Are you looking to add something new to your NFL list of handicapping tools? If so, net yards per play should be at the top of your checklist of tools to help you predict games.
This report will be updated following each week of NFL action and contains team net yards per play results from the entire season, the last three games, and home/away splits.
What Is Net Yards Per Play?
The stat combines yards per play and yards allowed per play by deducting the number of yards a team allows per play from the amount it gains on offense.
Why Is Net Yards Per Play Useful?
Net yards per play is a useful stat because it eliminates random factors such as turnovers, botched kicks, and special teams touchdowns.
Of course, randomness plays a large role in the outcome of most sports, but it’s impossible to predict. Analyzing net yards per play gives us a great indication of how good a team truly is. It’s no surprise that the top of the net yards per play rankings is typically crowded with many of the best teams in the league while the bottom is full of sub-.500 and last-place teams.
*The record in parenthesis is the team’s ATS record in that situation.
NFL Net Yards Per Play Takeaway
Last week I said the Dolphins will win over the Broncos based on a +2.28 net yards per play differential. And while I certainly didn't think they'd win by 50 points, I was still right to say Miami was going continue its undefeated streak.
On the note of predicting outcomes using this report, I'm looking at Monday Night's game between the Seahawks and the Giants. I fancy Seattle to get the dub. Seattle holds +0.03 net yards on the road compared to New York's -0.75 on home turf.
The Bengals might have won 19-16 over the Rams, but it did very little for their net yards per play. Cinci went from -1.61 to -1.53. It's an improvement of course, but a marginal one. There's no way the Bengals make the playoffs if they can't find a way to chew up more yards per play.
| Team | This Season | Last 3 | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 1.72 (3-0) | 2.98 (3-0) | 2.49 (1-0) | 1.33 (2-0) |
| Chiefs | 1.68 (2-1) | 1.31 (2-1) | 0.91 (1-1) | 2.45 (1-0) |
| 49ers | 1.46 (2-1) | 2.07 (2-1) | 1.53 (1-0) | 1.4 (1-1) |
| Ravens | 0.94 (2-1) | 1.0 (2-1) | 0.65 (1-1) | 1.23 (1-0) |
| Browns | 0.84 (2-1) | 1.82 (2-1) | 1.74 (2-0) | -0.35 (0-1) |
| Packers | 0.68 (3-0) | 0.23 (3-0) | 0.47 (1-0) | 0.89 (2-0) |
| Bills | 0.62 (2-1) | 0.17 (2-1) | 0.54 (1-0) | 0.66 (1-1) |
| Jaguars | 0.59 (1-2) | -0.59 (1-2) | -0.42 (0-2) | 1.6 (1-0) |
| Seahawks | 0.49 (2-1) | -0.42 (2-1) | 0.72 (1-1) | 0.03 (1-0) |
| Raiders | 0.27 (1-2) | 0.06 (1-2) | -0.26 (0-1) | 0.53 (1-1) |
| Lions | 0.25 (2-1) | 1.2 (2-1) | 0.29 (1-1) | 0.16 (1-0) |
| Colts | 0.19 (2-1) | -0.23 (2-1) | 0.01 (0-1) | 0.28 (2-0) |
| Saints | 0.1 (0-2-1) | 0.14 (0-2-1) | 0.09 (0-1) | 0.11 (0-1-1) |
| Titans | 0.09 (2-1) | -1.17 (2-1) | 1.97 (1-0) | -0.85 (1-1) |
| Jets | -0.03 (1-2) | -0.49 (1-2) | -0.4 (1-1) | 0.24 (0-1) |
| Broncos | -0.16 (0-3) | -1.26 (0-3) | 1.03 (0-2) | -1.34 (0-1) |
| Eagles | -0.21 (2-0-1) | 0.08 (2-0-1) | -0.88 (0-0-1) | 0.46 (2-0) |
| Vikings | -0.27 (0-2-1) | 0.68 (0-2-1) | -0.16 (0-2) | -0.48 (0-0-1) |
| Chargers | -0.33 (1-2) | -0.46 (1-2) | -1.57 (0-1) | 0.29 (1-1) |
| Steelers | -0.35 (2-1) | -0.69 (2-1) | -1.22 (1-1) | 0.53 (1-0) |
| Cowboys | -0.36 (2-1) | 0.04 (2-1) | -0.29 (1-0) | -0.42 (1-1) |
| Falcons | -0.39 (1-2) | -0.37 (1-2) | 0.34 (1-1) | -1.85 (0-1) |
| Football Team | -0.46 (1-2) | -0.6 (1-2) | -0.44 (0-2) | -0.5 (1-0) |
| Texans | -0.52 (1-2) | -0.52 (1-2) | -1.64 (0-1) | 0.04 (1-1) |
| Cardinals | -0.57 (3-0) | 0.52 (3-0) | -0.85 (2-0) | -0.02 (1-0) |
| Panthers | -0.71 (0-2-1) | -0.66 (0-2-1) | -0.65 (0-0-1) | -0.76 (0-2) |
| Buccaneers | -0.72 (2-1) | -0.87 (2-1) | -0.42 (1-1) | -1.33 (1-0) |
| Rams | -0.79 (2-0-1) | 0.39 (2-0-1) | -1.65 (1-0) | 0.07 (1-0-1) |
| Giants | -0.87 (0-3) | -1.45 (0-3) | -0.75 (0-1) | -0.99 (0-2) |
| Bears | -0.88 (0-3) | -1.65 (0-3) | -0.16 (0-1) | -1.61 (0-2) |
| Patriots | -0.91 (1-2) | 0.28 (1-2) | -0.85 (0-2) | -0.98 (1-0) |
| Bengals | -1.53 (0-2-1) | -1.55 (0-2-1) | -1.67 (0-1-1) | -1.4 (0-1) |
NFL Net Yards Per Play FAQ
What is net yards per play?
The stat combines yards per play and yards per play allowed by deducting the number of yards a team allows per play from the amount it gains on offense.
Why is net yards per play useful?
Net yards per play is useful as it eliminates random factors such as turnovers, botched kicks and special teams touchdowns. Analyzing net yards per play gives us a great indication of how good a team truly is.
Who is leading the NFL net yards per play report in 2023?
The Miami Dolphins currently sit at the top of the NFL net yards per play report with 1.72 net yards. They're one of three sides with more than a single net yard per play.
Kansas (1.68) and San Francisco (1.46) are the other two.