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general | May 12, 2026

What is a good 3rd down conversion percentage?

In 2019, when facing third-and-2 or less, NFL teams converted on an average of 65% of plays. When facing third downs needing 5-7 yards to convert, the conversion rate dropped to 39%.

What is a third down conversion?

A 3rd down conversion occurs when an offense successfully reaches first down line, also known as the line to gain, during their 3rd down, leading to a new set of downs for them on offense. 3rd downs are often some of the most critical moments in a game.

Who leads the league in 3rd down conversion?

Stafford stands alone as the single most productive quarterback when it comes to converting on third downs. For reference, in terms of converting, Patrick Mahomes is second, Russell Wilson is nowhere near the top. Aaron Rodgers, Prescott, and Kyler Murray are below the top five.

What does 3rd down efficiency mean?

Let's define terms. 3rd down efficiency is the percent of 3rd downs that a team is able to convert into a first down.

Does a penalty count as a 3rd down conversion?

One other thing to note about third-down efficiency statistics: If the first down is achieved as a result of a penalty, then it does not count as an attempt for statistics purposes. The rules for determining third-down efficiency are defined in the NCAA Football Statisticians' Manual.

33 related questions found

What is a fourth down conversion?

Teams get four downs to make it the 10 yards required for the first down to continue the drive. It's just risky to attempt to make it on fourth down, because if the offense comes up short, the opposing team gets the ball where the offense finished rather than where a punt may have placed them.

What team goes for it on 4th down the most?

The Detroit Lions had the most fourth-down attempts by a team in 2021, with 41 attempts.

What is the average number of sacks per game?

FWIW, the average sacks per game from the league leading team throughout NFL history is 3.60. Meaning that we should expect the league leading team to have something like 61 sacks going forward with the seventeen game schedule.

What does 3rd down and 4 mean?

If a team makes three yards, for example, then next it's 2nd and Seven, 3rd and Four etc. If they fail to make 10 yards in the four downs then the other team gets the ball. Top tip: If teams fail to make 10 yards on their first three attempts then they'll probably kick it away on their 4th down.

What does 3rd down and goal mean?

What does third down and goal mean in football? Third down and goal, also referred to as "third and goal," means that a team must reach the end zone instead of getting a first down. Whenever a team gains a first down inside of the ten-yard line, they have four plays to reach the end zone or kick a field goal.

What's 3rd and goal mean?

In football, 3rd and goal refers to the downs system. A down is one chance for a team's offense to run a play in an attempt to advance the ball. A team has four downs in a series to reach the first down line, which is ten yards downfield from where the first snap in the series took place.

Who has the best offense in the NFL 2021?

  • Green Bay Packers. ...
  • Los Angeles Rams. ...
  • Kansas City Chiefs. ...
  • San Francisco 49ers. ...
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ...
  • Indianapolis Colts. ...
  • Buffalo Bills. ...
  • Los Angeles Chargers.

Who has the best defense in the NFL 2021?

1. Buffalo Bills (No Change)

What is the longest 3rd down conversion in NFL history?

The longest down since 1994 was 3rd and 50 yards, faced by two teams: the Vikings vs. the Packers (12/20/99) and the Redskins vs. the Bengals (9/23/12).

What is the record for most 4th down conversions?

In his 17th game, the first-year leader set a new NFL record for fourth-down conversion attempts. The Lions have tried to convert 40 times on fourth down, breaking the 1995 New England Patriots record of 39 attempts.

What is the percentage of 4th down conversions in the NFL?

Pure statistics say that a team's success rate to convert a 4th down to a 1st down or a score is about 50 percent when that 4th down is for short yardage. However, NFL teams “go for it” only about 20 percent of the time.

Why you should always go for it on 4th down?

Like many other advanced NFL statistics sites, we conclude that going for it on 4th down often leads to higher expected point values than simply kicking a field goal.

How often are 2point conversions successful?

Various sources estimate the success rate of a two-point conversion to be between 40% and 55%, significantly lower than that of the extra point, though if the higher value is to be believed, a higher expected value is achieved through the two-point conversion than the extra point.

Why don t NFL teams go for it on 4th down?

Going for It on 4th Down

Teams are unlikely to go for it unless they only need a short amount of yardage to gain a first down, and the ball is in the opposing team's half of the field. If it is 4th and inches, then teams will often opt for a QB sneak since the yardage needed for a first down is so small.

What QB has the most 4th down conversions?

Lions' Dan Campbell sets NFL record for most 4th down attempts—and conversions—in a season - Pride Of Detroit.