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 2025 the Cardinals led at 814.96; the league average was 886.78.

League snapshot — 2025

League leader

ARI · 814.96

League average

886.78

Best to worst

135.17

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	ARI	814.96	17
2	WAS	835.99	17
3	DAL	840.14	17
4	TEN	842.07	17
5	NYJ	845.25	17
6	BAL	853.76	17
7	NYG	860.12	17
8	CHI	865.24	17
9	PIT	865.60	17
10	CIN	866.71	17
11	IND	868.35	17
12	CAR	868.77	17
13	DET	874.30	17
14	NO	881.62	17
15	TB	884.04	17
16	ATL	888.19	17
17	JAX	890.67	17
18	SF	891.49	17
19	MIA	892.23	17
20	LAC	897.44	17
21	MIN	902.06	17
22	LV	902.85	17
23	NE	907.19	17
24	KC	909.88	17
25	GB	912.47	17
26	LAR	918.32	17
27	BUF	919.44	17
28	CLE	920.41	17
29	HOU	933.35	17
30	PHI	935.26	17
31	SEA	938.52	17
32	DEN	950.13	17

At a glance — 2025

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

ARI · 814.96

League laggard

DEN · 950.13

League average

886.78

Spread (max − min)

135.17

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	ARI	814.96	-71.82	100%
2	WAS	835.99	-50.79	96.8%
3	DAL	840.14	-46.64	93.5%
4	TEN	842.07	-44.71	90.3%
5	NYJ	845.25	-41.53	87.1%
6	BAL	853.76	-33.02	83.9%
7	NYG	860.12	-26.66	80.6%
8	CHI	865.24	-21.54	77.4%
9	PIT	865.60	-21.18	74.2%
10	CIN	866.71	-20.07	71%
11	IND	868.35	-18.43	67.7%
12	CAR	868.77	-18.01	64.5%
13	DET	874.30	-12.48	61.3%
14	NO	881.62	-5.16	58.1%
15	TB	884.04	-2.74	54.8%
16	ATL	888.19	1.41	51.6%
17	JAX	890.67	3.89	48.4%
18	SF	891.49	4.71	45.2%
19	MIA	892.23	5.45	41.9%
20	LAC	897.44	10.66	38.7%
21	MIN	902.06	15.28	35.5%
22	LV	902.85	16.07	32.3%
23	NE	907.19	20.41	29%
24	KC	909.88	23.10	25.8%
25	GB	912.47	25.69	22.6%
26	LAR	918.32	31.54	19.4%
27	BUF	919.44	32.66	16.1%
28	CLE	920.41	33.63	12.9%
29	HOU	933.35	46.57	9.7%
30	PHI	935.26	48.48	6.5%
31	SEA	938.52	51.74	3.2%
32	DEN	950.13	63.35	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 2025 vs 2024

Cardinals lead at 814.96 — they ranked #22 last year. Broncos are last at 950.13 — #26 last year.

The league average is 886.78, down 5.91 from 892.69 last year.

Biggest riser: Ravens, #31 → #6. Biggest faller: Bills, #2 → #27.

Spread between first and last: 135.17; 21 teams are within 32.74 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2025 vs 2024

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

BUF · +65.25

Biggest faller

ARI · −91.84

Most consistent

JAX · +0.13

League trend 2025 vs 2024

▼ -5.91

Rank	Team	2025	2024	Δ
1	BUF	919.44	854.19	+65.25
2	CAR	868.77	815.07	+53.70
3	LAR	918.32	876.73	+41.59
4	HOU	933.35	895.07	+38.28
5	DEN	950.13	914.76	+35.37
6	NE	907.19	872.40	+34.79
7	PHI	935.26	907.75	+27.51
8	LV	902.85	876.16	+26.69
9	NO	881.62	856.50	+25.12
10	ATL	888.19	866.56	+21.63
11	CIN	866.71	856.49	+10.22
12	SF	891.49	881.29	+10.20
13	SEA	938.52	929.56	+8.96
14	GB	912.47	906.56	+5.91
15	KC	909.88	906.49	+3.39
16	CLE	920.41	918.47	+1.94
17	JAX	890.67	890.54	+0.13
18	TB	884.04	895.58	−11.54
19	NYG	860.12	873.47	−13.35
20	MIA	892.23	910.83	−18.60
21	PIT	865.60	889.77	−24.17
22	WAS	835.99	861.00	−25.01
23	CHI	865.24	894.25	−29.01
24	MIN	902.06	931.82	−29.76
25	DAL	840.14	875.91	−35.77
26	IND	868.35	908.72	−40.37
27	DET	874.30	915.14	−40.84
28	NYJ	845.25	889.04	−43.79
29	TEN	842.07	896.83	−54.76
30	LAC	897.44	953.14	−55.70
31	BAL	853.76	939.11	−85.35
32	ARI	814.96	906.80	−91.84

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

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), 2025 Cardinals (814.96).

Bengals have led this stat 2 of 8 seasons.

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

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2025.

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.