.76	950.13	260.01
BAL	841.08	939.15	917.49	901.18	939.11	853.76	254.53
SF	839.96	943.87	911.80	895.32	881.29	891.49	260.05

Start avg since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bengals (772.67), 2019 Dolphins (785.31), 2020 Raiders (759.23), 2021 Lions (833.01).

The best season on record is Raiders 2020 at 759.23; the worst 49ers 2021 at 943.87.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_drives_start_avg
Side: offensive
Family: Drive Averages
Data source: P + N
Polarity: lower is better
Display grain: rate
Algorithm eligibility: Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.