Sacks are trending up, as we discussed in a factoid last week. Interceptions, however, are headed in the opposite direction. If you don't get to the quarterback, there's less chance than in the past that those passes will end up in your defensive teammates' hands.
Currently, teams are on pace for just 14 interceptions per team. That's the lowest total of the last 14 years. Back in 2000, that number was around 17, and fairly steady at 16-17 over the next dozen years.
Interception totals (current and projected) for teams this season and the NFL average for interceptions per team per season since 2000 presented below.
2014 INTERCEPTIONS, BY TEAM | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Games | Ints (Curr.) | Ints (Proj.) |
Arizona Cardinals | 9 | 14 | 25 |
Cleveland Browns | 9 | 13 | 23 |
New York Giants | 9 | 13 | 23 |
Green Bay Packers | 9 | 12 | 21 |
San Francisco 49ers | 9 | 11 | 20 |
Buffalo Bills | 10 | 12 | 19 |
Detroit Lions | 9 | 10 | 18 |
New England Patriots | 9 | 10 | 18 |
Denver Broncos | 9 | 10 | 18 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 9 | 10 | 18 |
Houston Texans | 9 | 10 | 18 |
Miami Dolphins | 10 | 10 | 16 |
Dallas Cowboys | 10 | 10 | 16 |
Carolina Panthers | 10 | 9 | 14 |
Minnesota Vikings | 9 | 8 | 14 |
Tennessee Titans | 9 | 8 | 14 |
Chicago Bears | 9 | 8 | 14 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 9 | 7 | 12 |
Atlanta Falcons | 9 | 7 | 12 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 | 7 | 11 |
Seattle Seahawks | 9 | 6 | 11 |
New Orleans Saints | 9 | 6 | 11 |
Indianapolis Colts | 9 | 6 | 11 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9 | 6 | 11 |
Baltimore Ravens | 10 | 6 | 10 |
Oakland Raiders | 9 | 5 | 9 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 10 | 5 | 8 |
Kansas City | 9 | 4 | 7 |
San Diego Chargers | 9 | 4 | 7 |
St. Louis Rams | 9 | 4 | 7 |
Washington | 9 | 3 | 5 |
New York Jets | 10 | 3 | 5 |
NFL AVERAGE , INTERCEPTIONS, 2000-PRESENT |
---|
2014: 14 |
2013: 16 |
2012: 15 |
2011: 16 |
2010: 16 |
2009: 16 |
2008: 15 |
2007: 17 |
2006: 16 |
2005: 16 |
2004: 16 |
2003: 17 |
2002: 17 |
2001: 18 |
2000: 17 |
--Andy Richardson