The Dallas Cowboys are moving the ball farther on each possession than any other NFL offense through five weeks. Dallas has gained 1,756 yards on 46 drives, an average of 38.17 yards per drive, the best mark in the league. The league average is 30.49 yards per drive across every contest through Monday night.
The Cowboys have stayed above 34 yards per drive in every game: 34.9 at the New York Giants, 41.5 against Washington, 37.7 against Baltimore in Australia, 39.9 at Houston and 36.6 against Tampa Bay. Kansas City is second at 37.45 in four games (1,648 yards on 44 drives). The Rams (37.23) and Detroit (37.15) are next, and Buffalo is fifth at 36.69.
Best offenses in yards per drive after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Games | Yards | Drives | Yards per drive | Yards allowed per drive (rank) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Cowboys | 2-3 | 5 | 1756 | 46 | 38.17 | 39.54 (32) |
| 2 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | 4 | 1648 | 44 | 37.45 | 29.56 (13) |
| 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 2-3 | 5 | 2122 | 57 | 37.23 | 26.91 (4) |
| 4 | Detroit Lions | 3-2 | 5 | 1969 | 53 | 37.15 | 37.44 (31) |
| 5 | Buffalo Bills | 4-1 | 5 | 1981 | 54 | 36.69 | 36.66 (30) |
| 6 | Chicago Bears | 3-2 | 5 | 1962 | 54 | 36.33 | 29.94 (16) |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 5 | 1825 | 51 | 35.78 | 28.58 (9) |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | 2-2 | 4 | 1623 | 46 | 35.28 | 31.61 (20) |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | 4-1 | 5 | 1971 | 56 | 35.20 | 30.72 (19) |
| 10 | New England Patriots | 3-2 | 5 | 1862 | 53 | 35.13 | 27.43 (6) |
Chicago ranks sixth at 36.33 and San Francisco seventh at 35.78. Dallas also allows a league-worst 39.54 yards per drive, so Cowboys games have been high-volume on both sides. Cleveland is last in offense at 22.80 yards per drive (1,368 on 60 drives), with the Chargers (24.40) and Philadelphia (24.74) just ahead.
Best defenses in yards allowed per drive after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Yards allowed | Opponent drives | Yards allowed per drive | Offense yards per drive | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | 3-2 | 1256 | 58 | 21.66 | 26.45 | +4.80 |
| 2 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | 1299 | 55 | 23.62 | 25.27 | +1.65 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Chargers | 0-5 | 1558 | 62 | 25.13 | 24.40 | -0.73 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 2-3 | 1426 | 53 | 26.91 | 37.23 | +10.32 |
| 5 | Green Bay Packers | 3-2 | 1543 | 57 | 27.07 | 29.07 | +2.00 |
| 6 | New England Patriots | 3-2 | 1481 | 54 | 27.43 | 35.13 | +7.71 |
| 7 | New York Jets | 2-3 | 1465 | 53 | 27.64 | 26.79 | -0.85 |
| 8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-4 | 1497 | 54 | 27.72 | 27.85 | +0.13 |
| 9 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 1486 | 52 | 28.58 | 35.78 | +7.21 |
| 10 | Houston Texans | 1-4 | 1562 | 54 | 28.93 | 30.98 | +2.06 |
Seattle has allowed 1,256 yards on 58 opponent drives, or 21.66 yards per drive, nearly two yards better than anyone else. The Seahawks held Arizona to 15.1 yards per drive in Week 2, Washington to 19.8 in Week 3 and San Francisco to 20.7 on Sunday. Minnesota is second at 23.62, and the Chargers are third at 25.13.
Dallas has allowed a league-worst 39.54 yards per drive (1,977 on 50 opponent drives). Detroit (37.44) and Buffalo (36.66) are next. Seattle’s offense ranks only 26th at 26.45 yards per drive, so the Seahawks’ edge on this board is almost entirely from defense — a +4.80 differential.
Week 6 tests: Seattle (best yards allowed per drive) plays at Denver on Thursday night. Dallas visits Green Bay on Sunday night. Minnesota is on its bye. Cleveland (worst offense by this measure) visits Baltimore.
Yards 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. Official drive counts can include end-of-half kneel situations.
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