NFL Advanced Defense Stats 2026
EPA per play, success rate, and explosive play rate allowed by every defense — flip to Offense for the same metrics from the other side of the ball.
League Average
Plays
466
Dropbacks
282
Rushes
184
EPA/Play
0.00
EPA/Dropback
0.05
EPA/Rush
-0.08
Success%
43.5%
Pass Success%
45.5%
Rush Success%
40.5%
Explosive%
8.6%
Sack%
6.2%
TO%
1.9%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.01
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.03
Plays
406
Dropbacks
235
Rushes
171
EPA/Play
-0.17
EPA/Dropback
-0.21
EPA/Rush
-0.12
Success%
37.2%
Pass Success%
37.9%
Rush Success%
36.3%
Explosive%
8.6%
Sack%
10.6%
TO%
2.7%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.11
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.34
Plays
457
Dropbacks
294
Rushes
163
EPA/Play
-0.16
EPA/Dropback
-0.16
EPA/Rush
-0.15
Success%
39.4%
Pass Success%
41.8%
Rush Success%
35.0%
Explosive%
6.8%
Sack%
5.4%
TO%
3.1%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.06
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.44
Plays
491
Dropbacks
290
Rushes
201
EPA/Play
-0.10
EPA/Dropback
-0.06
EPA/Rush
-0.16
Success%
40.5%
Pass Success%
43.4%
Rush Success%
36.3%
Explosive%
7.1%
Sack%
4.1%
TO%
1.6%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.01
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.49
Plays
412
Dropbacks
270
Rushes
142
EPA/Play
-0.10
EPA/Dropback
-0.05
EPA/Rush
-0.19
Success%
42.2%
Pass Success%
45.2%
Rush Success%
36.6%
Explosive%
7.8%
Sack%
5.6%
TO%
2.9%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.07
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.22
Plays
475
Dropbacks
286
Rushes
189
EPA/Play
-0.09
EPA/Dropback
-0.07
EPA/Rush
-0.11
Success%
38.9%
Pass Success%
40.9%
Rush Success%
36.0%
Explosive%
5.1%
Sack%
6.3%
TO%
2.3%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.09
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.10
Plays
486
Dropbacks
318
Rushes
168
EPA/Play
-0.07
EPA/Dropback
-0.03
EPA/Rush
-0.16
Success%
41.8%
Pass Success%
45.9%
Rush Success%
33.9%
Explosive%
8.4%
Sack%
8.2%
TO%
2.5%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.09
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.04
Plays
530
Dropbacks
325
Rushes
205
EPA/Play
-0.07
EPA/Dropback
-0.05
EPA/Rush
-0.10
Success%
43.6%
Pass Success%
43.7%
Rush Success%
43.4%
Explosive%
5.8%
Sack%
6.8%
TO%
2.8%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.10
EPA 3rd/4th
0.03
Plays
434
Dropbacks
268
Rushes
166
EPA/Play
-0.04
EPA/Dropback
0.04
EPA/Rush
-0.17
Success%
44.0%
Pass Success%
44.0%
Rush Success%
44.0%
Explosive%
4.4%
Sack%
5.6%
TO%
1.4%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.06
EPA 3rd/4th
0.00
Plays
409
Dropbacks
215
Rushes
194
EPA/Play
-0.04
EPA/Dropback
-0.02
EPA/Rush
-0.06
Success%
43.8%
Pass Success%
46.0%
Rush Success%
41.2%
Explosive%
9.3%
Sack%
5.6%
TO%
2.4%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.04
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.31
Plays
519
Dropbacks
313
Rushes
206
EPA/Play
-0.03
EPA/Dropback
-0.01
EPA/Rush
-0.08
Success%
43.7%
Pass Success%
44.1%
Rush Success%
43.2%
Explosive%
9.1%
Sack%
5.8%
TO%
1.9%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.05
EPA 3rd/4th
0.01
Plays
440
Dropbacks
267
Rushes
173
EPA/Play
-0.03
EPA/Dropback
0.03
EPA/Rush
-0.13
Success%
40.5%
Pass Success%
43.8%
Rush Success%
35.3%
Explosive%
7.5%
Sack%
3.4%
TO%
2.0%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.05
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.01
Plays
408
Dropbacks
267
Rushes
141
EPA/Play
-0.02
EPA/Dropback
0.01
EPA/Rush
-0.09
Success%
40.2%
Pass Success%
41.9%
Rush Success%
36.9%
Explosive%
9.6%
Sack%
8.2%
TO%
2.0%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.12
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.56
Plays
546
Dropbacks
340
Rushes
206
EPA/Play
-0.02
EPA/Dropback
-0.02
EPA/Rush
-0.02
Success%
40.5%
Pass Success%
42.4%
Rush Success%
37.4%
Explosive%
8.1%
Sack%
6.8%
TO%
1.8%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.01
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.13
Plays
496
Dropbacks
291
Rushes
204
EPA/Play
-0.02
EPA/Dropback
-0.02
EPA/Rush
-0.02
Success%
42.1%
Pass Success%
40.9%
Rush Success%
44.1%
Explosive%
11.1%
Sack%
7.2%
TO%
2.0%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.02
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.14
Plays
437
Dropbacks
282
Rushes
155
EPA/Play
-0.01
EPA/Dropback
0.03
EPA/Rush
-0.07
Success%
43.9%
Pass Success%
48.9%
Rush Success%
34.8%
Explosive%
9.6%
Sack%
8.2%
TO%
2.5%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.02
EPA 3rd/4th
0.02
Plays
470
Dropbacks
290
Rushes
180
EPA/Play
0.01
EPA/Dropback
0.07
EPA/Rush
-0.09
Success%
43.4%
Pass Success%
46.6%
Rush Success%
38.3%
Explosive%
8.9%
Sack%
7.6%
TO%
1.7%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.01
EPA 3rd/4th
0.02
Plays
410
Dropbacks
244
Rushes
166
EPA/Play
0.01
EPA/Dropback
0.06
EPA/Rush
-0.07
Success%
43.2%
Pass Success%
44.3%
Rush Success%
41.6%
Explosive%
8.8%
Sack%
3.7%
TO%
2.0%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.05
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.16
Plays
498
Dropbacks
303
Rushes
195
EPA/Play
0.01
EPA/Dropback
0.06
EPA/Rush
-0.05
Success%
44.4%
Pass Success%
45.9%
Rush Success%
42.1%
Explosive%
7.8%
Sack%
5.6%
TO%
1.6%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.04
EPA 3rd/4th
0.17
Plays
499
Dropbacks
277
Rushes
222
EPA/Play
0.02
EPA/Dropback
0.16
EPA/Rush
-0.14
Success%
45.5%
Pass Success%
48.0%
Rush Success%
42.3%
Explosive%
8.0%
Sack%
7.2%
TO%
1.4%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.03
EPA 3rd/4th
0.00
Plays
444
Dropbacks
289
Rushes
155
EPA/Play
0.03
EPA/Dropback
0.09
EPA/Rush
-0.08
Success%
46.4%
Pass Success%
47.1%
Rush Success%
45.2%
Explosive%
7.0%
Sack%
5.5%
TO%
2.3%
EPA 1st/2nd
-0.03
EPA 3rd/4th
0.21
Plays
453
Dropbacks
269
Rushes
184
EPA/Play
0.03
EPA/Dropback
0.06
EPA/Rush
-0.01
Success%
44.6%
Pass Success%
46.5%
Rush Success%
41.8%
Explosive%
7.3%
Sack%
4.1%
TO%
1.8%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.05
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.06
Plays
443
Dropbacks
274
Rushes
169
EPA/Play
0.03
EPA/Dropback
0.07
EPA/Rush
-0.03
Success%
41.3%
Pass Success%
40.5%
Rush Success%
42.6%
Explosive%
9.9%
Sack%
7.7%
TO%
1.4%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.03
EPA 3rd/4th
0.04
Plays
459
Dropbacks
295
Rushes
164
EPA/Play
0.06
EPA/Dropback
0.14
EPA/Rush
-0.08
Success%
46.0%
Pass Success%
47.8%
Rush Success%
42.7%
Explosive%
9.4%
Sack%
5.1%
TO%
2.0%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.07
EPA 3rd/4th
0.04
Plays
453
Dropbacks
259
Rushes
194
EPA/Play
0.07
EPA/Dropback
0.10
EPA/Rush
0.02
Success%
43.0%
Pass Success%
43.2%
Rush Success%
42.8%
Explosive%
9.3%
Sack%
6.2%
TO%
0.9%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.10
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.05
Plays
523
Dropbacks
305
Rushes
218
EPA/Play
0.07
EPA/Dropback
0.17
EPA/Rush
-0.07
Success%
46.8%
Pass Success%
51.5%
Rush Success%
40.4%
Explosive%
9.8%
Sack%
6.6%
TO%
2.1%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.06
EPA 3rd/4th
0.12
Plays
477
Dropbacks
263
Rushes
214
EPA/Play
0.07
EPA/Dropback
0.25
EPA/Rush
-0.14
Success%
43.0%
Pass Success%
44.9%
Rush Success%
40.7%
Explosive%
9.6%
Sack%
7.2%
TO%
1.5%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.03
EPA 3rd/4th
0.21
Plays
439
Dropbacks
261
Rushes
178
EPA/Play
0.08
EPA/Dropback
0.10
EPA/Rush
0.04
Success%
48.7%
Pass Success%
49.0%
Rush Success%
48.3%
Explosive%
10.0%
Sack%
6.9%
TO%
1.6%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.10
EPA 3rd/4th
0.01
Plays
492
Dropbacks
286
Rushes
206
EPA/Play
0.08
EPA/Dropback
0.16
EPA/Rush
-0.03
Success%
47.8%
Pass Success%
50.3%
Rush Success%
44.2%
Explosive%
11.0%
Sack%
6.3%
TO%
2.6%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.10
EPA 3rd/4th
-0.01
Plays
527
Dropbacks
300
Rushes
227
EPA/Play
0.10
EPA/Dropback
0.14
EPA/Rush
0.05
Success%
45.4%
Pass Success%
45.7%
Rush Success%
44.9%
Explosive%
9.1%
Sack%
3.3%
TO%
0.8%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.05
EPA 3rd/4th
0.26
Plays
470
Dropbacks
325
Rushes
145
EPA/Play
0.11
EPA/Dropback
0.20
EPA/Rush
-0.09
Success%
45.5%
Pass Success%
49.2%
Rush Success%
37.2%
Explosive%
10.2%
Sack%
7.4%
TO%
1.5%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.06
EPA 3rd/4th
0.29
Plays
508
Dropbacks
293
Rushes
215
EPA/Play
0.13
EPA/Dropback
0.23
EPA/Rush
-0.01
Success%
46.5%
Pass Success%
50.2%
Rush Success%
41.4%
Explosive%
10.2%
Sack%
5.1%
TO%
1.2%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.11
EPA 3rd/4th
0.19
Plays
399
Dropbacks
217
Rushes
182
EPA/Play
0.13
EPA/Dropback
0.30
EPA/Rush
-0.07
Success%
49.4%
Pass Success%
53.9%
Rush Success%
44.0%
Explosive%
9.8%
Sack%
4.1%
TO%
1.5%
EPA 1st/2nd
0.03
EPA 3rd/4th
0.46
| # | Team |
Plays
Plays
Total scrimmage plays (REG season; excludes no-plays, kneels, and spikes).
|
Dropbacks
Dropbacks
Pass attempts, sacks, and QB scrambles combined.
|
Rushes
Rushes
Designed rush attempts, excluding QB scrambles.
|
EPA/Play ▲
EPA/Play
Expected Points Added per play, averaged across every scrimmage play.
|
EPA/Dropback
EPA/Dropback
EPA per dropback (pass attempts, sacks, and scrambles).
|
EPA/Rush
EPA/Rush
EPA per designed rush attempt (excludes QB scrambles).
|
Success%
Success%
Share of plays that cleared the standard success threshold — 40% of yards to go gained on 1st down, 60% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd or 4th.
|
Pass Success%
Pass Success%
Success rate on dropbacks only.
|
Rush Success%
Rush Success%
Success rate on designed rushes only (excludes scrambles).
|
Explosive%
Explosive%
Share of plays that gained 20+ yards through the air or 10+ yards on a designed rush.
|
Sack%
Sack%
Sacks per dropback.
|
TO%
TO%
Interceptions plus lost fumbles per play.
|
EPA 1st/2nd
EPA 1st/2nd
EPA per play on 1st and 2nd down.
|
EPA 3rd/4th
EPA 3rd/4th
EPA per play on 3rd and 4th down.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | League Average | 466 | 282 | 184 | 0.00 | 0.05 | -0.08 | 43.5% | 45.5% | 40.5% | 8.6% | 6.2% | 1.9% | 0.01 | -0.03 |
| 1 | 406 | 235 | 171 | -0.17 | -0.21 | -0.12 | 37.2% | 37.9% | 36.3% | 8.6% | 10.6% | 2.7% | -0.11 | -0.34 | |
| 2 | 457 | 294 | 163 | -0.16 | -0.16 | -0.15 | 39.4% | 41.8% | 35.0% | 6.8% | 5.4% | 3.1% | -0.06 | -0.44 | |
| 3 | 491 | 290 | 201 | -0.10 | -0.06 | -0.16 | 40.5% | 43.4% | 36.3% | 7.1% | 4.1% | 1.6% | 0.01 | -0.49 | |
| 4 | 412 | 270 | 142 | -0.10 | -0.05 | -0.19 | 42.2% | 45.2% | 36.6% | 7.8% | 5.6% | 2.9% | -0.07 | -0.22 | |
| 5 | 475 | 286 | 189 | -0.09 | -0.07 | -0.11 | 38.9% | 40.9% | 36.0% | 5.1% | 6.3% | 2.3% | -0.09 | -0.10 | |
| 6 | 486 | 318 | 168 | -0.07 | -0.03 | -0.16 | 41.8% | 45.9% | 33.9% | 8.4% | 8.2% | 2.5% | -0.09 | -0.04 | |
| 7 | 530 | 325 | 205 | -0.07 | -0.05 | -0.10 | 43.6% | 43.7% | 43.4% | 5.8% | 6.8% | 2.8% | -0.10 | 0.03 | |
| 8 | 434 | 268 | 166 | -0.04 | 0.04 | -0.17 | 44.0% | 44.0% | 44.0% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 1.4% | -0.06 | 0.00 | |
| 9 | 409 | 215 | 194 | -0.04 | -0.02 | -0.06 | 43.8% | 46.0% | 41.2% | 9.3% | 5.6% | 2.4% | 0.04 | -0.31 | |
| 10 | 519 | 313 | 206 | -0.03 | -0.01 | -0.08 | 43.7% | 44.1% | 43.2% | 9.1% | 5.8% | 1.9% | -0.05 | 0.01 | |
| 11 | 440 | 267 | 173 | -0.03 | 0.03 | -0.13 | 40.5% | 43.8% | 35.3% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 2.0% | -0.05 | -0.01 | |
| 12 | 408 | 267 | 141 | -0.02 | 0.01 | -0.09 | 40.2% | 41.9% | 36.9% | 9.6% | 8.2% | 2.0% | 0.12 | -0.56 | |
| 13 | 546 | 340 | 206 | -0.02 | -0.02 | -0.02 | 40.5% | 42.4% | 37.4% | 8.1% | 6.8% | 1.8% | 0.01 | -0.13 | |
| 14 | 496 | 291 | 204 | -0.02 | -0.02 | -0.02 | 42.1% | 40.9% | 44.1% | 11.1% | 7.2% | 2.0% | 0.02 | -0.14 | |
| 15 | 437 | 282 | 155 | -0.01 | 0.03 | -0.07 | 43.9% | 48.9% | 34.8% | 9.6% | 8.2% | 2.5% | -0.02 | 0.02 | |
| 16 | 470 | 290 | 180 | 0.01 | 0.07 | -0.09 | 43.4% | 46.6% | 38.3% | 8.9% | 7.6% | 1.7% | 0.01 | 0.02 | |
| 17 | 410 | 244 | 166 | 0.01 | 0.06 | -0.07 | 43.2% | 44.3% | 41.6% | 8.8% | 3.7% | 2.0% | 0.05 | -0.16 | |
| 18 | 498 | 303 | 195 | 0.01 | 0.06 | -0.05 | 44.4% | 45.9% | 42.1% | 7.8% | 5.6% | 1.6% | -0.04 | 0.17 | |
| 19 | 499 | 277 | 222 | 0.02 | 0.16 | -0.14 | 45.5% | 48.0% | 42.3% | 8.0% | 7.2% | 1.4% | 0.03 | 0.00 | |
| 20 | 444 | 289 | 155 | 0.03 | 0.09 | -0.08 | 46.4% | 47.1% | 45.2% | 7.0% | 5.5% | 2.3% | -0.03 | 0.21 | |
| 21 | 453 | 269 | 184 | 0.03 | 0.06 | -0.01 | 44.6% | 46.5% | 41.8% | 7.3% | 4.1% | 1.8% | 0.05 | -0.06 | |
| 22 | 443 | 274 | 169 | 0.03 | 0.07 | -0.03 | 41.3% | 40.5% | 42.6% | 9.9% | 7.7% | 1.4% | 0.03 | 0.04 | |
| 23 | 459 | 295 | 164 | 0.06 | 0.14 | -0.08 | 46.0% | 47.8% | 42.7% | 9.4% | 5.1% | 2.0% | 0.07 | 0.04 | |
| 24 | 453 | 259 | 194 | 0.07 | 0.10 | 0.02 | 43.0% | 43.2% | 42.8% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 0.9% | 0.10 | -0.05 | |
| 25 | 523 | 305 | 218 | 0.07 | 0.17 | -0.07 | 46.8% | 51.5% | 40.4% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 2.1% | 0.06 | 0.12 | |
| 26 | 477 | 263 | 214 | 0.07 | 0.25 | -0.14 | 43.0% | 44.9% | 40.7% | 9.6% | 7.2% | 1.5% | 0.03 | 0.21 | |
| 27 | 439 | 261 | 178 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 48.7% | 49.0% | 48.3% | 10.0% | 6.9% | 1.6% | 0.10 | 0.01 | |
| 28 | 492 | 286 | 206 | 0.08 | 0.16 | -0.03 | 47.8% | 50.3% | 44.2% | 11.0% | 6.3% | 2.6% | 0.10 | -0.01 | |
| 29 | 527 | 300 | 227 | 0.10 | 0.14 | 0.05 | 45.4% | 45.7% | 44.9% | 9.1% | 3.3% | 0.8% | 0.05 | 0.26 | |
| 30 | 470 | 325 | 145 | 0.11 | 0.20 | -0.09 | 45.5% | 49.2% | 37.2% | 10.2% | 7.4% | 1.5% | 0.06 | 0.29 | |
| 31 | 508 | 293 | 215 | 0.13 | 0.23 | -0.01 | 46.5% | 50.2% | 41.4% | 10.2% | 5.1% | 1.2% | 0.11 | 0.19 | |
| 32 | 399 | 217 | 182 | 0.13 | 0.30 | -0.07 | 49.4% | 53.9% | 44.0% | 9.8% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 0.03 | 0.46 |
2026 NFL Advanced Defense Metrics
Explore advanced defensive analytics for the 2026 NFL season, built from every tracked play of the year. EPA (Expected Points Added) per play shows which defenses consistently put offenses in a worse position than an average defense would. Success rate allowed shows which defenses keep offenses behind schedule on a down-by-down basis, and explosive play rate shows which defenses limit backbreaking gains. Flip the view toggle to see the same metrics for team offenses.
Overall Efficiency
EPA/Play, EPA/Dropback, and EPA/Rush separate defenses that are stout against the pass from those that are stout against the run.
Down-to-Down Pressure
Success rate (overall, pass, and rush) and the 1st/2nd vs. 3rd/4th down EPA splits show which defenses win on early downs and which ones close out series.
Chunk Plays & Takeaways
Explosive play rate, sack rate, and turnover rate identify defenses that create chaos versus ones that bend but rarely break.
Key Insights — NFL Advanced Defense Stats
- Play-by-play precision: Every metric here is computed from individual plays rather than box-score totals, so it adjusts for down, distance, and field position instead of rewarding garbage-time volume.
- Updated Daily: Stats refresh after each game so you always have the latest sample. Early-season defensive metrics stabilize faster than offensive skill-position stats — by Week 4-6 they're meaningfully predictive.
- Offense Toggle: Flip the View filter to Offense to see the exact same plays and math from the other side of the ball — a team's offensive EPA/play and success rate, not just what it allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EPA per play in NFL defense stats?
EPA (Expected Points Added) per play measures how many points a defense allows above or below what an average defense would allow in the same situation, averaged across every play it faces. A negative EPA/play means the defense is winning on average — the lower the number, the stingier the defense. It is considered more predictive than yards or points allowed because it adjusts for down, distance, and field position.
What does success rate allowed mean?
Success rate allowed is the share of plays where the offense gained enough yardage to be considered "successful" against that defense — 40% of the yards needed on 1st down, 60% on 2nd down, or a full conversion on 3rd or 4th down. A low success rate allowed means a defense consistently puts the offense behind schedule.
How is explosive play rate calculated?
Explosive play rate is the share of plays a defense allows that gain 20 or more yards through the air or 10 or more yards on a designed run. Defenses that limit explosive plays force offenses into long, methodical drives, which lowers scoring efficiency even when overall yardage is similar.
Should I use defensive EPA for fantasy football streaming decisions?
Yes — pair this page with the Defense vs Position tool. EPA and success rate allowed show which defenses are genuinely stout regardless of matchup, while Defense vs Position shows how a specific defense has fared against a specific fantasy position. A defense can be strong overall (good EPA) but still be exploitable at one position.
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