Definition of Intended Air Yards (IAY)

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What does the term "intended air yards" mean in the world of football? What is meant by the term "intended air yards"?

"Intended air yards", or IAY, measures how far past the line of scrimmage a complete or incomplete pass travelled.

Let's look at an example to break down how Intended Air Yards is calculated.

Josh Allen is pressured and scrambles for a few seconds, releasing a pass while he is 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

The ball is caught by Stefon Diggs 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Diggs breaks a tackle and takes it an additional 47 yards to the end zone, for a 57 yard reception for a touchdown.

The intended air yards on the play would be 10 yards, as we are measuring from the line of scrimmage, not from where Allen threw the ball from.

The "intended air yards" stat doesn't take into account the yards earned after the pass is completed, so Digg's 47 yards after the reception are irrelevant.

The "intended air yards" number is the same whether a pass is completed or incomplete. So, if Diggs dropped the football in this scenario, the intended air yards would have still be 10 yards.

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"Intended air yards" measures how far down the field a QB or a team in general will throw the ball.