🏈Defensive Yards Allowed
What is Defensive Yards Allowed Calculator?
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Defensive yards allowed is the foundational measure of how well a defense limits the opposing offense's ability to gain yardage — and while it is one of the most traditional statistics in football, it is also one of the most misunderstood. In 2022, the San Francisco 49ers allowed only 311.3 yards per game, the fewest in the NFL, under defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. However, the New England Patriots ranked similarly in yards allowed but were a mediocre overall defense by other metrics, illustrating the important caveat that total yards allowed is heavily influenced by time of possession and field position — teams with dominant offenses can appear to have weak defenses simply because they give up the ball more often. Defensive yards allowed should always be contextualized with yards per play allowed, which removes the possession-frequency distortion. The Dallas Cowboys led the NFL in yards per play allowed in 2022 at just 4.8 yards per play — a more meaningful efficiency measure than total yards allowed. Pass yards allowed versus rush yards allowed tells the story of where a defense is strong and vulnerable: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Todd Bowles routinely had elite pass defenses (allowing the fewest passing yards per game) but were vulnerable against the run, reflecting their Tampa 2 coverage philosophy that prioritizes eliminating explosive passing plays. Understanding which aspect of the defense (pass, run, yards per play, total yards) to optimize requires knowing the opponent's offensive tendencies — if you're facing a run-heavy team, run yards allowed matters more; facing an air-raid offense, pass yards per play is the critical metric.
Calkulon makes complex calculations simple — built for students and everyday problem-solvers.
Vzorec
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Defensive Yards Allowed per Game = Total Yards Allowed / Games Played
Defensive Yards per Play Allowed = Total Yards Allowed / Total Opponent Plays
Passing Yards Allowed per Game = Total Pass Yards Allowed / Games Played
Rushing Yards Allowed per Game = Total Rush Yards Allowed / Games Played
Yards per Play Allowed by Type:
Pass YPA Allowed = Pass Yards Allowed / Pass Attempts Faced
Rush YPC Allowed = Rush Yards Allowed / Rush Attempts Faced
Defense Efficiency Index = (League Avg Yards per Play) / (Team Yards per Play Allowed)
Index > 1.0 = Better than average; Index < 1.0 = Worse than average
Worked Example — 49ers 2022 Defense:
Total Yards Allowed: 5,312 (17 games)
Total Opponent Plays: 1,001
Yards/Game: 5,312 / 17 = 312.5
Yards/Play: 5,312 / 1,001 = 5.31
League avg yards/play: 5.62
Efficiency Index = 5.62 / 5.31 = 1.058 → 5.8% better than average per playVariable Legend
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| Symbol | Meno | Jednotka | Popis |
|---|---|---|---|
| DYA | Obranné yardy povolené | yards | Celkové nábehy, prihrávky alebo kombinované yardy odovzdané obranou počas hry, sezóny alebo hodnoteného obdobia. |
| RYAPG | Rushing Yards povolené na hru | yards/game | Priemerný počet odovzdaných yardov na hru: Celkový povolený počet povolených yardov / odohraných hier. |
| PYAPG | Povolené yardy na hru | yards/game | Priemerný počet odovzdaných yardov na zápas: Celkový počet povolených yardov na prihrávku / odohrané hry. |
| YPP_DEF | Yards Per Play Allowed | yards/play | Average yards surrendered per opposing play: Total Yards Allowed / Total Opponent Plays; a rate stat that controls for pace. |
| DVOA_DEF | Defensive DVOA | % | Opponent-adjusted defensive efficiency; negative values indicate better-than-average defense. Preferred over raw yards by analytics community. |
| EPA_DEF | EPA Allowed Per Play | points/play | Expected Points Added allowed per play; negative means the defense is suppressing expected scoring, a more context-sensitive metric than raw yards. |
How to Defensive Yards Allowed Calculator
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- 1Gather the total yards allowed by the defense for the period — separated into passing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed — from NFL.com game stats, Pro Football Reference, or ESPN game summaries.
- 2Divide total yards by games played to get yards allowed per game, which is the standard comparison metric for league rankings and opponent analysis.
- 3Calculate yards per play allowed by dividing total yards by total opponent offensive plays (attempts + rushes) — this removes the time-of-possession distortion and gives a purer efficiency measure of defensive performance.
- 4Separate into passing and rushing components: passing yards allowed per game and rushing yards allowed per game reveal the specific strength and weakness profile of the defense, enabling game-plan targeting decisions.
- 5Compare yards per play allowed against the league average for the season to create a normalized efficiency index — this is the most reliable cross-season comparison because the league average changes year to year as offensive rules evolve.
- 6Supplement with opponent-adjusted metrics (like defensive DVOA from Football Outsiders) for the most accurate evaluation — raw yards allowed is influenced by the quality of offenses faced, and a defense that allowed fewer yards facing easy schedules may be weaker than one that allowed slightly more against elite offenses.
Worked Examples
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A defense allowing under 90 rush yards per game with a 3.45 yards-per-carry average is elite at stopping the run — these defenses force opponents to pass more frequently, which benefits pass rushers and cornerbacks.
A team that stops the run at an elite level but allows 271+ passing yards per game has a clear defensive identity conflict — the pass rush may be generating sacks but leaving the secondary exposed in coverage.
The 49ers' balanced defensive dominance — top-5 in both pass and rush yards allowed — reflects DeMeco Ryans' system that creates disguised coverages and pressures with 4-man fronts, making every facet of the attack difficult.
A team with a fast, high-scoring offense faces more defensive snaps when they score quickly — their defense allows 1,182 plays rather than the league average 1,020, inflating total and per-game yards while their per-play efficiency is actually strong.
Real-World Applications
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Ofenzívni koordinátori študujú súperove obranné yardy povolené typom formácie (základňa vs. nikel vs. desetník), aby identifikovali, proti ktorým personálnym balíkom je obrana najzraniteľnejšia, čo umožňuje cielené útoky podľa herného plánu na špecifické slabiny pokrytia.
Manažéri fantastického futbalu používajú údaje o obranných yardoch súpera podľa pozície (yardy pri prihrávke na WRs, yardy v nábehu na RB) na prijímanie priaznivých rozhodnutí o začiatku/sedení na základe zápasov každý týždeň, čo pomáha analytikom produkovať presné výsledky, ktoré podporujú strategické plánovanie, alokáciu zdrojov a porovnávanie výkonnosti v rámci organizácií.
Stávkové stávky začleňujú metriky povolené obrannými yardmi do modelovania ich súčtu (nad/pod) tímu, konkrétne pomocou yardov na zápas, ktoré umožňujú projektovať, koľko bodov vygeneruje konkrétny ofenzívny zápas, čo profesionálom umožňuje systematicky kvantifikovať výsledky a porovnávať scenáre pomocou spoľahlivých matematických rámcov a zavedených vzorcov.
Hlavní tréneri NFL a defenzívni koordinátori hodnotia týždenný výkon podľa yardov na povolenú hru, a nie podľa celkového počtu yardov, pričom pomocou tejto metriky na prehratie vo filmových reláciách identifikujú, ktoré konkrétne hry a formácie vyprodukovali obrovské zisky yardov, ktoré si vyžadujú korekcie schémy.
Special Cases
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Zabránenie obrany v posledných minútach hry umelo nafukuje yardy
Zabránenie obrane v posledných minútach hier umelo navyšuje povolené počty yardov – tímy, ktoré chránia vedenie, zvyčajne pripúšťajú v posledných dvoch minútach kus yardage, pretože uprednostňujú predchádzanie touchdownom pred obmedzujúcimi yardmi, vďaka čomu defenzívne štatistiky na konci hry nereprezentujú kvalitu obrany celej hry. Profesionáli pracujúci s povolenými obrannými yardmi by mali byť obzvlášť pozorní voči tomuto scenáru, pretože to môže viesť k zavádzajúcim výsledkom, ak sa s nimi nebude správne zaobchádzať. Vždy si overte okrajové podmienky a v praxi ich overte nezávislými metódami.
Štatistiky obranných presiloviek vytvárajú štatistickú anomáliu, kde tímy, ktoré
Štatistiky obranných presiloviek vytvárajú štatistickú anomáliu, kde sa zdá, že tímy, ktoré si vynucujú presilové hry, umožňujú viac yardov ako tie, ktoré vyhrajú v regulácii, jednoducho preto, že prebiehajú dodatočné hry – vždy oddelené súčty yardov pre reguláciu a predĺženie pri porovnávaní medzi tímami s rôznou frekvenciou presilových hier. Profesionáli pracujúci s povolenými obrannými yardmi by mali byť obzvlášť pozorní voči tomuto scenáru, pretože to môže viesť k zavádzajúcim výsledkom, ak sa s nimi nebude správne zaobchádzať. Vždy si overte okrajové podmienky a v praxi ich overte nezávislými metódami.
Poveternostné podmienky (extrémne chladné, silné zrážky) sa systematicky znižujú
Poveternostné podmienky (extrémne chladné počasie, silné zrážky) systematicky znižujú počet yardov na zápas pri vonkajších hrách, čo znamená, že obrana v mestách s chladným počasím (Green Bay, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo) vykazuje umelo lepšie metriky yardov na zápas v domácich zápasoch, ktoré sa úplne nepremietajú do hodnotenia neutrálneho miesta alebo kopule. Profesionáli pracujúci s povolenými obrannými yardmi by mali byť obzvlášť pozorní voči tomuto scenáru, pretože to môže viesť k zavádzajúcim výsledkom, ak sa s nimi nebude správne zaobchádzať. Vždy si overte okrajové podmienky a v praxi ich overte nezávislými metódami.
2022 NFL Defensive Yards Allowed Leaders
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| Tím | Total Yards Allowed | YPG Allowed | Rush YPG | Pass YPG | Defensive Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 5,312 | 312.5 | 94.5 | 218.0 | 1st |
| New England Patriots | 5,328 | 313.4 | 115.2 | 198.2 | 2nd |
| Dallas Cowboys | 5,363 | 315.5 | 118.0 | 197.5 | 3rd |
| Baltimore Ravens | 5,584 | 328.5 | 120.3 | 208.2 | 4th |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6,481 | 381.2 | 147.4 | 233.8 | 24 |
| Houston Texasans | 6,674 | 392.6 | 157.2 | 235.4 | 31 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the NFL average yards allowed per game on defense?
The NFL average defensive yards allowed has risen from approximately 310 yards per game in the 1990s to around 340-360 yards per game in 2022, reflecting the league-wide shift toward more frequent and efficient passing offenses. Top defenses in the modern era allow under 300 yards per game, while poor defenses can allow 380-400+.
Is yards per game or yards per play a better defensive metric?
Yards per play allowed is significantly more meaningful for evaluating defensive quality because it removes the time-of-possession distortion. A defense that faces 1,100 opponent plays will allow more total and per-game yards than one facing 900 plays, even if they are equally effective per play. Yards per play isolates the defense's efficiency from their offense's pace.
How do you evaluate a pass defense vs. a run defense?
Separate passing yards allowed per game from rushing yards allowed per game, then compare each against position group benchmarks. Elite pass defenses allow under 215 pass yards per game; elite run defenses allow under 85 rush yards per game. These can diverge significantly — many teams have elite run defense but average pass defense (or vice versa) based on personnel and scheme.
What is a good defensive yards per play allowed in the NFL?
League average in recent seasons is approximately 5.5-5.7 yards per play. A defense allowing under 5.0 yards per play is elite — ranking in the top 2-3 teams in the NFL. Under 4.8 yards per play represents historically dominant defensive efficiency. Above 6.0 yards per play indicates a defense that is being consistently moved against on every play.
Does yards allowed include passing yards from sack losses?
This is source-dependent. In the NFL's official statistics, sack yards lost are counted as passing yards for the passer but do not reduce the yardage in team passing totals (sacks are tracked separately as part of team rushing stats in some older frameworks). Pro Football Reference counts sack yards lost in passing stats, while some sources exclude them — always check the methodology.
How does scheduling affect defensive yards allowed rankings?
Significantly — a defense that faces 8 games against top-5 offenses will allow more yards than an equivalent defense facing 8 games against bottom-5 offenses. This is why opponent-adjusted metrics like defensive DVOA are more accurate for evaluating true defensive quality. A defense allowing 340 yards per game against elite offenses may be better than one allowing 300 yards per game against weaker competition.
Which NFL teams have had the best defenses in history by yards allowed?
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens are widely considered the greatest single-season defense in NFL history, allowing only 10.3 points per game and dominating yards allowed metrics. The 1985 Chicago Bears, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and 2015 Denver Broncos are also historically elite. In recent years, the 2022 San Francisco 49ers and 2020 Los Angeles Rams led the league in yards allowed per game.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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- !Hodnotenie obrany len podľa celkového počtu yardov povoleného bez prispôsobenia tempu ich tímu a času držania lopty – útok s rýchlym skórovaním vytvára oveľa viac defenzívnych úderov ako tím s pomalým tempom, vďaka čomu je celkový počet yardov nespravodlivý bez normalizácie.
- !Ignorovanie príspevku prihrávok k povoleným yardom – obrana, ktorá generuje značnú yardovú vzdialenosť na vrece, znižuje počet yardov na prihrávku na úrovni hry, ale ak sú vrecia kategorizované ako pokusy o prihrávku, metrika povolených yardov pri prihrávke môže byť podhodnotená v porovnaní s obranami, ktoré sa ponáhľajú 3-4 a umožňujú viac pokusov o dokončenie bez pokusov o vrece.
- !Povolené zaobchádzanie s yardmi ako priamym zástupcom povolených bodov – poloha poľa, miera obratu a efektívnosť červenej zóny môžu spôsobiť veľké rozdiely medzi povolenými yardmi a povolenými bodmi. Obrana, ktorá si vynucuje obraty, umožní menej bodov, ako by naznačovali jej yardy, vďaka čomu je obrana z bodovania vynikajúcou metrikou na hodnotenie celkovej hodnoty obrany.
Pro Tip
Kombinácia obranných yardov na hru povolená so súperom EPA na hru umožnila najúplnejší obraz o defenzívnej efektivite v jednej metrike. Obrana, ktorá umožňuje 5,1 yardu na hru a zápornú EPA na hru, je skutočne elitná – obmedzuje tak hrubú metráž, ako aj bodovú hodnotu každej hry. Obrana silná v yardoch, ale slabšia v EPA často umožňuje veľa krátkych hier s vysokou hodnotou (tretie-dole konverzie), ktoré yardová metrika podceňuje.
Did you know?
Baltimore Ravens z roku 2000 – zlatý štandard modernej defenzívnej dokonalosti – udržal súperov na úrovni 10,3 bodu na zápas počas celej sezóny. Ich najmimoriadnejší štatistický úspech: štvorzápasový úsek, v ktorom počas 240 minút futbalu neumožnili celkom nulové útočné pristátia, bezprecedentný výpadok v ére platových stropov, o ktorom sa mnohí analytici domnievajú, že v modernej NFL sa nikdy nevyrovná.
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