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 2024 the Lions led at 23.71; the league average was 19.54.

League snapshot — 2024

League leader

DET · 23.71

League average

19.54

Best to worst

6.71

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DET	23.71	17
2	BAL	22.76	17
3	TB	22.71	17
4	WAS	22.12	17
5	CIN	21.94	17
6	ATL	21.12	17
7	PHI	21.12	17
8	ARI	20.94	17
9	BUF	20.88	17
10	KC	20.53	17
11	SF	20.53	17
12	MIN	20.47	17
13	LAR	20	17
14	MIA	20	17
15	GB	19.82	17
16	SEA	19.24	17
17	DAL	19.18	17
18	DEN	18.47	17
19	IND	18.47	17
20	PIT	18.41	17
21	LAC	18.24	17
22	NYJ	18.24	17
23	LV	18.18	17
24	HOU	17.88	17
25	TEN	17.88	17
26	CLE	17.71	17
27	NO	17.71	17
28	NYG	17.71	17
29	NE	17.53	17
30	CHI	17.41	17
31	JAX	17.35	17
32	CAR	17	17

At a glance — 2024

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DET · 23.71

League laggard

CAR · 17

League average

19.54

Spread (max − min)

6.71

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DET	23.71	4.17	100%
2	BAL	22.76	3.23	96.8%
3	TB	22.71	3.17	93.5%
4	WAS	22.12	2.58	90.3%
5	CIN	21.94	2.40	87.1%
6	ATL	21.12	1.58	83.9%
7	PHI	21.12	1.58	80.6%
8	ARI	20.94	1.40	77.4%
9	BUF	20.88	1.34	74.2%
10	KC	20.53	0.99	71%
11	SF	20.53	0.99	67.7%
12	MIN	20.47	0.93	64.5%
13	LAR	20	0.46	61.3%
14	MIA	20	0.46	58.1%
15	GB	19.82	0.28	54.8%
16	SEA	19.24	-0.30	51.6%
17	DAL	19.18	-0.36	48.4%
18	DEN	18.47	-1.07	45.2%
19	IND	18.47	-1.07	41.9%
20	PIT	18.41	-1.13	38.7%
21	LAC	18.24	-1.30	35.5%
22	NYJ	18.24	-1.30	32.3%
23	LV	18.18	-1.36	29%
24	HOU	17.88	-1.66	25.8%
25	TEN	17.88	-1.66	22.6%
26	CLE	17.71	-1.83	19.4%
27	NO	17.71	-1.83	16.1%
28	NYG	17.71	-1.83	12.9%
29	NE	17.53	-2.01	9.7%
30	CHI	17.41	-2.13	6.5%
31	JAX	17.35	-2.19	3.2%
32	CAR	17	-2.54	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 2024 vs 2023

Lions lead at 23.71 — they ranked #4 last year. Panthers are last at 17 — #27 last year.

The league average is 19.54, up 0.48 from 19.06 last year.

Biggest riser: Buccaneers, #24 → #3. Biggest faller: Jaguars, #13 → #31.

Spread between first and last: 6.71; 20 teams are within 1.83 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2024 vs 2023

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

TB · +5.12

Biggest faller

DAL · −3.18

Most consistent

KC · +0.12

League trend 2024 vs 2023

▲ 0.48

Rank	Team	2024	2023	Δ
1	TB	22.71	17.59	+5.12
2	WAS	22.12	18.53	+3.59
3	NYJ	18.24	15.29	+2.94
4	CIN	21.94	19.06	+2.88
5	NE	17.53	15.06	+2.47
6	NYG	17.71	15.47	+2.24
7	ATL	21.12	18.94	+2.18
8	BAL	22.76	20.88	+1.88
9	DET	23.71	21.88	+1.82
10	ARI	20.94	19.29	+1.65
11	PIT	18.41	16.76	+1.65
12	LV	18.18	16.94	+1.24
13	DEN	18.47	17.47	+1
14	SEA	19.24	18.47	+0.76
15	MIN	20.47	19.71	+0.76
16	TEN	17.88	17.47	+0.41
17	GB	19.82	19.65	+0.18
18	KC	20.53	20.41	+0.12
19	CAR	17	17.24	−0.24
20	IND	18.47	18.82	−0.35
21	LAC	18.24	18.65	−0.41
22	LAR	20	20.47	−0.47
23	PHI	21.12	21.82	−0.71
24	MIA	20	21.06	−1.06
25	CLE	17.71	18.88	−1.18
26	HOU	17.88	19.06	−1.18
27	CHI	17.41	18.76	−1.35
28	BUF	20.88	22.29	−1.41
29	SF	20.53	22.35	−1.82
30	NO	17.71	19.71	−2
31	JAX	17.35	19.65	−2.29
32	DAL	19.18	22.35	−3.18

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

1st Down since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Rams (24.63), 2019 Ravens (23.81), 2020 Bills (24.31), 2021 Chiefs (24.47), 2022 Chiefs (23.65), 2023 Cowboys (22.35), 2024 Lions (23.71).

Chiefs have led this stat 2 of 7 seasons.

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 2024.

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.