The Detroit Lions are getting more points out of each possession than any other NFL offense through five weeks. Detroit has scored 164 points on 53 offensive drives, an average of 3.09 points per drive, the best mark in the league. The league average is 2.14 points per drive across every game through Monday night.
The Lions scored 31 points in each of their first three games and 45 in Sunday’s win at Arizona, doing it on only 53 total drives — fewer possessions than 20 other teams. Buffalo matches Detroit with 164 points but has used 54 drives (3.04 per drive). San Francisco is third at 3.02 (154 points on 51 drives), and Dallas is fourth at exactly 3.00 (138 on 46). Those four clubs are the only ones at or above 3.0.
Best offenses in points per drive after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Games | Points | Drives | Points per drive | Points allowed per drive (rank) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit Lions | 3-2 | 5 | 164 | 53 | 3.094 | 2.741 (30) |
| 2 | Buffalo Bills | 4-1 | 5 | 164 | 54 | 3.037 | 2.660 (27) |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 5 | 154 | 51 | 3.020 | 1.788 (4) |
| 4 | Dallas Cowboys | 2-3 | 5 | 138 | 46 | 3.000 | 2.720 (29) |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | 4 | 118 | 44 | 2.682 | 1.791 (5) |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers | 2-2 | 4 | 121 | 46 | 2.630 | 2.224 (22) |
| 7 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-2 | 5 | 128 | 49 | 2.612 | 2.137 (19) |
| 8 | Baltimore Ravens | 4-1 | 5 | 146 | 56 | 2.607 | 2.245 (23) |
| 9 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-1 | 5 | 123 | 49 | 2.510 | 1.458 (2) |
| 10 | Indianapolis Colts | 2-3 | 5 | 124 | 55 | 2.255 | 2.464 (25) |
Kansas City is fifth at 2.68 in four games, ahead of Carolina (2.63), Cincinnati (2.61), Baltimore (2.61) and Jacksonville (2.51). The 49ers have the best difference between offense and defense at +1.23 points per drive, and the Jaguars are next at +1.05 because their defense allows only 1.46.
Tennessee is last at 1.18 points per drive (58 points on 49 drives), with the Los Angeles Chargers (1.40) and Miami (1.49) just ahead. The Titans scored three points on nine drives against Houston in Week 5.
Best defenses in points allowed per drive after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Points allowed | Opponent drives | Points allowed per drive | Offense points per drive | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | 64 | 55 | 1.164 | 1.946 | +0.783 |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-1 | 70 | 48 | 1.458 | 2.510 | +1.052 |
| 3 | New England Patriots | 3-2 | 94 | 54 | 1.741 | 2.075 | +0.335 |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 93 | 52 | 1.788 | 3.020 | +1.231 |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | 77 | 43 | 1.791 | 2.682 | +0.891 |
| 6 | Seattle Seahawks | 3-2 | 105 | 58 | 1.810 | 2.161 | +0.351 |
| 7 | New York Jets | 2-3 | 96 | 53 | 1.811 | 1.755 | -0.057 |
| 8 | Chicago Bears | 3-2 | 96 | 52 | 1.846 | 2.204 | +0.358 |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | 3-2 | 111 | 57 | 1.947 | 1.830 | -0.117 |
| 10 | New York Giants | 3-1-1 | 106 | 54 | 1.963 | 2.057 | +0.094 |
Minnesota has allowed 64 points on 55 opponent drives, or 1.16 points per drive, nearly 0.3 better than anyone else. That matches the Vikings’ league-best red-zone defense and their league-low first downs allowed. Jacksonville is second at 1.46, followed by New England (1.74), San Francisco (1.79) and Kansas City (1.79).
Arizona has allowed a league-worst 3.06 points per drive (162 points on 53 opponent drives). Miami (2.75), Detroit (2.74) and Dallas (2.72) are next. The Lions’ offense leads the league in points per drive while their defense ranks 30th, so Detroit’s games have been high-scoring on both sides.
A related efficiency check is points per play: Buffalo, San Francisco and Detroit also sit in the top three by that measure, though the order shifts because drive length varies. Official box-score drive counts can include end-of-half kneel situations, which slightly raises the denominator for teams that protect a lead.
Week 6 tests: Seattle (sixth in points allowed per drive) plays at Denver on Thursday night. Buffalo visits Las Vegas. Jacksonville hosts Houston in London, and the Texans’ offense sits at 2.00 points per drive. Minnesota is on its bye.
Points and drives come from the official box score of every regular-season game through Week 5, including overtime. Thursday night’s Seahawks-Broncos game is not included.
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