What Pass Air Yds (IAY) is

Air yards: how far the ball travelled in the air on every pass attempt, completed or not, added up. It describes how deep an offense throws, separate from what happened after the catch. A high number means a downfield passing game; a low one means a short, quick one.

Higher is better. It is shown per game, so a team's number does not depend on games played. Source: P + N.

In 2020 the Buccaneers led at 352.5; the league average was 277.8.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

TB · 352.5

League average

277.8

Best to worst

165.3

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	TB	352.5	16
2	ATL	338.6	16
3	PHI	334.8	16
4	BUF	320.8	16
5	KC	318.9	16
6	DEN	314.1	16
7	DET	311.3	16
8	CHI	304.4	16
9	HOU	304.2	16
10	JAX	303.6	16
11	SEA	302.1	16
12	DAL	297.4	16
13	CIN	295.4	16
14	LAC	294.9	16
15	PIT	291.1	16
16	LV	280.8	16
17	ARI	279.7	16
18	MIA	267	16
19	NYJ	265.4	16
20	CLE	264.8	16
21	GB	258.4	16
22	CAR	257.1	16
23	MIN	256.4	16
24	TEN	253.7	16
25	NYG	249.4	16
26	IND	247.9	16
27	LAR	246.1	16
28	SF	236.4	16
29	WAS	231.9	16
30	BAL	220.7	16
31	NO	203.4	16
32	NE	187.2	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

TB · 352.5

League laggard

NE · 187.2

League average

277.8

Spread (max − min)

165.3

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	TB	352.5	74.67	100%
2	ATL	338.6	60.73	96.8%
3	PHI	334.8	56.98	93.5%
4	BUF	320.8	42.98	90.3%
5	KC	318.9	41.11	87.1%
6	DEN	314.1	36.29	83.9%
7	DET	311.3	33.48	80.6%
8	CHI	304.4	26.54	77.4%
9	HOU	304.2	26.36	74.2%
10	JAX	303.6	25.79	71%
11	SEA	302.1	24.29	67.7%
12	DAL	297.4	19.61	64.5%
13	CIN	295.4	17.61	61.3%
14	LAC	294.9	17.04	58.1%
15	PIT	291.1	13.23	54.8%
16	LV	280.8	2.92	51.6%
17	ARI	279.7	1.86	48.4%
18	MIA	267	-10.83	45.2%
19	NYJ	265.4	-12.46	41.9%
20	CLE	264.8	-13.02	38.7%
21	GB	258.4	-19.39	35.5%
22	CAR	257.1	-20.71	32.3%
23	MIN	256.4	-21.39	29%
24	TEN	253.7	-24.14	25.8%
25	NYG	249.4	-28.39	22.6%
26	IND	247.9	-29.96	19.4%
27	LAR	246.1	-31.77	16.1%
28	SF	236.4	-41.39	12.9%
29	WAS	231.9	-45.89	9.7%
30	BAL	220.7	-57.14	6.5%
31	NO	203.4	-74.39	3.2%
32	NE	187.2	-90.64	0%

Does Pass Air Yds (IAY) matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 777–801–37 ATS (49.2%) across 2020–2025, #265 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2025 (144–125, 53.5%); its worst 2024 (108–155, 41.1%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	129–125–2	50.8%
2021	272	127–143–2	47.0%
2022	271	140–124–7	53.0%
2023	272	129–129–14	50.0%
2024	272	108–155–9	41.1%
2025	272	144–125–3	53.5%

Pass Air Yds (IAY) in 2020 vs 2019

Buccaneers lead at 352.5 — they ranked #1 last year. Patriots are last at 187.2 — #17 last year.

The league average is 277.8, down 8.23 from 286.1 last year.

Biggest riser: Broncos, #30 → #6. Biggest faller: Panthers, #6 → #22.

Spread between first and last: 165.3; 22 teams are within 38.79 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

DEN · +94

Biggest faller

NE · −103.5

Most consistent

SEA · −1.81

League trend 2020 vs 2019

▼ -8.23

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	DEN	314.1	220.1	+94
2	LV	280.8	216.7	+64.06
3	SF	236.4	195.4	+41.06
4	PIT	291.1	251.6	+39.44
5	MIN	256.4	220.9	+35.50
6	BUF	320.8	292.9	+27.94
7	PHI	334.8	307.3	+27.50
8	JAX	303.6	279.4	+24.25
9	CHI	304.4	283.6	+20.75
10	ARI	279.7	262.2	+17.50
11	KC	318.9	307.2	+11.75
12	TEN	253.7	243.7	+10
13	HOU	304.2	296.4	+7.81
14	WAS	231.9	227.4	+4.50
15	NYJ	265.4	263.3	+2.06
16	SEA	302.1	303.9	−1.81
17	ATL	338.6	345.9	−7.38
18	IND	247.9	257.8	−9.94
19	BAL	220.7	238.9	−18.19
20	CIN	295.4	313.9	−18.44
21	LAC	294.9	317.4	−22.56
22	CLE	264.8	289.6	−24.75
23	DET	311.3	341.1	−29.81
24	NO	203.4	233.9	−30.44
25	TB	352.5	405.8	−53.31
26	DAL	297.4	350.8	−53.38
27	GB	258.4	313.5	−55.06
28	NYG	249.4	305.6	−56.13
29	LAR	246.1	304.3	−58.25
30	CAR	257.1	331.2	−74.06
31	MIA	267	341.4	−74.44
32	NE	187.2	290.7	−103.5

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

TB · 289.1

Multi-year laggard

SF · 236.1

Biggest improver

NO · +17.28/yr

Biggest decliner

TB · −20.83/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	TB	289.1	−20.83	352.5	346.7	303.6	286.2	233.4	264.9	236
2	HOU	287.1	+9.33	304.2	235.1	256.4	304.5	273.7	280.3	355.4
3	DAL	286.5	−0.73	297.4	300.9	262.9	282	275.6	298.2	288.2
4	BUF	283.8	−16.48	320.8	315	330.4	295.4	250.7	212.6	261.8
5	LAR	281.7	+16.32	246.1	302	218.4	265.1	242.6	319.3	378.8
6	JAX	273.5	−7.47	303.6	280.3	256	293	269.8	287.1	224.8
7	LAC	272.1	−8.21	294.9	298.9	265.9	278.4	256.6	267.4	242.4
8	GB	271.7	+4.98	258.4	269.3	263.4	290.6	246.3	251.9	322.2
9	LV	270.1	−8.77	280.8	300.9	315.2	251.8	262.1	188.7	291.4
10	CIN	266.0	−1.00	295.4	258.6	260.8	228.1	271.4	276.9	270.4
11	NO	265.0	+17.28	203.4	220.3	267.6	295.1	260.6	281.6	326.2
12	KC	263.2	−14.02	318.9	292.1	277.2	240.9	223.9	266.6	222.8
13	ARI	261.9	−0.39	279.7	260.3	270.8	246.2	217.5	274.1	284.6
14	PHI	261.5	−11.95	334.8	248.8	261.3	284.9	204.9	263.7	232.2
15	CLE	261.0	−6.45	264.8	252.5	261.9	311.7	302.3	222.6	211
16	CAR	258.1	+9.95	257.1	259.8	195.4	263.6	262.6	202.9	365.5
17	MIN	258.0	−12.88	256.4	284.8	295	290	272.1	221	186.4
18	CHI	257.5	−1.35	304.4	264.4	201.5	222.1	266.7	290.8	252.4
19	WAS	256.3	+6.63	231.9	242.4	261.9	280.4	234.8	235.2	307.6
20	PIT	256.1	−3.78	291.1	261.1	276.9	222.6	232.1	192.9	316.2
21	IND	256.1	+5.82	247.9	235.3	225.7	250.3	319.6	257.6	256
22	MIA	254.4	−7.89	267	263	312.9	253.3	218.3	197.8	268.4
23	DEN	253.4	−17.56	314.1	267.8	294	220.8	242.9	264	169.8
24	DET	249.2	−2.53	311.3	222.5	243.2	240.4	205.1	219.5	302.4
25	NYG	248.1	+8.65	249.4	256.6	196.1	222.7	236.4	263.1	312.4
26	SEA	248.0	−14.73	302.1	271.7	254.1	242.4	242	221.1	202.4
27	ATL	247.7	−19.07	338.6	243.7	237.2	255.6	262.7	245.3	151
28	NE	244.6	+12.06	187.2	252.2	241.8	240.9	226.2	271.3	292.2
29	NYJ	243.3	−13.19	265.4	255.8	304.3	235.3	242.3	200.2	200
30	BAL	239.4	−6.85	220.7	307.8	236.1	240.5	244.8	201.3	224.8
31	TEN	238.8	−2.53	253.7	235.6	209.8	268.8	251.5	236.1	215.8
32	SF	236.1	+1.73	236.4	235.5	204.9	236.4	266.4	252.7	220.6

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
TB	352.5	346.7	303.6	286.2	233.4	264.9	236
ATL	338.6	243.7	237.2	255.6	262.7	245.3	151
PHI	334.8	248.8	261.3	284.9	204.9	263.7	232.2
BUF	320.8	315	330.4	295.4	250.7	212.6	261.8
KC	318.9	292.1	277.2	240.9	223.9	266.6	222.8
DEN	314.1	267.8	294	220.8	242.9	264	169.8
DET	311.3	222.5	243.2	240.4	205.1	219.5	302.4
CHI	304.4	264.4	201.5	222.1	266.7	290.8	252.4
HOU	304.2	235.1	256.4	304.5	273.7	280.3	355.4
JAX	303.6	280.3	256	293	269.8	287.1	224.8
SEA	302.1	271.7	254.1	242.4	242	221.1	202.4
DAL	297.4	300.9	262.9	282	275.6	298.2	288.2
CIN	295.4	258.6	260.8	228.1	271.4	276.9	270.4
LAC	294.9	298.9	265.9	278.4	256.6	267.4	242.4
PIT	291.1	261.1	276.9	222.6	232.1	192.9	316.2
LV	280.8	300.9	315.2	251.8	262.1	188.7	291.4
ARI	279.7	260.3	270.8	246.2	217.5	274.1	284.6
MIA	267	263	312.9	253.3	218.3	197.8	268.4
NYJ	265.4	255.8	304.3	235.3	242.3	200.2	200
CLE	264.8	252.5	261.9	311.7	302.3	222.6	211
GB	258.4	269.3	263.4	290.6	246.3	251.9	322.2
CAR	257.1	259.8	195.4	263.6	262.6	202.9	365.5
MIN	256.4	284.8	295	290	272.1	221	186.4
TEN	253.7	235.6	209.8	268.8	251.5	236.1	215.8
NYG	249.4	256.6	196.1	222.7	236.4	263.1	312.4
IND	247.9	235.3	225.7	250.3	319.6	257.6	256
LAR	246.1	302	218.4	265.1	242.6	319.3	378.8
SF	236.4	235.5	204.9	236.4	266.4	252.7	220.6
WAS	231.9	242.4	261.9	280.4	234.8	235.2	307.6
BAL	220.7	307.8	236.1	240.5	244.8	201.3	224.8
NO	203.4	220.3	267.6	295.1	260.6	281.6	326.2
NE	187.2	252.2	241.8	240.9	226.2	271.3	292.2

Pass Air Yds (IAY) since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Buccaneers (415.1), 2019 Buccaneers (405.8), 2020 Buccaneers (352.5).

Buccaneers have led this stat 3 of 3 seasons.

The best season on record is Buccaneers 2018 at 415.1; the worst Patriots 2020 at 187.2.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2020.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_passing_pass_air_yds
Side: offensive
Family: Passing
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.