What 1st Down is

First downs: the number of times the offense earned a new set of downs, by run, pass or penalty. Sustained drives show up here before they show up on the scoreboard.

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

In 2019 the Ravens led at 23.81; the league average was 20.02.

League snapshot — 2019

League leader

BAL · 23.81

League average

20.02

Best to worst

8.38

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	BAL	23.81	16
2	ATL	23.56	16
3	DAL	23.06	16
4	TB	22	16
5	PHI	21.94	16
6	KC	21.69	16
7	NO	21.69	16
8	LAC	21.56	16
9	HOU	21.25	16
10	LAR	21.25	16
11	SEA	21.19	16
12	NE	21.06	16
13	CAR	20.94	16
14	IND	20.69	16
15	SF	20.63	16
16	GB	19.88	16
17	MIA	19.56	16
18	TEN	19.50	16
19	ARI	19.44	16
20	CIN	19.44	16
21	LV	19.44	16
22	BUF	19.25	16
23	DET	19.25	16
24	NYG	19.13	16
25	MIN	19.06	16
26	CLE	18.94	16
27	CHI	18.31	16
28	JAX	18.31	16
29	DEN	17.19	16
30	PIT	16.38	16
31	NYJ	15.81	16
32	WAS	15.44	16

At a glance — 2019

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

BAL · 23.81

League laggard

WAS · 15.44

League average

20.02

Spread (max − min)

8.38

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	BAL	23.81	3.79	100%
2	ATL	23.56	3.54	96.8%
3	DAL	23.06	3.04	93.5%
4	TB	22	1.98	90.3%
5	PHI	21.94	1.92	87.1%
6	KC	21.69	1.67	83.9%
7	NO	21.69	1.67	80.6%
8	LAC	21.56	1.54	77.4%
9	HOU	21.25	1.23	74.2%
10	LAR	21.25	1.23	71%
11	SEA	21.19	1.17	67.7%
12	NE	21.06	1.04	64.5%
13	CAR	20.94	0.92	61.3%
14	IND	20.69	0.67	58.1%
15	SF	20.63	0.61	54.8%
16	GB	19.88	-0.14	51.6%
17	MIA	19.56	-0.46	48.4%
18	TEN	19.50	-0.52	45.2%
19	ARI	19.44	-0.58	41.9%
20	CIN	19.44	-0.58	38.7%
21	LV	19.44	-0.58	35.5%
22	BUF	19.25	-0.77	32.3%
23	DET	19.25	-0.77	29%
24	NYG	19.13	-0.89	25.8%
25	MIN	19.06	-0.96	22.6%
26	CLE	18.94	-1.08	19.4%
27	CHI	18.31	-1.71	16.1%
28	JAX	18.31	-1.71	12.9%
29	DEN	17.19	-2.83	9.7%
30	PIT	16.38	-3.64	6.5%
31	NYJ	15.81	-4.21	3.2%
32	WAS	15.44	-4.58	0%

Does 1st Down matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 858–720–37 ATS (54.4%) across 2020–2025, #86 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2024 (151–112, 57.4%); its worst 2020 (128–126, 50.4%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	128–126–2	50.4%
2021	272	146–124–2	54.1%
2022	271	149–115–7	56.4%
2023	272	136–122–14	52.7%
2024	272	151–112–9	57.4%
2025	272	148–121–3	55.0%

1st Down in 2019 vs 2018

Ravens lead at 23.81 — they ranked #7 last year. Commanders are last at 15.44 — #27 last year.

The league average is 20.02, down 0.23 from 20.25 last year.

Biggest riser: Cowboys, #19 → #3. Biggest faller: Steelers, #5 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 8.38; 25 teams are within 2.02 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2019 vs 2018

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

ARI · +4.69

Biggest faller

PIT · −7

Most consistent

NYJ · −0.25

League trend 2019 vs 2018

▼ -0.23

Rank	Team	2019	2018	Δ
1	ARI	19.44	14.75	+4.69
2	MIA	19.56	15.75	+3.81
3	DAL	23.06	20	+3.06
4	BUF	19.25	17.31	+1.94
5	ATL	23.56	21.88	+1.69
6	TEN	19.50	17.94	+1.56
7	JAX	18.31	17.06	+1.25
8	BAL	23.81	22.88	+0.94
9	SEA	21.19	20.25	+0.94
10	LV	19.44	18.69	+0.75
11	LAC	21.56	20.88	+0.69
12	HOU	21.25	20.63	+0.63
13	NYG	19.13	18.50	+0.63
14	CIN	19.44	19	+0.44
15	PHI	21.94	21.50	+0.44
16	NYJ	15.81	16.06	−0.25
17	MIN	19.06	19.38	−0.31
18	SF	20.63	21.13	−0.50
19	CLE	18.94	19.50	−0.56
20	GB	19.88	20.56	−0.69
21	DET	19.25	20.13	−0.88
22	CAR	20.94	22.06	−1.13
23	NE	21.06	22.56	−1.50
24	NO	21.69	23.38	−1.69
25	TB	22	23.94	−1.94
26	WAS	15.44	17.38	−1.94
27	KC	21.69	23.69	−2
28	CHI	18.31	20.50	−2.19
29	IND	20.69	23	−2.31
30	DEN	17.19	19.75	−2.56
31	LAR	21.25	24.63	−3.38
32	PIT	16.38	23.38	−7

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

BUF · 22.72

Multi-year laggard

NYJ · 16.85

Biggest improver

LAR · +0.57/yr

Biggest decliner

TEN · −1.20/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	BUF	22.72	−0.22	24.31	23.18	22.75	22.29	20.88	21.82	23.80
2	KC	21.90	−0.86	24.19	24.47	23.65	20.41	20.53	19.59	20.50
3	DAL	21.84	−0.07	22.94	22.65	20.35	22.35	19.18	22.82	22.60
4	DET	21.80	+0.43	21.63	19.06	21.82	21.88	23.71	20.29	24.20
5	SF	21.19	−0.02	21.63	20.82	20.35	22.35	20.53	22.24	20.40
6	LAR	21.11	+0.57	21.81	20.76	17.06	20.47	20	23.06	24.60
7	BAL	20.94	−0.08	20.25	23	19.76	20.88	22.76	18.29	21.60
8	ARI	20.56	−0.49	23.63	21.53	19.18	19.29	20.94	19.53	19.80
9	TB	20.54	−0.74	22.50	23.65	20.35	17.59	22.71	19.41	17.60
10	CIN	20.54	+0.18	19.63	19.71	22.06	19.06	21.94	20.59	20.80
11	LAC	20.07	−0.96	22.94	23.29	20.65	18.65	18.24	19.12	17.60
12	GB	19.94	−0.73	22.25	21.94	19.47	19.65	19.82	19.47	17
13	PHI	19.81	−0.92	20.69	20.53	22.35	21.82	21.12	17.94	14.20
14	ATL	19.74	−0.17	22.69	17.71	19.06	18.94	21.12	19.29	19.40
15	IND	19.74	−0.38	22.50	20.65	18.24	18.82	18.47	20.47	19
16	WAS	19.67	−0.17	19.88	20.12	19.82	18.53	22.12	18.82	18.40
17	MIN	19.62	−1.12	23.44	19.47	22.12	19.71	20.47	16.94	15.20
18	CHI	19.52	+0.46	20.56	19.35	16.24	18.76	17.41	20.88	23.40
19	SEA	19.45	−0.21	22.13	17.53	20.06	18.47	19.24	19.71	19
20	JAX	19.38	+0.22	19.31	17.71	20.47	19.65	17.35	20.76	20.40
21	NO	19.33	−0.15	22.75	17.82	17.88	19.71	17.71	18.47	21
22	MIA	19.04	−0.78	21.19	19	19.82	21.06	20	17	15.20
23	LV	19.00	−0.64	22.38	20.18	20	16.94	18.18	14.76	20.60
24	NE	18.96	+0.11	20.19	21	16.88	15.06	17.53	21.06	21
25	CAR	18.65	+0.19	20.75	18.59	16.29	17.24	17	17.94	22.75
26	CLE	18.59	−1.05	22	19.71	20.41	18.88	17.71	15.41	16
27	PIT	18.58	−0.30	20	18.71	20.12	16.76	18.41	17.47	18.60
28	NYG	18.52	+0.28	18.38	17.41	20.47	15.47	17.71	20	20.20
29	DEN	18.21	−0.22	18.94	19.12	17.65	17.47	18.47	19.41	16.40
30	TEN	18.13	−1.20	23.50	21.12	16.06	17.47	17.88	15.29	15.60
31	HOU	18.12	+0.22	20.13	15.47	16.12	19.06	17.88	18.76	19.40
32	NYJ	16.85	−0.16	16.75	18.24	17.12	15.29	18.24	15.71	16.60

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
LAR	21.81	20.76	17.06	20.47	20	23.06	24.60
DET	21.63	19.06	21.82	21.88	23.71	20.29	24.20
BUF	24.31	23.18	22.75	22.29	20.88	21.82	23.80
CHI	20.56	19.35	16.24	18.76	17.41	20.88	23.40
CAR	20.75	18.59	16.29	17.24	17	17.94	22.75
DAL	22.94	22.65	20.35	22.35	19.18	22.82	22.60
BAL	20.25	23	19.76	20.88	22.76	18.29	21.60
NE	20.19	21	16.88	15.06	17.53	21.06	21
NO	22.75	17.82	17.88	19.71	17.71	18.47	21
CIN	19.63	19.71	22.06	19.06	21.94	20.59	20.80
LV	22.38	20.18	20	16.94	18.18	14.76	20.60
KC	24.19	24.47	23.65	20.41	20.53	19.59	20.50
JAX	19.31	17.71	20.47	19.65	17.35	20.76	20.40
SF	21.63	20.82	20.35	22.35	20.53	22.24	20.40
NYG	18.38	17.41	20.47	15.47	17.71	20	20.20
ARI	23.63	21.53	19.18	19.29	20.94	19.53	19.80
ATL	22.69	17.71	19.06	18.94	21.12	19.29	19.40
HOU	20.13	15.47	16.12	19.06	17.88	18.76	19.40
IND	22.50	20.65	18.24	18.82	18.47	20.47	19
SEA	22.13	17.53	20.06	18.47	19.24	19.71	19
PIT	20	18.71	20.12	16.76	18.41	17.47	18.60
WAS	19.88	20.12	19.82	18.53	22.12	18.82	18.40
LAC	22.94	23.29	20.65	18.65	18.24	19.12	17.60
TB	22.50	23.65	20.35	17.59	22.71	19.41	17.60
GB	22.25	21.94	19.47	19.65	19.82	19.47	17
NYJ	16.75	18.24	17.12	15.29	18.24	15.71	16.60
DEN	18.94	19.12	17.65	17.47	18.47	19.41	16.40
CLE	22	19.71	20.41	18.88	17.71	15.41	16
TEN	23.50	21.12	16.06	17.47	17.88	15.29	15.60
MIA	21.19	19	19.82	21.06	20	17	15.20
MIN	23.44	19.47	22.12	19.71	20.47	16.94	15.20
PHI	20.69	20.53	22.35	21.82	21.12	17.94	14.20

1st Down since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Rams (24.63), 2019 Ravens (23.81).

The best season on record is Rams 2018 at 24.63; the worst Cardinals 2018 at 14.75.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2019.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_team_stats_first_down
Side: offensive
Family: Team Stats
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.