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 2024 the Panthers led at 815.07; the league average was 892.69.

League snapshot — 2024

League leader

CAR · 815.07

League average

892.69

Best to worst

138.07

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CAR	815.07	17
2	BUF	854.19	17
3	CIN	856.49	17
4	NO	856.50	17
5	WAS	861.00	17
6	ATL	866.56	17
7	NE	872.40	17
8	NYG	873.47	17
9	DAL	875.91	17
10	LV	876.16	17
11	LAR	876.73	17
12	SF	881.29	17
13	NYJ	889.04	17
14	PIT	889.77	17
15	JAX	890.54	17
16	CHI	894.25	17
17	HOU	895.07	17
18	TB	895.58	17
19	TEN	896.83	17
20	KC	906.49	17
21	GB	906.56	17
22	ARI	906.80	17
23	PHI	907.75	17
24	IND	908.72	17
25	MIA	910.83	17
26	DEN	914.76	17
27	DET	915.14	17
28	CLE	918.47	17
29	SEA	929.56	17
30	MIN	931.82	17
31	BAL	939.11	17
32	LAC	953.14	17

At a glance — 2024

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CAR · 815.07

League laggard

LAC · 953.14

League average

892.69

Spread (max − min)

138.07

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CAR	815.07	-77.62	100%
2	BUF	854.19	-38.50	96.8%
3	CIN	856.49	-36.20	93.5%
4	NO	856.50	-36.19	90.3%
5	WAS	861.00	-31.69	87.1%
6	ATL	866.56	-26.13	83.9%
7	NE	872.40	-20.29	80.6%
8	NYG	873.47	-19.22	77.4%
9	DAL	875.91	-16.78	74.2%
10	LV	876.16	-16.53	71%
11	LAR	876.73	-15.96	67.7%
12	SF	881.29	-11.40	64.5%
13	NYJ	889.04	-3.65	61.3%
14	PIT	889.77	-2.92	58.1%
15	JAX	890.54	-2.15	54.8%
16	CHI	894.25	1.56	51.6%
17	HOU	895.07	2.38	48.4%
18	TB	895.58	2.89	45.2%
19	TEN	896.83	4.14	41.9%
20	KC	906.49	13.80	38.7%
21	GB	906.56	13.87	35.5%
22	ARI	906.80	14.11	32.3%
23	PHI	907.75	15.06	29%
24	IND	908.72	16.03	25.8%
25	MIA	910.83	18.14	22.6%
26	DEN	914.76	22.07	19.4%
27	DET	915.14	22.45	16.1%
28	CLE	918.47	25.78	12.9%
29	SEA	929.56	36.87	9.7%
30	MIN	931.82	39.13	6.5%
31	BAL	939.11	46.42	3.2%
32	LAC	953.14	60.45	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 2024 vs 2023

Panthers lead at 815.07 — they ranked #26 last year. Chargers are last at 953.14 — #28 last year.

The league average is 892.69, down 7.01 from 899.70 last year.

Biggest riser: Panthers, #26 → #1. Biggest faller: Broncos, #1 → #26.

Spread between first and last: 138.07; 23 teams are within 28.14 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2024 vs 2023

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

DEN · +63.01

Biggest faller

CAR · −112.53

Most consistent

WAS · −1.15

League trend 2024 vs 2023

▼ -7.01

Rank	Team	2024	2023	Δ
1	DEN	914.76	851.75	+63.01
2	SEA	929.56	873.32	+56.24
3	DET	915.14	869.67	+45.47
4	IND	908.72	866.10	+42.62
5	GB	906.56	864.27	+42.29
6	PHI	907.75	868.45	+39.30
7	BAL	939.11	901.18	+37.93
8	MIA	910.83	884.87	+25.96
9	ARI	906.80	890.88	+15.92
10	TEN	896.83	882.61	+14.22
11	LAC	953.14	942.43	+10.71
12	CHI	894.25	884.11	+10.14
13	MIN	931.82	927.43	+4.39
14	NYJ	889.04	887.32	+1.72
15	WAS	861.00	862.15	−1.15
16	LV	876.16	878.60	−2.44
17	JAX	890.54	893.28	−2.74
18	DAL	875.91	889.45	−13.54
19	SF	881.29	895.32	−14.03
20	NYG	873.47	890.86	−17.39
21	TB	895.58	914.72	−19.14
22	LAR	876.73	904.36	−27.63
23	KC	906.49	938.09	−31.60
24	NO	856.50	889.82	−33.32
25	CIN	856.49	890.05	−33.56
26	ATL	866.56	900.52	−33.96
27	CLE	918.47	963.39	−44.92
28	HOU	895.07	942.68	−47.61
29	PIT	889.77	947.85	−58.08
30	BUF	854.19	912.84	−58.65
31	NE	872.40	954.29	−81.89
32	CAR	815.07	927.60	−112.53

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

Start avg since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bengals (772.67), 2019 Dolphins (785.31), 2020 Raiders (759.23), 2021 Lions (833.01), 2022 Bengals (842.05), 2023 Broncos (851.75), 2024 Panthers (815.07).

Bengals have led this stat 2 of 7 seasons.

The best season on record is Raiders 2020 at 759.23; the worst Commanders 2022 at 966.72.

The league average has risen from 849.77 in 2018 to 892.69 in 2024.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2024.

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.