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 2025 the Rams led at 23.06; the league average was 19.14.

League snapshot — 2025

League leader

LAR · 23.06

League average

19.14

Best to worst

8.29

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	LAR	23.06	17
2	DAL	22.82	17
3	SF	22.24	17
4	BUF	21.82	17
5	NE	21.06	17
6	CHI	20.88	17
7	JAX	20.76	17
8	CIN	20.59	17
9	IND	20.47	17
10	DET	20.29	17
11	NYG	20	17
12	SEA	19.71	17
13	KC	19.59	17
14	ARI	19.53	17
15	GB	19.47	17
16	DEN	19.41	17
17	TB	19.41	17
18	ATL	19.29	17
19	LAC	19.12	17
20	WAS	18.82	17
21	HOU	18.76	17
22	NO	18.47	17
23	BAL	18.29	17
24	CAR	17.94	17
25	PHI	17.94	17
26	PIT	17.47	17
27	MIA	17	17
28	MIN	16.94	17
29	NYJ	15.71	17
30	CLE	15.41	17
31	TEN	15.29	17
32	LV	14.76	17

At a glance — 2025

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

LAR · 23.06

League laggard

LV · 14.76

League average

19.14

Spread (max − min)

8.29

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	LAR	23.06	3.92	100%
2	DAL	22.82	3.69	96.8%
3	SF	22.24	3.10	93.5%
4	BUF	21.82	2.69	90.3%
5	NE	21.06	1.92	87.1%
6	CHI	20.88	1.75	83.9%
7	JAX	20.76	1.63	80.6%
8	CIN	20.59	1.45	77.4%
9	IND	20.47	1.33	74.2%
10	DET	20.29	1.16	71%
11	NYG	20	0.86	67.7%
12	SEA	19.71	0.57	64.5%
13	KC	19.59	0.45	61.3%
14	ARI	19.53	0.39	58.1%
15	GB	19.47	0.33	54.8%
16	DEN	19.41	0.28	51.6%
17	TB	19.41	0.28	48.4%
18	ATL	19.29	0.16	45.2%
19	LAC	19.12	-0.02	41.9%
20	WAS	18.82	-0.31	38.7%
21	HOU	18.76	-0.37	35.5%
22	NO	18.47	-0.67	32.3%
23	BAL	18.29	-0.84	29%
24	CAR	17.94	-1.19	25.8%
25	PHI	17.94	-1.19	22.6%
26	PIT	17.47	-1.67	19.4%
27	MIA	17	-2.14	16.1%
28	MIN	16.94	-2.19	12.9%
29	NYJ	15.71	-3.43	9.7%
30	CLE	15.41	-3.72	6.5%
31	TEN	15.29	-3.84	3.2%
32	LV	14.76	-4.37	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 2025 vs 2024

Rams lead at 23.06 — they ranked #13 last year. Raiders are last at 14.76 — #23 last year.

The league average is 19.14, down 0.40 from 19.54 last year.

Biggest riser: Patriots, #29 → #5. Biggest faller: Ravens, #2 → #23.

Spread between first and last: 8.29; 22 teams are within 2.08 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2025 vs 2024

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

DAL · +3.65

Biggest faller

BAL · −4.47

Most consistent

GB · −0.35

League trend 2025 vs 2024

▼ -0.40

Rank	Team	2025	2024	Δ
1	DAL	22.82	19.18	+3.65
2	NE	21.06	17.53	+3.53
3	CHI	20.88	17.41	+3.47
4	JAX	20.76	17.35	+3.41
5	LAR	23.06	20	+3.06
6	NYG	20	17.71	+2.29
7	IND	20.47	18.47	+2
8	SF	22.24	20.53	+1.71
9	BUF	21.82	20.88	+0.94
10	CAR	17.94	17	+0.94
11	DEN	19.41	18.47	+0.94
12	HOU	18.76	17.88	+0.88
13	LAC	19.12	18.24	+0.88
14	NO	18.47	17.71	+0.76
15	SEA	19.71	19.24	+0.47
16	GB	19.47	19.82	−0.35
17	KC	19.59	20.53	−0.94
18	PIT	17.47	18.41	−0.94
19	CIN	20.59	21.94	−1.35
20	ARI	19.53	20.94	−1.41
21	ATL	19.29	21.12	−1.82
22	CLE	15.41	17.71	−2.29
23	NYJ	15.71	18.24	−2.53
24	TEN	15.29	17.88	−2.59
25	MIA	17	20	−3
26	PHI	17.94	21.12	−3.18
27	WAS	18.82	22.12	−3.29
28	TB	19.41	22.71	−3.29
29	LV	14.76	18.18	−3.41
30	DET	20.29	23.71	−3.41
31	MIN	16.94	20.47	−3.53
32	BAL	18.29	22.76	−4.47

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

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), 2025 Rams (23.06).

Rams have led this stat 2 of 8 seasons.

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

The league average has fallen from 20.25 in 2018 to 19.14 in 2025.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2025.

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.