What NFL Team Leads the League in Turnovers?

NFL teams that have the most turnovers usually aren’t the ones that make it to the playoffs. In fact, the team that led the league in turnovers during the 2017 season was the Cleveland Browns.

The Basics

It’s a simple question with a not-so-simple answer. The National Football League (NFL) is a complex system where many different variables converge to create the final product: the on-field product that fans see on Sundays. Among these variables are the teams themselves, of course, but also the schedule, the weather, the officiating, and even the luck of the draw.

What is a turnover?

In football, a turnover occurs when the team on offense loses possession of the ball to the team on defense. There are two ways that this can happen: an interception or a fumble. An interception occurs when the quarterback throws the ball and it is caught by a player on the other team. A fumble occurs when the running back or receiver drops the ball while they are carrying it and a player on the other team picks it up.

The team that causes the turnover gets possession of the ball at the spot where it was turned over. For example, if an interception is thrown and caught by a defensive player, they will get possession of the ball at that spot on the field. If a fumble is caused by a defensive player and they recover it, they will get possession of the ball at that spot as well.

The team that causes a turnover is said to have “forced” a turnover, and gets credit for it in the statistical record. The team that gives up the turnover is said to have “committed” a turnover.

How do teams accumulate turnovers?

The most common way to accumulate turnovers is through interceptions and fumbles, with each one counting as a turnover. There are other ways to turn the ball over, however. For example, if a team fails to convert on 4th down and the opposing team takes over on downs, that also counts as a turnover. A turnover on downs happens when the offensive team doesn’t gain enough yards to keep possession of the ball. The number of yards necessary differs based on what down it is; for example, it’s easier to get a first down on 1st and 10 than it is on 4th and 2.

The NFL’s Top Turnover-Producing Teams

The Green Bay Packers are the current leaders in the NFL when it comes to forcing turnovers. They have forced 32 turnovers this season, which is 7 more than the next best team. The Packers have been able to take the ball away from their opponents in a variety of ways.

The Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have long been known for their ball-hawking defense, and this season is no different. The Packers lead the NFL in turnovers, with 27 through nine games. That’s an average of three per game, and it’s a big reason why the Packers are one of the best teams in the league.

The Packers have forced 18 interceptions and nine fumbles, and they’ve recovered all but one of those fumbles. The only team that has more takeaways than the Packers is the Baltimore Ravens, who have 29. But the Ravens have also played 10 games, so their turnover rate isn’t as high as the Packers’.

The Packers’ success in forcing turnovers has been a key part of their success this season. They’ve turned the ball over just 13 times, which is tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. So not only are the Packers forcing turnovers at a high rate, they’re also protecting the ball well on offense. That’s a recipe for success.

The New England Patriots

The New England Patriots led the NFL in takeaways during the 2019 regular season with 31. The Patriots’ +20 turnover differential was also the best in the league.

The Patriots have forced at least one turnover in all 16 games they have played this season, and their 31 takeaways are the second-most in a single season in team history. The team’s plus-20 turnover differential is also the best in the league.

New England’s defense has been particularly effective at forcing turnovers in recent weeks. The Patriots have forced 11 turnovers in their last four games, including five interceptions and six fumble recoveries. They have also scored four touchdowns off of those turnovers.

Turnover margin is one of the most important statistics in football, and it is no coincidence that the Patriots are one of the top teams in the league in that category. When you force your opponents to turn the ball over, it gives your offense more opportunities to score points, and it puts your defense in a better position to succeed.

The Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently the NFL’s top team when it comes to producing turnovers. They have forced 31 turnovers so far this season, which is seven more than any other team in the league. The Steelers’ defense has been a big reason for their success this season, as they have been able to create turnovers and give their offense good field position.

The NFL’s Bottom Turnover-Producing Teams

The New York Jets currently lead the NFL in turnovers with a total of 33. The Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns are tied for second with 32 turnovers each. At the bottom of the list are the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots, who have only 13 and 14 turnovers, respectively.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers were the only team in the NFL that did not record a single turnover on defense during the regular season. That’s an impressive feat, but it didn’t lead to many wins as the team finished just 7-9.

The Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have had a forgettable season, but they may have found a silver lining in their NFL-worst turnover production.

With just 13 takeaways through 13 games, the Dolphins are on pace to finish with the fewest turnovers in a single season in NFL history. That distinction currently belongs to the 2010 Seattle Seahawks, who had 14 takeaways.

If the Dolphins can somehow find a way to generate more turnovers over their final three games, they could make some history of their own.

The New York Jets

The New York Jets are currently at the bottom of the NFL when it comes to producing turnovers. They have only generated 7 turnovers so far this season, which is tied for last place with the Miami Dolphins. The Jets have a 0.22 turnover ratio, which is also last in the league.

Conclusion

The answer to the question “What NFL team leads the league in turnovers?” is the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have a total of 33 turnovers this season, which is 5 more than the second place team (the Green Bay Packers).