Statistics · passing, rushing and receiving
American football statistics: passing, rushing and receiving explained
A practical guide to the box score: completions and attempts, passing yards, carries, rushing yards, targets, receptions and touchdowns.
Passing: completions, attempts and yards
A completed forward pass gives the passer a completion and the receiver a reception. Passing attempts include official completed and incomplete passes, while passing yards measure the gain credited through the pass.
Rushing: carries, yards and average
A rushing attempt, or carry, records a run credited from scrimmage. Rushing yards are the net yards gained or lost, and yards per carry is rushing yards divided by attempts.
Receiving: targets, receptions and yards
A target is commonly used for a pass directed to an eligible receiver; a reception is a completed pass caught by that player. Receiving yards include the gain after the catch.
Touchdowns, turnovers and stat conventions
Passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns show how a score was created. Interceptions and lost fumbles track turnovers, while sacks, kneels and some team plays can be handled differently by statistical systems, so competition-specific provider data is kept intact.