Play-Action Rate Leaders
Play-Action Rate — 2024 NFL leaders, updated Aug 13, 2026. Detroit Lions led the league in play-action rate at 34.5%, ahead of 31 other qualifying teams. Based on verified 2024 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2024 season.
Play action is the offense selling a run it never intended to hand off, and it works for a mechanical reason: a linebacker who takes even a false step toward the line is late getting to his drop, and the throwing lane behind him is open for exactly as long as that step lasted. The rate is a coordinator's decision rather than a quarterback's, which is why it holds steady from week to week and says something about the shape of a passing game before a snap is played.
| # | Team | PA% | PA | DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit Lions | 34.5% | 206 | 597 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Chargers | 30.5% | 179 | 587 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 30.5% | 182 | 596 |
| 4 | Indianapolis Colts | 29.7% | 169 | 569 |
| 5 | Minnesota Vikings | 27.0% | 169 | 626 |
| 6 | Denver Broncos | 26.8% | 173 | 645 |
| 7 | Arizona Cardinals | 26.6% | 163 | 613 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 26.5% | 155 | 586 |
| 9 | Washington Commanders | 25.5% | 166 | 652 |
| 10 | Baltimore Ravens | 25.0% | 136 | 543 |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | 24.5% | 162 | 660 |
| 12 | New York Jets | 24.1% | 162 | 671 |
| 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | 23.4% | 125 | 535 |
| 14 | New York Giants | 22.9% | 153 | 669 |
| 15 | Houston Texans | 22.8% | 151 | 662 |
| 16 | Green Bay Packers | 22.5% | 118 | 525 |
| 17 | Carolina Panthers | 21.8% | 137 | 628 |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans | 21.8% | 134 | 615 |
| 19 | Cleveland Browns | 21.7% | 167 | 770 |
| 20 | Kansas City Chiefs | 21.5% | 146 | 680 |
| 21 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 21.4% | 131 | 611 |
| 22 | New Orleans Saints | 20.4% | 126 | 618 |
| 23 | Las Vegas Raiders | 19.1% | 134 | 703 |
| 24 | San Francisco 49ers | 19.1% | 117 | 612 |
| 25 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 18.3% | 120 | 655 |
| 26 | Buffalo Bills | 18.1% | 105 | 579 |
| 27 | Cincinnati Bengals | 18.0% | 130 | 723 |
| 28 | Seattle Seahawks | 18.0% | 121 | 673 |
| 29 | Chicago Bears | 17.8% | 123 | 690 |
| 30 | Dallas Cowboys | 17.3% | 119 | 687 |
| 31 | New England Patriots | 16.9% | 108 | 639 |
| 32 | Atlanta Falcons | 14.3% | 85 | 596 |
Other seasons
More leaderboards
- Rushing Yards Over Expected
- Target Share
- Running Back Receiving Efficiency
- Completion Percentage Over Expected
- Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt
- Quarterback Pressure Rate
- Defensive Blitz Rate
- Quarterbacks vs Man and Zone Coverage
- Pass Rate Over Expected
- Clean-Core Rating
- Usage vs Production
- Team Expected Points Added
- Quarterback EPA per Dropback
- Air Yards Share
- Stacked Box Rate
- Regression Flags
- Weighted Opportunity Rating
- Snap Share
- Pass-Snap Share
- Receiving Yards per Pass Snap
- Availability
- Tight End Receiving Efficiency
- Tight End Average Depth of Target
- Stat Stickiness
- Pre-Snap Motion Rate
- Drop Rate
- Contested Catch Rate
- Interception-Worthy Throw Rate
- Quarterback-Fault Sack Rate
- Quarterback Intended Air Yards
- Team Air Yards and Passing Volume
- Receiver Separation and Cushion
- Wide Receiver Receiving Efficiency
- Team Success Rate and Explosive Play Rate
- Goal-Line Usage
- Quarterback Deep Ball
- Team Pace
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