The Buffalo Bills have the most efficient offense in the NFL through five weeks. Buffalo has gained 1,981 yards on 295 offensive plays, an average of 6.72 yards per play, the best mark in the league. The league average is 5.35 yards per play (52,469 yards on 9,807 plays) across every game through Monday night.
The Bills have topped 6 yards per play in four of their five games. They averaged 7.9 in the Week 1 win at Houston (409 yards on 52 plays) and 7.6 in Monday night’s 37-34 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams, when they gained 436 yards on 57 plays. Their only game under 6.0 was a 5.6 in the Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Best offenses in yards per play after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Games | Yards | Plays | Yards per play | Defense yards per play allowed (rank) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo Bills | 4-1 | 5 | 1,981 | 295 | 6.72 | 5.55 (22) |
| 2 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | 4 | 1,648 | 252 | 6.54 | 4.98 (7) |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 5 | 1,825 | 284 | 6.43 | 4.67 (4) |
| 4 | Baltimore Ravens | 4-1 | 5 | 1,971 | 310 | 6.36 | 5.25 (15) |
| 5 | Carolina Panthers | 2-2 | 4 | 1,623 | 268 | 6.06 | 5.78 (27) |
| 6 | Los Angeles Rams | 2-3 | 5 | 2,122 | 354 | 5.99 | 4.85 (6) |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | 3-2 | 5 | 1,969 | 332 | 5.93 | 5.63 (25) |
| 8 | New England Patriots | 3-2 | 5 | 1,862 | 319 | 5.84 | 5.18 (11) |
| 9 | Atlanta Falcons | 2-3 | 5 | 1,809 | 310 | 5.84 | 5.02 (9) |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | 2-3 | 5 | 1,756 | 305 | 5.76 | 6.38 (32) |
Kansas City is second at 6.54 yards per play in four games and has averaged at least 6.7 in each of its last three. San Francisco (6.43) and Baltimore (6.36) are third and fourth. The 49ers averaged 8.7 yards per play against Arizona in Week 3, the best single-game rate by any team this season, and 7.8 against Miami in Week 2. Baltimore averaged 7.9 in its Week 1 win at Indianapolis.
The Rams have gained the most total yards in the league (2,122), but they rank sixth in yards per play at 5.99 because they have run 354 plays, second only to Chicago’s 366. Carolina is fifth at 6.06 in four games.
At the other end, Arizona (4.509) and Tennessee (4.513) are tied at 4.5 yards per play, with the Cardinals last by a few thousandths. Philadelphia (4.54), Indianapolis (4.56) and Minnesota (4.61) are next. The Vikings are 5-0 despite the 28th-ranked offense by this measure, because their defense allows almost exactly the same rate (4.62).
Best defenses in yards per play allowed after Week 5
| Rank | Team | Record | Yards allowed | Plays faced | Yards per play allowed | Offense yards per play | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | 3-2 | 1,256 | 303 | 4.15 | 5.52 | +1.38 |
| 2 | New York Jets | 2-3 | 1,465 | 317 | 4.62 | 4.83 | +0.21 |
| 3 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | 1,299 | 281 | 4.62 | 4.61 | -0.01 |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 1,486 | 318 | 4.67 | 6.43 | +1.75 |
| 5 | Green Bay Packers | 3-2 | 1,543 | 328 | 4.70 | 5.64 | +0.93 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Rams | 2-3 | 1,426 | 294 | 4.85 | 5.99 | +1.14 |
| 7 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-0 | 1,271 | 255 | 4.98 | 6.54 | +1.56 |
| 8 | Houston Texans | 1-4 | 1,562 | 313 | 4.99 | 5.38 | +0.38 |
| 9 | Atlanta Falcons | 2-3 | 1,643 | 327 | 5.02 | 5.84 | +0.81 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Chargers | 0-5 | 1,558 | 310 | 5.03 | 4.75 | -0.27 |
Seattle’s defense has allowed 1,256 yards on 303 plays, or 4.15 yards per play, nearly half a yard better than anyone else. No opponent has averaged more than 4.8 yards per play against the Seahawks, and Arizona managed 151 yards on 47 plays (3.2) in Week 2. The New York Jets (4.621) and Minnesota (4.623) are second and third, followed by San Francisco (4.67) and Green Bay (4.70).
The 49ers have the league’s best difference between their offense and defense at +1.75 yards per play. Kansas City is next at +1.56, followed by Seattle (+1.38), Buffalo (+1.16), the Rams (+1.14) and Baltimore (+1.11). The Bills’ defense is 22nd at 5.55 yards per play allowed.
Dallas has allowed a league-worst 6.38 yards per play (1,977 yards on 310 plays). Indianapolis (6.24), Chicago (6.20), Arizona (6.18) and Las Vegas (6.12) are the only other defenses above 6.0. The Colts and Cardinals have the worst differences in the league, both at -1.67.
Week 6 has a few clear tests. Seattle’s defense plays at Denver on Thursday night, and the Broncos’ offense ranks 26th at 4.69 yards per play. Buffalo plays at Las Vegas on Sunday against the 28th-ranked defense by this measure. Dallas, the worst defense in yards per play, plays at Green Bay on Sunday night, and Washington visits San Francisco on Monday night.
Yards per play is total offensive yards divided by offensive plays (runs, pass attempts and sacks) 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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