The term 'football statistic' can be summarized by the word 'YARDS'. YARDS is a measurement of distance in American football, and is used to measure the distance a team has advanced the ball down the field. It is also used to measure the distance a player has thrown the ball, or the distance a player has run with the ball. YARDS are an important statistic in football, as they are used to measure the success of a team's offensive and defensive plays.