What Rush 1stD is

Rushing first downs: first downs earned on running plays. The running game's contribution to keeping drives alive.

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 Ravens led at 10.63; the league average was 7.11.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

BAL · 10.63

League average

7.11

Best to worst

5.56

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	BAL	10.63	16
2	NO	9.25	16
3	TEN	9.13	16
4	NE	9.06	16
5	MIN	8.75	16
6	ARI	8.63	16
7	CLE	8.44	16
8	IND	8.19	16
9	LAR	7.69	16
10	LV	7.69	16
11	BUF	7.63	16
12	DAL	7.44	16
13	SEA	7.31	16
14	GB	7.25	16
15	PHI	7.25	16
16	KC	7.19	16
17	LAC	7.06	16
18	CAR	6.88	16
19	WAS	6.81	16
20	MIA	6.44	16
21	SF	6.44	16
22	DEN	6.13	16
23	NYJ	6	16
24	NYG	5.94	16
25	CHI	5.88	16
26	CIN	5.88	16
27	DET	5.88	16
28	ATL	5.56	16
29	HOU	5.44	16
30	PIT	5.38	16
31	TB	5.25	16
32	JAX	5.06	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

BAL · 10.63

League laggard

JAX · 5.06

League average

7.11

Spread (max − min)

5.56

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	BAL	10.63	3.52	100%
2	NO	9.25	2.14	96.8%
3	TEN	9.13	2.02	93.5%
4	NE	9.06	1.95	90.3%
5	MIN	8.75	1.64	87.1%
6	ARI	8.63	1.52	83.9%
7	CLE	8.44	1.33	80.6%
8	IND	8.19	1.08	77.4%
9	LAR	7.69	0.58	74.2%
10	LV	7.69	0.58	71%
11	BUF	7.63	0.52	67.7%
12	DAL	7.44	0.33	64.5%
13	SEA	7.31	0.20	61.3%
14	GB	7.25	0.14	58.1%
15	PHI	7.25	0.14	54.8%
16	KC	7.19	0.08	51.6%
17	LAC	7.06	-0.05	48.4%
18	CAR	6.88	-0.23	45.2%
19	WAS	6.81	-0.30	41.9%
20	MIA	6.44	-0.67	38.7%
21	SF	6.44	-0.67	35.5%
22	DEN	6.13	-0.98	32.3%
23	NYJ	6	-1.11	29%
24	NYG	5.94	-1.17	25.8%
25	CHI	5.88	-1.23	22.6%
26	CIN	5.88	-1.23	19.4%
27	DET	5.88	-1.23	16.1%
28	ATL	5.56	-1.55	12.9%
29	HOU	5.44	-1.67	9.7%
30	PIT	5.38	-1.73	6.5%
31	TB	5.25	-1.86	3.2%
32	JAX	5.06	-2.05	0%

Does Rush 1stD matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 838–740–37 ATS (53.1%) across 2020–2025, #131 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2025 (148–121, 55.0%); its worst 2021 (137–133, 50.7%).

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

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	136–118–2	53.5%
2021	272	137–133–2	50.7%
2022	271	145–119–7	54.9%
2023	272	132–126–14	51.2%
2024	272	140–123–9	53.2%
2025	272	148–121–3	55.0%

Rush 1stD in 2020 vs 2019

Ravens lead at 10.63 — they ranked #1 last year. Jaguars are last at 5.06 — #25 last year.

The league average is 7.11, up 0.86 from 6.25 last year.

Biggest riser: Saints, #14 → #2. Biggest faller: Texans, #6 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 5.56; 21 teams are within 1.36 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

NO · +3.13

Biggest faller

HOU · −1.75

Most consistent

NYG · +0.06

League trend 2020 vs 2019

▲ 0.86

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	NO	9.25	6.13	+3.13
2	CLE	8.44	5.69	+2.75
3	MIA	6.44	4.19	+2.25
4	NE	9.06	6.94	+2.13
5	NYJ	6	3.88	+2.13
6	TEN	9.13	7	+2.13
7	WAS	6.81	4.69	+2.13
8	LAR	7.69	5.88	+1.81
9	ARI	8.63	6.88	+1.75
10	MIN	8.75	7	+1.75
11	CAR	6.88	5.19	+1.69
12	LAC	7.06	5.63	+1.44
13	GB	7.25	5.88	+1.38
14	DEN	6.13	5	+1.13
15	KC	7.19	6.06	+1.13
16	LV	7.69	6.69	+1
17	PHI	7.25	6.63	+0.63
18	PIT	5.38	4.81	+0.56
19	CHI	5.88	5.50	+0.38
20	CIN	5.88	5.50	+0.38
21	DET	5.88	5.50	+0.38
22	ATL	5.56	5.44	+0.13
23	NYG	5.94	5.88	+0.06
24	TB	5.25	5.19	+0.06
25	DAL	7.44	7.50	−0.06
26	BUF	7.63	7.81	−0.19
27	IND	8.19	8.38	−0.19
28	JAX	5.06	5.31	−0.25
29	SEA	7.31	7.75	−0.44
30	SF	6.44	6.88	−0.44
31	BAL	10.63	12.06	−1.44
32	HOU	5.44	7.19	−1.75

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

BAL · 9.50

Multi-year laggard

HOU · 5.41

Biggest improver

ATL · +0.57/yr

Biggest decliner

CLE · −0.63/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	BAL	9.50	−0.24	10.63	9.59	10	8.65	9.94	8.71	9
2	BUF	8.83	+0.46	7.63	8.06	8.06	9.53	8.41	8.71	11.40
3	PHI	8.16	−0.49	7.25	9.82	9.65	9	10	7	4.40
4	CHI	7.67	+0.32	5.88	7.24	9.06	8.12	5.82	8.59	9
5	IND	7.60	−0.02	8.19	9.06	5.65	6.76	7.76	7.35	8.40
6	SF	7.58	+0.07	6.44	7.88	7.82	8.71	7.24	7.18	7.80
7	WAS	7.42	+0.11	6.81	7.65	7.41	5.94	9.35	7.35	7.40
8	ATL	7.30	+0.57	5.56	4.53	9.29	7.18	7.88	6.82	9.80
9	NE	7.25	−0.16	9.06	8.35	6.06	5.47	6.18	7.65	8
10	ARI	7.13	−0.47	8.63	7.71	6.88	7.65	8.29	5.53	5.20
11	KC	7.10	+0.14	7.19	7.41	6.29	6.53	6.53	7.24	8.50
12	DET	7.07	+0.30	5.88	6.24	6.94	7.41	8.76	6.29	8
13	CLE	6.97	−0.63	8.44	8.18	8.41	7.18	5.65	5.94	5
14	NYG	6.90	+0.22	5.94	5.53	9.06	5.88	6.29	8.76	6.80
15	NO	6.81	−0.39	9.25	6.76	6.06	6.88	6.65	6.24	5.80
16	DAL	6.79	−0.18	7.44	6.65	7.59	6.88	5.82	7.18	6
17	LAR	6.77	+0.08	7.69	5.94	5.35	6.94	7.12	7.53	6.80
18	CAR	6.67	−0.18	6.88	7.24	7.24	6.59	6.12	6.65	6
19	GB	6.67	−0.26	7.25	6.59	7.12	6.12	8.35	7.47	3.80
20	TEN	6.67	−0.61	9.13	8	6.18	6.41	6.76	5	5.20
21	DEN	6.62	−0.07	6.13	7.35	6.35	6.94	7.35	6.65	5.60
22	LAC	6.45	−0.02	7.06	6.71	5.94	5.41	6.59	7.06	6.40
23	JAX	6.45	+0.40	5.06	5.76	6.76	5.88	6.41	7.47	7.80
24	PIT	6.43	+0.11	5.38	5.29	7.76	6.76	7.65	6.53	5.60
25	SEA	6.40	−0.11	7.31	6.53	6.35	5.82	5.24	7.76	5.80
26	MIN	6.25	−0.31	8.75	6.29	5.65	5	6.12	6.12	5.80
27	TB	6.20	+0.36	5.25	6.41	4.71	4.76	8.29	7	7
28	MIA	6.11	+0.11	6.44	5.29	5.53	6.94	5.53	6.24	6.80
29	CIN	5.82	+0.00	5.88	5.82	6.19	5.35	5.35	6.12	6
30	NYJ	5.62	+0.19	6	5.24	4.94	4.59	5	7	6.60
31	LV	5.54	−0.57	7.69	5.71	7.35	5.06	4.59	4	4.40
32	HOU	5.41	+0.16	5.44	4.59	5.29	5.12	5.41	6.24	5.80

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
BAL	10.63	9.59	10	8.65	9.94	8.71	9
NO	9.25	6.76	6.06	6.88	6.65	6.24	5.80
TEN	9.13	8	6.18	6.41	6.76	5	5.20
NE	9.06	8.35	6.06	5.47	6.18	7.65	8
MIN	8.75	6.29	5.65	5	6.12	6.12	5.80
ARI	8.63	7.71	6.88	7.65	8.29	5.53	5.20
CLE	8.44	8.18	8.41	7.18	5.65	5.94	5
IND	8.19	9.06	5.65	6.76	7.76	7.35	8.40
LV	7.69	5.71	7.35	5.06	4.59	4	4.40
LAR	7.69	5.94	5.35	6.94	7.12	7.53	6.80
BUF	7.63	8.06	8.06	9.53	8.41	8.71	11.40
DAL	7.44	6.65	7.59	6.88	5.82	7.18	6
SEA	7.31	6.53	6.35	5.82	5.24	7.76	5.80
GB	7.25	6.59	7.12	6.12	8.35	7.47	3.80
PHI	7.25	9.82	9.65	9	10	7	4.40
KC	7.19	7.41	6.29	6.53	6.53	7.24	8.50
LAC	7.06	6.71	5.94	5.41	6.59	7.06	6.40
CAR	6.88	7.24	7.24	6.59	6.12	6.65	6
WAS	6.81	7.65	7.41	5.94	9.35	7.35	7.40
MIA	6.44	5.29	5.53	6.94	5.53	6.24	6.80
SF	6.44	7.88	7.82	8.71	7.24	7.18	7.80
DEN	6.13	7.35	6.35	6.94	7.35	6.65	5.60
NYJ	6	5.24	4.94	4.59	5	7	6.60
NYG	5.94	5.53	9.06	5.88	6.29	8.76	6.80
CHI	5.88	7.24	9.06	8.12	5.82	8.59	9
CIN	5.88	5.82	6.19	5.35	5.35	6.12	6
DET	5.88	6.24	6.94	7.41	8.76	6.29	8
ATL	5.56	4.53	9.29	7.18	7.88	6.82	9.80
HOU	5.44	4.59	5.29	5.12	5.41	6.24	5.80
PIT	5.38	5.29	7.76	6.76	7.65	6.53	5.60
TB	5.25	6.41	4.71	4.76	8.29	7	7
JAX	5.06	5.76	6.76	5.88	6.41	7.47	7.80

Rush 1stD since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Ravens (9.75), 2019 Ravens (12.06), 2020 Ravens (10.63).

Ravens have led this stat 3 of 3 seasons.

The best season on record is Ravens 2019 at 12.06; the worst Jets 2019 at 3.88.

The league average has risen from 6.46 in 2018 to 7.11 in 2020.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2020.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_team_stats_rush_fd
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.