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.

Through Week 6 of 2026, the Panthers lead at 188.62; the league average is 258.20.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

CAR · 188.62

League average

258.20

Best to worst

99.94

All 32 teams, lower is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CAR	188.62	4
2	KC	205.48	4
3	CIN	225.81	5
4	DET	245.10	5
5	DAL	245.26	5
6	WAS	250.79	5
7	NO	253.60	5
8	BUF	253.87	5
9	LV	254.05	5
10	IND	254.20	5
11	MIA	254.24	5
12	BAL	254.53	5
13	ARI	255.02	5
14	HOU	255.85	5
15	PIT	258.74	5
16	NYJ	258.77	5
17	DEN	260.01	5
18	SF	260.05	5
19	TB	260.22	5
20	PHI	261.60	5
21	GB	262.32	5
22	TEN	266.42	5
23	NYG	266.84	5
24	CLE	270.32	5
25	ATL	272.53	5
26	LAR	276.61	5
27	LAC	278.45	5
28	JAX	278.73	5
29	SEA	279.87	5
30	CHI	280.89	5
31	MIN	284.98	5
32	NE	288.56	5

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CAR · 188.62

League laggard

NE · 288.56

League average

258.20

Spread (max − min)

99.94

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CAR	188.62	-69.58	100%
2	KC	205.48	-52.72	96.8%
3	CIN	225.81	-32.39	93.5%
4	DET	245.10	-13.10	90.3%
5	DAL	245.26	-12.94	87.1%
6	WAS	250.79	-7.41	83.9%
7	NO	253.60	-4.60	80.6%
8	BUF	253.87	-4.33	77.4%
9	LV	254.05	-4.15	74.2%
10	IND	254.20	-4.00	71%
11	MIA	254.24	-3.96	67.7%
12	BAL	254.53	-3.67	64.5%
13	ARI	255.02	-3.18	61.3%
14	HOU	255.85	-2.35	58.1%
15	PIT	258.74	0.54	54.8%
16	NYJ	258.77	0.57	51.6%
17	DEN	260.01	1.81	48.4%
18	SF	260.05	1.85	45.2%
19	TB	260.22	2.02	41.9%
20	PHI	261.60	3.40	38.7%
21	GB	262.32	4.12	35.5%
22	TEN	266.42	8.22	32.3%
23	NYG	266.84	8.64	29%
24	CLE	270.32	12.12	25.8%
25	ATL	272.53	14.33	22.6%
26	LAR	276.61	18.41	19.4%
27	LAC	278.45	20.25	16.1%
28	JAX	278.73	20.53	12.9%
29	SEA	279.87	21.67	9.7%
30	CHI	280.89	22.69	6.5%
31	MIN	284.98	26.78	3.2%
32	NE	288.56	30.36	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 2026 vs 2025

Panthers lead at 188.62 — they ranked #12 last year. Patriots are last at 288.56 — #23 last year.

The league average is 258.20, down 628.58 from 886.78 last year.

Biggest riser: Chiefs, #24 → #2. Biggest faller: Bears, #8 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 99.94; 25 teams are within 20.55 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

ARI · −559.94

Biggest faller

KC · −704.40

Most consistent

ARI · −559.94

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▼ -628.58

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	ARI	255.02	814.96	−559.94
2	TEN	266.42	842.07	−575.65
3	CHI	280.89	865.24	−584.35
4	WAS	250.79	835.99	−585.20
5	NYJ	258.77	845.25	−586.48
6	NYG	266.84	860.12	−593.28
7	DAL	245.26	840.14	−594.88
8	BAL	254.53	853.76	−599.23
9	PIT	258.74	865.60	−606.86
10	JAX	278.73	890.67	−611.94
11	IND	254.20	868.35	−614.15
12	ATL	272.53	888.19	−615.66
13	MIN	284.98	902.06	−617.08
14	NE	288.56	907.19	−618.63
15	LAC	278.45	897.44	−618.99
16	TB	260.22	884.04	−623.82
17	NO	253.60	881.62	−628.02
18	DET	245.10	874.30	−629.20
19	SF	260.05	891.49	−631.44
20	MIA	254.24	892.23	−637.99
21	CIN	225.81	866.71	−640.90
22	LAR	276.61	918.32	−641.71
23	LV	254.05	902.85	−648.80
24	CLE	270.32	920.41	−650.09
25	GB	262.32	912.47	−650.15
26	SEA	279.87	938.52	−658.65
27	BUF	253.87	919.44	−665.57
28	PHI	261.60	935.26	−673.66
29	HOU	255.85	933.35	−677.50
30	CAR	188.62	868.77	−680.15
31	DEN	260.01	950.13	−690.12
32	KC	205.48	909.88	−704.40

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
KC	847.44	870.42	885.96	938.09	906.49	909.88	205.48
CIN	818.79	888.17	842.05	890.05	856.49	866.71	225.81
DET	770.16	833.01	859.55	869.67	915.14	874.30	245.10
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
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
LV	759.23	875.87	896.71	878.60	876.16	902.85	254.05
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
BAL	841.08	939.15	917.49	901.18	939.11	853.76	254.53
ARI	849.22	896.61	885.20	890.88	906.80	814.96	255.02
HOU	806.83	852.21	904.53	942.68	895.07	933.35	255.85
PIT	851.91	890.76	931.64	947.85	889.77	865.60	258.74
NYJ	817.55	837.31	947.46	887.32	889.04	845.25	258.77
DEN	819.42	916.14	941.51	851.75	914.76	950.13	260.01
SF	839.96	943.87	911.80	895.32	881.29	891.49	260.05
TB	823.51	896.10	959.22	914.72	895.58	884.04	260.22
PHI	840.86	869.42	940.03	868.45	907.75	935.26	261.60
GB	826.06	894.00	864.37	864.27	906.56	912.47	262.32
TEN	791.63	872.88	935.92	882.61	896.83	842.07	266.42
NYG	810.65	907.12	895.77	890.86	873.47	860.12	266.84
CLE	821.50	895.97	883.00	963.39	918.47	920.41	270.32
ATL	848.66	833.60	851.61	900.52	866.56	888.19	272.53
LAR	904.23	908.70	895.77	904.36	876.73	918.32	276.61
LAC	830.69	835.64	875.99	942.43	953.14	897.44	278.45
JAX	790.75	872.70	874.60	893.28	890.54	890.67	278.73
SEA	807.37	912.82	878.43	873.32	929.56	938.52	279.87
CHI	800.29	859.44	844.98	884.11	894.25	865.24	280.89
MIN	802.16	889.77	865.17	927.43	931.82	902.06	284.98
NE	801.05	876.43	885.73	954.29	872.40	907.19	288.56

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), 2026 Panthers (188.62).

Bengals have led this stat 2 of 9 seasons.

The best season on record is Panthers 2026 at 188.62; the worst Commanders 2022 at 966.72.

The league average has fallen from 849.77 in 2018 to 258.20 in 2026.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2026.

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.