Blitz rate
Blitz rate is the share of dropbacks a defense rushed five or more. The Vikings led 2025 at 46.0%, the Bengals were last at 17.7%.
Muffed counts a blitz as five or more pass rushers, the same convention used across the verified charting data. Four rushers is a standard rush no matter who they are. Anything above that trades a coverage defender for a rusher.
Defensive Blitz Rate — 2026 leaders
| # | Team | Blitz% | Blitzes | DB | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings | 70.4% | 126 | 179 | Read |
| 2 | Washington Commanders | 45.8% | 97 | 212 | Read |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 41.6% | 74 | 178 | Read |
| 4 | New York Giants | 40.0% | 72 | 180 | Read |
| 5 | Chicago Bears | 38.7% | 58 | 150 | Read |
| 6 | New York Jets | 38.5% | 72 | 187 | Read |
| 7 | Denver Broncos | 37.6% | 70 | 186 | Read |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | 35.7% | 60 | 168 | Read |
| 9 | New Orleans Saints | 35.1% | 61 | 174 | Read |
| 10 | New England Patriots | 34.6% | 62 | 179 | Read |
Why it matters
Blitzing buys pressure and sells coverage, and in 2025 the trade was close to even: five rushers generated pressure on 38.3% of dropbacks against 26.2% for four, but gave up +0.064 expected points added per dropback against +0.033. Across all 32 teams the correlation between blitz rate and expected points allowed was -0.09 — effectively nothing. What it changes for a roster is the shape of a week: heavy blitz defenses concede more quick throws to backs and slot receivers.
The counter
Blitz rate is a tendency, not an outcome — it predicts the type of throw, not the yardage.
More football stats explained
- EPA (expected points added)
- EPA per dropback
- Success rate
- CPOE (completion percentage over expected)
- ANY/A (adjusted net yards per attempt)
- RYOE (rushing yards over expected)
- Target share
- Air yards share
- WOPR (weighted opportunity rating)
- aDOT (average depth of target)
- YAC over expected
- Separation
- Pressure rate
- Man and zone coverage splits
- PROE (pass rate over expected)
- Stacked box rate
- Half-PPR (and how it differs from full PPR)
- The usage gap (snaps versus production)
- Pythagorean wins
- Stickiness (what repeats and what does not)
- Snap share
- Pass-snap share
- YPRR (yards per route run)
- Availability (the “stayed” rate)
- Handcuff
- Play-action rate
- Pre-snap motion rate
- Drop rate
- Contested catch rate
- Interception-worthy throws
- Quarterback-fault sacks
- Intended air yards (IAY)
- Deep ball rate
- QB Composite Rating
- Screen pass rate
- No-huddle rate
- RPO rate
- Light box rate
- Throwaway rate
- Catchable throw rate
- Out-of-pocket rate
- Time to throw
- Aggressiveness
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