NFL First Drive Stats
Use our NFL First Drive Stats to understand how teams perform on their opening possessions, including how often they punt, score a touchdown, attempt a field goal or produce another drive-ending result. The data can help you research first-drive markets before comparing the latest NFL odds.
Jump to: First Drive stats | How to read the stats | What is First Drive betting? | How the odds work | Other First Drive bets | How to research a bet | Where to bet | More NFL stats | FAQs
NFL First Drive Stats
The most useful First Drive table is team-based rather than player-based. Each NFL team should have one row showing what happened on its opening offensive possession across the selected season, with home and away splits available where possible.
| Stat | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played in the selected sample. | Shows the sample size behind the percentages. |
| Punt % | Percentage of opening offensive drives that ended in a punt. | Useful when researching a First Drive Punt market. |
| Off. TD % | Percentage of opening drives that resulted in an offensive touchdown. | Shows how frequently the offense reached the end zone on its first possession. |
| FGA % | Percentage of opening drives that produced a field goal attempt. | Useful for markets based on a field goal attempt rather than whether the kick was made. |
| Other % | Percentage ending in another result such as a turnover, turnover on downs, safety or another less common outcome. | Helps account for drives that do not fit the three main result categories. |
| Off. Score % | Percentage of opening drives that resulted in offensive points. | Useful for grouped markets such as Offensive Score vs No Offensive Score. |
| Home / Away | The same opening-drive results separated by venue. | Can show whether an overall rate changes materially at home or on the road. |
The sample size matters. A team beginning a season with touchdowns on two of its first three opening drives has a 66.7% rate, but three games are not enough to treat that number as a stable expectation.
The same applies in the other direction. A team punting on several consecutive opening drives does not mean another punt is automatically “due.” Use the historical result as context, then look at the current offense, opponent and price.
How to Use NFL First Drive Stats
The goal of the table is not simply to find the highest percentage and bet it. It is to identify how a team normally begins games and then decide whether the upcoming matchup gives you a reason to expect something similar.
Start With the Result You Want to Bet
If you are considering a First Drive Punt bet, start with Punt %. If you are considering a touchdown, start with Off. TD %. For an Offensive Score market, Off. Score % is more useful because either a touchdown or successful field goal can satisfy the bet depending on the sportsbook’s rules.
Check the Sample Size
A percentage based on three or four games can move dramatically after one result. Later in the season, the same percentage is supported by a much larger sample.
This is especially important early in 2026, when current-season percentages will initially be based on only a handful of drives.
Compare Home and Away Results
An overall percentage can hide a large split. If a team has been significantly more efficient on opening drives at home than on the road, that is worth investigating before its next matchup.
The split itself is not automatically predictive. Look for a reason behind it, such as opponent strength, quarterback availability, offensive-line changes or the quality of the sample.
Look at How the Opponent Starts Games
Offensive First Drive results tell only half the story. A team with a strong opening-drive touchdown rate may face a defense that has repeatedly prevented early scores.
That matchup is more useful than looking at the offense in isolation.
You can add more early-game context through our NFL First Quarter Stats and NFL First Half Stats.
What Is NFL First Drive Betting?
NFL First Drive betting asks what will happen on a team’s first offensive possession of the game.
Both teams have their own first drive. The market is therefore not limited to the team receiving the opening kickoff. If Team A receives the ball first, you can still bet on the outcome of Team B’s first offensive possession when that market is available.
The wager is normally settled as soon as the selected team’s opening drive ends, so anything that happens later in the game is irrelevant.
Common First Drive Result Options
- Punt – the team’s opening possession ends with a punt.
- Touchdown – the offense scores a touchdown on its opening drive.
- Field Goal Attempt – the possession produces a field goal attempt, whether the kick is made or missed if the market is specifically graded on the attempt.
- Turnover / Other – can include interceptions, fumbles, turnover on downs, safeties or other uncommon outcomes depending on the sportsbook.
Always check the market wording before placing the bet. Sportsbooks do not necessarily group every rare outcome in exactly the same way.
First Drive Result vs First Drive “Any Other”
Some sportsbooks separate the standard drive results from an “Any Other” option covering less common ways a possession can end.
| Outcome | Standard First Drive Result? | Could fall under “Any Other”? |
|---|---|---|
| Touchdown | Usually yes | No |
| Punt | Usually yes | No |
| Field Goal Attempt | Often yes | Depends on market wording |
| Interception | Sometimes grouped as Turnover | Sometimes |
| Fumble | Sometimes grouped as Turnover | Sometimes |
| Turnover on Downs | Varies | Often |
| Safety | Rarely a standalone main option | Often |
| Blocked Punt / Field Goal | Varies | Often |
The sportsbook’s own settlement rules are final. Check them if you are betting an unusual result, particularly turnover on downs, blocked kicks or a safety.
How NFL First Drive Odds Work
First Drive result markets normally price each possible outcome with American odds. Shorter odds indicate the sportsbook considers that option more likely than a longer-priced alternative.
Illustrative example only – these are not current sportsbook odds:
| First Drive Result | Example Odds | Approx. Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Punt | +125 | 44.4% |
| Touchdown | +180 | 35.7% |
| Field Goal Attempt | +350 | 22.2% |
| Turnover / Other | +500 | 16.7% |
For positive American odds, implied probability can be calculated as:
100 ÷ (odds + 100)
For example, +180 converts to approximately 35.7% implied probability before accounting for sportsbook margin.
A $10 winning wager at +180 would produce $18 in profit, plus the return of the original $10 stake.
The percentages in the stats table and the implied probability represented by the odds are measuring different things. The historical table tells you what happened; the betting line tells you how the sportsbook is pricing the next outcome.
Other NFL First Drive Betting Options
The standard result market is not the only way sportsbooks can offer opening-possession betting. Availability varies by game, operator and location.
First Drive Offensive Score
This simplifies the market into two outcomes: the team scores offensive points on its opening drive or it does not.
| Selection | What usually qualifies? |
|---|---|
| Offensive Score | A qualifying offensive touchdown or made field goal. |
| No Offensive Score | Punt, turnover, missed field goal, turnover on downs or another non-scoring result. |
Check the sportsbook’s rules for unusual outcomes such as a defensive score occurring during the possession.
First Drive Field Goal Made
Some sportsbooks also offer a simple Yes/No market on whether a team will make a field goal during its opening possession.
This is different from a Field Goal Attempt market. An attempt can qualify even if the kick misses, while a Field Goal Made bet requires the kick to be successful.
How to Research an NFL First Drive Bet
The historical First Drive numbers are a useful starting point, but there are several things the percentages do not tell you by themselves.
1. Check the Current Offense
Opening-drive statistics from earlier in the season can become less useful if a team has changed quarterback, lost important offensive linemen or significantly altered its play-calling.
Look for changes that could explain why a team’s recent results differ from its season-long percentage.
2. Consider Scripted Opening Plays
NFL offenses often enter games with a prepared sequence of early plays. Some teams consistently start aggressively while others spend their opening possession establishing tendencies and field position.
That makes First Drive betting different from using a team’s full-game scoring average alone.
3. Look at the Opposing Defense
A strong offensive opening-drive record can run into a defense that starts games particularly well.
When possible, compare the offense’s opening-drive result rates with the opponent’s early-game defensive performance rather than looking at only one side of the matchup.
4. Check the Game Total
The full-game over/under can provide context for the expected scoring environment.
A high total does not guarantee that the opening drive will produce points, but it can signal that the market expects efficient offenses or weaker defenses. A much lower total may point toward a more difficult scoring environment.
Compare the latest totals through our NFL odds page.
5. Check the Weather
Strong wind, heavy rain or other difficult conditions can affect passing, kicking and play-calling.
Weather should be treated as one part of the matchup rather than a reason to automatically bet a punt or no-score result. What matters is whether the conditions are severe enough to alter how the teams are likely to play.
6. Check Injuries and Late Lineup News
The absence of a quarterback, starting tackle, primary receiver or other important offensive player can change the probability of an opening drive succeeding.
Check final injury information rather than relying exclusively on a season-long First Drive percentage.
7. Shop Around for the Best Price
The same First Drive result can be priced differently at two sportsbooks.
Illustrative example only:
| First Drive Bet | Sportsbook A | Sportsbook B |
|---|---|---|
| Punt | +115 | +135 |
| Touchdown | +190 | +175 |
| Field Goal Attempt | +325 | +375 |
| Turnover / Other | +525 | +475 |
If you already want to bet the punt, +135 is better than +115 because both bets need exactly the same thing to happen.
A $10 winning bet at +115 produces $11.50 in profit. The same $10 bet at +135 produces $13.50.
The underlying prediction has not changed. Only the price has.
Where to Bet NFL First Drive Markets
First Drive markets are specialty bets, so availability can vary by game, sportsbook and state. Rather than choosing one permanent “best” operator, check which books currently offer the market and compare the price on the specific result you want.
| Sportsbook | Why check it? | Best for | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Worth checking for specialty NFL markets alongside the wider game and player-prop menu. | Market depth | DraftKings review |
| FanDuel | Useful for comparing opening-possession bets with other early-game and NFL prop markets when available. | Simple browsing | FanDuel review |
| BetMGM | Another useful price point when comparing the First Drive market with the wider matchup. | Game-level comparison | BetMGM review |
| Caesars | Worth checking because specialty-market prices can differ between operators even when the result is identical. | Line shopping | Caesars review |
| bet365 | Useful for bettors comparing First Drive markets with a wider range of alternate NFL betting options. | Alternate markets | bet365 review |
| BetRivers | A straightforward additional sportsbook to check after identifying the First Drive result you want. | Extra price comparison | BetRivers review |
| Hard Rock Bet | Provides another potential specialty-market price in states where the sportsbook operates. | Additional comparison | Hard Rock Bet review |
The availability of First Drive bets can change from one matchup to another. Check the live sportsbook before assuming a particular result market is offered.
More NFL Stats for First Drive Betting
Opening-drive results make more sense when they are viewed alongside other early-game and scoring data:
- NFL First Quarter Stats – compare early-game performance beyond the opening possession.
- NFL First Half ATS Stats – see how teams perform against first-half spreads.
- NFL First Half Over/Under Stats – compare first-half scoring totals.
- NFL First Team to Score Stats – see which teams get on the board first most often.
- NFL First Touchdown Scorer Stats – research the player who could score the game’s opening touchdown.
- NFL Anytime Touchdown Scorer Stats – compare individual touchdown-scoring rates.
- NFL Highest-Scoring Quarter Stats – compare when teams produce most of their points.
- NFL Player Props – view the wider player betting market.
NFL First Drive Betting FAQs
What is an NFL First Drive bet?
An NFL First Drive bet predicts what will happen on a team’s first offensive possession. Common options include punt, touchdown, field goal attempt and turnover or another result.
Can I bet on both teams’ first drives?
When the sportsbook offers both markets, yes. Each team’s first offensive possession is treated separately, so the bet is not restricted to the team receiving the opening kickoff.
Does a Field Goal Attempt bet require the kick to be made?
Not necessarily. If the market is specifically graded as a Field Goal Attempt, the kick normally only needs to be attempted. A separate Field Goal Made market requires a successful kick. Always check the sportsbook’s wording and rules.
What does First Drive Offensive Score mean?
It generally asks whether the offense will score points during its opening possession. A qualifying touchdown or made field goal can usually count, subject to the sportsbook’s settlement rules.
What is included in First Drive “Other”?
The definition varies. It can include uncommon outcomes such as turnover on downs, a safety, blocked kick or other result that does not have its own main selection. Check the operator’s specific market rules.
What stats are useful for a First Drive Punt bet?
Start with the team’s opening-drive Punt %, then look at opponent strength, recent offensive changes, injuries, game environment and the price offered by the sportsbook.
What stats are useful for a First Drive Touchdown bet?
Useful context includes opening-drive touchdown rate, offensive scoring rate, opponent early-game defense, red-zone efficiency, injuries and how the current odds compare with other sportsbooks.
Are First Drive stats predictive?
They describe previous opening possessions rather than guaranteeing the next result. Use them as a baseline and combine them with current matchup information.
Why should I compare First Drive odds between sportsbooks?
The same outcome can be offered at different prices. Taking the stronger price increases the potential return without changing what needs to happen for the bet to win.
