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 2021 the Chiefs led at 24.47; the league average was 20.11.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

KC · 24.47

League average

20.11

Best to worst

9.00

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	KC	24.47	17
2	TB	23.65	17
3	LAC	23.29	17
4	BUF	23.18	17
5	BAL	23	17
6	DAL	22.65	17
7	GB	21.94	17
8	ARI	21.53	17
9	TEN	21.12	17
10	NE	21	17
11	SF	20.82	17
12	LAR	20.76	17
13	IND	20.65	17
14	PHI	20.53	17
15	LV	20.18	17
16	WAS	20.12	17
17	CIN	19.71	17
18	CLE	19.71	17
19	MIN	19.47	17
20	CHI	19.35	17
21	DEN	19.12	17
22	DET	19.06	17
23	MIA	19	17
24	PIT	18.71	17
25	CAR	18.59	17
26	NYJ	18.24	17
27	NO	17.82	17
28	ATL	17.71	17
29	JAX	17.71	17
30	SEA	17.53	17
31	NYG	17.41	17
32	HOU	15.47	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

KC · 24.47

League laggard

HOU · 15.47

League average

20.11

Spread (max − min)

9.00

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	KC	24.47	4.36	100%
2	TB	23.65	3.54	96.8%
3	LAC	23.29	3.19	93.5%
4	BUF	23.18	3.07	90.3%
5	BAL	23	2.89	87.1%
6	DAL	22.65	2.54	83.9%
7	GB	21.94	1.83	80.6%
8	ARI	21.53	1.42	77.4%
9	TEN	21.12	1.01	74.2%
10	NE	21	0.89	71%
11	SF	20.82	0.72	67.7%
12	LAR	20.76	0.66	64.5%
13	IND	20.65	0.54	61.3%
14	PHI	20.53	0.42	58.1%
15	LV	20.18	0.07	54.8%
16	WAS	20.12	0.01	51.6%
17	CIN	19.71	-0.40	48.4%
18	CLE	19.71	-0.40	45.2%
19	MIN	19.47	-0.64	41.9%
20	CHI	19.35	-0.76	38.7%
21	DEN	19.12	-0.99	35.5%
22	DET	19.06	-1.05	32.3%
23	MIA	19	-1.11	29%
24	PIT	18.71	-1.40	25.8%
25	CAR	18.59	-1.52	22.6%
26	NYJ	18.24	-1.87	19.4%
27	NO	17.82	-2.28	16.1%
28	ATL	17.71	-2.40	12.9%
29	JAX	17.71	-2.40	9.7%
30	SEA	17.53	-2.58	6.5%
31	NYG	17.41	-2.70	3.2%
32	HOU	15.47	-4.64	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 2021 vs 2020

Chiefs lead at 24.47 — they ranked #2 last year. Texans are last at 15.47 — #25 last year.

The league average is 20.11, down 1.32 from 21.43 last year.

Biggest riser: Ravens, #23 → #5. Biggest faller: Saints, #8 → #27.

Spread between first and last: 9.00; 20 teams are within 2.09 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

BAL · +2.75

Biggest faller

ATL · −4.98

Most consistent

CIN · +0.08

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▼ -1.32

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	BAL	23	20.25	+2.75
2	NYJ	18.24	16.75	+1.49
3	TB	23.65	22.50	+1.15
4	NE	21	20.19	+0.81
5	LAC	23.29	22.94	+0.36
6	KC	24.47	24.19	+0.28
7	WAS	20.12	19.88	+0.24
8	DEN	19.12	18.94	+0.18
9	CIN	19.71	19.63	+0.08
10	PHI	20.53	20.69	−0.16
11	DAL	22.65	22.94	−0.29
12	GB	21.94	22.25	−0.31
13	SF	20.82	21.63	−0.80
14	NYG	17.41	18.38	−0.96
15	LAR	20.76	21.81	−1.05
16	BUF	23.18	24.31	−1.14
17	CHI	19.35	20.56	−1.21
18	PIT	18.71	20	−1.29
19	JAX	17.71	19.31	−1.61
20	IND	20.65	22.50	−1.85
21	ARI	21.53	23.63	−2.10
22	CAR	18.59	20.75	−2.16
23	MIA	19	21.19	−2.19
24	LV	20.18	22.38	−2.20
25	CLE	19.71	22	−2.29
26	TEN	21.12	23.50	−2.38
27	DET	19.06	21.63	−2.57
28	MIN	19.47	23.44	−3.97
29	SEA	17.53	22.13	−4.60
30	HOU	15.47	20.13	−4.65
31	NO	17.82	22.75	−4.93
32	ATL	17.71	22.69	−4.98

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

1st Down since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Rams (24.63), 2019 Ravens (23.81), 2020 Bills (24.31), 2021 Chiefs (24.47).

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 2021.

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.