NFL Statistics & Records FAQs

Yes. The NFL can review a play and revise its official statistical classification or credit.

Compare totals alongside games and opportunities, then consider role, opponents, and sample size.

A qualifying threshold is the minimum participation required for a particular statistical leaderboard.

An NFL statistic is a numerical record or calculation describing football activity or performance.

An official NFL statistic is recorded and recognized through the league's statistical scoring process.

A counting stat accumulates events, while a rate stat measures performance relative to opportunities.

Season totals measure accumulated production, while per-game figures divide it across games played.

Sites can use different definitions, filters, data providers, rounding rules, and update times.

Sack losses reduce team net passing yards but are not subtracted from a passer's individual passing-yard total.

Passing yards measure the yardage credited to completed passes, including yards gained after the catch.

QBR means ESPN's Total Quarterback Rating, a 0–100 measure of quarterback efficiency.

A completion is a forward pass successfully caught by an eligible offensive player under NFL catch rules.

A passing attempt is a recorded forward pass, whether completed, incomplete, or intercepted.

A passing touchdown is credited to the passer when a completed forward-pass play produces a touchdown.

A sack records a failed passing play ending with the potential passer at or behind the statistical line of scrimmage.

Adjusted yards per attempt adds touchdown credit and an interception penalty to passing yards per attempt.

An interception thrown is charged to the passer when the defense legally catches the forward pass.

NFL passer rating combines completion rate, yards per attempt, touchdown rate, and interception rate.

Quarterback rating is an ambiguous label that may refer to passer rating or a different quarterback metric.

Yes. An ordinary NFL quarterback kneel-down counts as a carry and usually produces negative rushing yardage.

A rushing loss is entered as negative yardage and subtracted when calculating net rushing yards.

Rushing yards are the net yards credited to a player on rushing plays, including gains and losses.

In a rushing table, long or LNG usually means the longest single run within the listed period.

A scramble is an improvised quarterback run that develops from a passing play.

A rushing attempt, also called a carry, records a player advancing the ball on a rushing play.

A rushing first down is credited when a rushing play earns the offense a first down.

A rushing touchdown credits a player who scores a touchdown on a rushing play.

Air yards describe a pass's downfield distance relative to the line of scrimmage, excluding the run after the catch.

Receiving yards measure the yardage credited to completed forward passes, including gains after the catch.

A drop is a charting judgment that a receiver failed to catch a pass catchable with reasonable effort.

A receiving touchdown is credited when a player scores through a completed forward-pass play.

A reception is a completed forward pass credited to the offensive player who catches it.

A target records a pass directed toward a particular intended receiver, whether caught or not.

Receiving first-down rate expresses receiving first downs as a percentage of a stated opportunity total.

Yards after catch, or YAC, measures a receiver's credited progress after securing a completed pass.

A defensive interception occurs when a defender legally catches an opponent's forward pass before it hits the ground.

A forced fumble is credited when a defender causes an opponent to lose possession of the ball.

A fumble recovery is credited when a player secures a live ball after it has been fumbled.

A hurry is pass-rush disruption that forces an earlier throw or makes the quarterback move from his intended position.

A pass defended credits defensive action that breaks up a pass or produces an interception under the source's scoring rules.

A pressure measures a pass rusher's disruption of a quarterback, using the data provider's definition.

A quarterback hit records qualifying defensive contact with a passer; the exact counting convention depends on the source.

A tackle records defensive credit for stopping a ball carrier under the applicable statistical scoring guidelines.

An assisted tackle credits a defender who shares in stopping the ball carrier.