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{{Short description|American football website}}
{{Primary sources|date=October 2008}} {{Primary sources|date=October 2008}}
{{Infobox website {{Infobox website
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'''Football Outsiders''' ('''FO''') is a website started in July 2003 which focuses on advanced statistical analysis of the ]. The site is run by a staff of regular writers, who produce a series of weekly columns using both the site's in-house statistics and their personal analyses of NFL games. '''Football Outsiders''' ('''FO''') was a website started in July 2003 which focused on advanced statistical analysis of the ] (NFL). The site was run by a staff of regular writers, who produced a series of weekly columns using both the site's in-house statistics and their personal analyses of NFL games.


In 2005 and 2006, the site partnered with ] to cross-publish many of the Outsiders' regular features, including power rankings based on a "weighted" version of the DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) statistic. In 2007, Football Outsiders content appeared on FOXSports.com (in a reduced capacity) along with ] and ]. Since 2008, the site has partnered exclusively with ] and provides mostly ESPN Insider content. In 2009, Football Outsiders began analyzing college football using similar statistical principles. In 2005 and 2006, the site partnered with ] to cross-publish many of the Outsiders' regular features, including power rankings based on a "weighted" version of the DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) statistic. In 2007, Football Outsiders content appeared on FOXSports.com (in a reduced capacity) along with ] and ]. Since 2008, the site has partnered exclusively with ] and provides mostly ESPN Insider content. In 2009, Football Outsiders began analyzing college football using similar statistical principles.

As of 2023, after financial mismanagement,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-27 |title=The People Who Acquired Football Outsiders Are Screwing The People Who Built It {{!}} Defector |url=https://defector.com/the-people-who-acquired-football-outsiders-are-screwing-the-people-who-built-it |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=defector.com |language=en}}</ref> the site seems to have been abandoned by its owners. As of September 1, 2023, the website was no longer accessible. DVOA statistics have been moved to , which is owned by FTN Network. Aaron Schatz joined FTN Network as Chief Analytics Officer on August 29, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | last=Schatz | first=Aaron | url=https://twitter.com/ASchatzNFL/status/1696526535971463283?s=20 | website=Twitter | date=August 29, 2023 | title=Announcement}}</ref>


==History== ==History==


Football Outsiders was launched in August 2003 by ], with two regular columns, one of which used an early version of the proprietary DVOA statistic. The original purpose of the site was to disprove a statement by '']'' reporter ] that the 2002 ] failed to make the postseason because they could not establish the run. Over the course of time, the site added more writers, and hosted ] for part of 2003. Football Outsiders was launched in August 2003 by Aaron Schatz, with two regular columns, one of which used an early version of the proprietary DVOA statistic. The original purpose of the site was to disprove a statement by '']'' reporter ] that the 2002 ] failed to make the postseason because they could not establish the run.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}} Over the course of time, the site added more writers, and hosted ] for part of 2003.


Between 2004 and 2005, the site introduced new statistics such as Defense-adjusted Points Above Replacement (DPAR, later Defense-adjusted ''Yards'' Above Replacement, DYAR) and Adjusted Line Yards (ALY). In 2005, the site began to cross-publish many of its columns on FOXsports.com. In 2005, Football Outsiders also took over publication of '']'', a book giving a preview of the upcoming NFL season. In 2009, the annual was renamed ''Football Outsiders Almanac''.<ref>({{ISBN|1448648459}})</ref> Between 2004 and 2005, the site introduced new statistics such as Defense-adjusted Points Above Replacement (DPAR, later Defense-adjusted ''Yards'' Above Replacement, DYAR) and Adjusted Line Yards (ALY). In 2005, the site began to cross-publish many of its columns on FOXsports.com. In 2005, Football Outsiders also took over publication of '']'', a book giving a preview of the upcoming NFL season. In 2009, the annual was renamed ''Football Outsiders Almanac''.<ref>({{ISBN|1448648459}})</ref>


Currently, the site has incorporated the ]-] NFL seasons into their statistics. Currently, the site has incorporated the 1981–2022 NFL seasons into their statistics.


==Key Metrics== ==Key Metrics==
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The 2011 edition of ''Football Outsiders Almanac''<ref>''Football Outsiders Almanac 2011'' ({{ISBN|978-1-4662-4613-3}}), p.xviii</ref> states, "From 1988 through 2004, 11 of 16 ]s were won by the team that led the NFL in Pythagorean wins, while only seven were won by the team with the most actual victories. Super Bowl champions that led the league in Pythagorean wins but not actual wins include the ], ], ] and ]." The 2011 edition of ''Football Outsiders Almanac''<ref>''Football Outsiders Almanac 2011'' ({{ISBN|978-1-4662-4613-3}}), p.xviii</ref> states, "From 1988 through 2004, 11 of 16 ]s were won by the team that led the NFL in Pythagorean wins, while only seven were won by the team with the most actual victories. Super Bowl champions that led the league in Pythagorean wins but not actual wins include the ], ], ] and ]."


Although Football Outsiders Almanac acknowledges that the formula had been less-successful in picking Super Bowl participants from 2005-2008, it reasserted itself in ] and ]. Although Football Outsiders Almanac acknowledges that the formula had been less-successful in picking Super Bowl participants from 2005 to 2008, it reasserted itself in ] and ].


Furthermore, "he Pythagorean projection is also still a valuable predictor of year-to-year improvement. Teams that win a minimum of one full game more than their Pythagorean projection tend to regress the following year; teams that win a minimum of one full game less than their Pythagoerean projection tend to improve the following year, particularly if they were at or above .500 despite their underachieving. For example, the ] went 8-8 despite 9.5 Pythagorean wins, hinting at the improvement that came with the ]." Furthermore, "he Pythagorean projection is also still a valuable predictor of year-to-year improvement. Teams that win a minimum of one full game more than their Pythagorean projection tend to regress the following year; teams that win a minimum of one full game less than their Pythagorean projection tend to improve the following year, particularly if they were at or above .500 despite their underachieving. For example, the ] went 8-8 despite 9.5 Pythagorean wins, hinting at the improvement that came with the ]."


==DVOA results== ==DVOA results==


Each year, Football Outsiders calculates the best and worst teams, per play, with the DVOA metric (see above). Below is a list of the highest- and lowest-rated teams in the league in each year from 1985-2019. Each year, Football Outsiders calculates the best and worst teams, per play, with the DVOA metric (see above). Below is a list of the highest- and lowest-rated teams in the league in each year from 1985 to 2019.

Since Football Outsiders shut down in 2023, DVOA stats have been moved to FTN Fantasy; a historical archive of DVOA rankings dating back to 1979 is available.<ref></ref>


{| {|
Line 83: Line 88:
!Season !! Best DVOA rating !! DVOA !! Worst DVOA rating !! DVOA !! Notes !Season !! Best DVOA rating !! DVOA !! Worst DVOA rating !! DVOA !! Notes
|- |-
| ] || ] || 30.9% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -31.3% || <small>] won ].</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 45.5% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -35.3% || <small>] won ]; Panthers finished with worst record, but #1 pick was owned by ]</small><ref name="ftnfantasy.com"></ref>
|- |-
| ] || ] || 33.3% || ] || -30.5% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 38.9% || ] || -29.3% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref name="ftnfantasy.com"/>
|- |-
| ] || ] || 41.2% || ] || -38.8% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 29.3% || ] || -31.4% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick</small><ref name="ftnfantasy.com"/>
|- |-
| ] || ] || 33.2% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -38.4% || <small>] won ].</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 32.0% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -31.1% || <small>] won ]</small><ref name="ftnfantasy.com"/>
|- |-
| ] || ] || 35.0% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -28.7% || <small>] won ]. Browns complete second ] in NFL history.</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 38.5% || ] || -37.4% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || style="background:#cfc;"|] || 25.1% || ] || -34.5% || <small>] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 34.8% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -37.6% || <small>] won ].</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || ]|| 38.6% || ] || -28.3% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 33.0% || ] || -28.7% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || ]|| 31.7% || ] || -31.3% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 31.0% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -33.8% || <small>] won ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 40.0% || ] || -40.2% || <small>] received #1 overall pick in ].</small><ref></ref> | ] || ]|| 35.4% || ] || -31.2% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || ]|| 38.4% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -43.5% || <small>] won ].</small><ref></ref> | ] || ]|| 32.6% || ] || -34.2% || <small>] won ], ] got #1 pick.</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || ]|| 28.7% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -34.5% || <small>] won ].</small><ref></ref> | ] || style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 35.8% || ] || -37.5% || <small>] received #1 overall pick in ].</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] ||]|| 44.3% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -38.2% || <small>] won ]</small><ref></ref> | ] || ]|| 35.6% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -40.7% || <small>] won ].</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || ] || 29.1% || ] || -48.6% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref> | ] || ]|| 28.3% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -36.4% || <small>] won ].</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| ] || 30.6% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -45.2% || <small>] won ]</small> <ref></ref> | ] ||]|| 45.7% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -41.2% || <small>] won ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] ||]|| 53.4% || ] || -35.4% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 26.7% || ] || -48.3% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ] || ] || 28.5% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -34.5% || <small>] won ]</small> <ref></ref> | ]|| ] || 28.9% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -43.9% || <small>] won ]</small> <ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| ] || 33.4% || ] || -57.7% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref> | ] ||]|| 52.3% || ] || -35.4% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| ] || 37.6% ||style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -43.1% || <small>] won ]</small><ref></ref> | ] || ] || 29.7% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -31.5% || <small>] won ]</small> <ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| ] || 30.5% || ] || -43.1% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref> | ]|| ] || 30.7% || ] || -49.7% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|] || 31.3% || ] || -41.4% || <small>] got ]</small><ref></ref> | ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|] || 35.9% ||style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -42.0% || <ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| ] || 31.2% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -24.7% || <small>] won ], Panthers had ] (to expansion ])</small><ref></ref> | ]|| ] || 27.5% || ] || -41.3% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| ]|| 33.5% || ] || -41.5% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref> | ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|] || 30.7% || ] || -39.9% || <small>] got ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|] || 38.7%|| style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -41.3% || <small></small><ref></ref> | ]|| ] || 31.2% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -24.4% || <small>] won ], Panthers had ] (to expansion ])</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 32.2% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -37.0% || <small>Philadelphia had worst record, got ] after expansion ]</small><ref></ref> | ]|| ]|| 31.2% || ] || -39.4% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|] || 29.9% || ] || -31.2% || <small> ] got ]</small> <ref></ref> | ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|] || 36.4%|| style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -41.0% || <small></small><ref></ref>
|- |-
| ]||style="background:#cfc;"| ]|| 43.0% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -33.6% || <ref></ref> | ]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 34.9% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -35.0% || <small>Philadelphia had worst record, got ] after expansion ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
|] || ]|| 40.0% || ] || -30.3% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref name="Football Outsiders: DVOA 1994"></ref> | ]|| ] || 33.9% || ] || -31.1% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small> <ref></ref>
|- |-
|]|| ]|| 32.4% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -29.9% || <small>] won ], Oilers picked #3 behind expansion ]/].</small><ref name="Football Outsiders: DVOA 1994"/> | ]||style="background:#cfc;"| ]|| 39.7% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] || -30.9% || <ref></ref>
|- |-
|]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 24.7% || ] || -38.9% || <small>] got ]</small><ref></ref> |] || ]|| 39.0% || ] || -33.9% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref name="Football Outsiders: DVOA 1994"></ref>
|- |-
|]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 35.5% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -41.5% ||<ref></ref> |]|| ]|| 33.9% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -27.9% || <small>] won ], Oilers picked #3 behind expansion ]/].</small><ref name="Football Outsiders: DVOA 1994"/>
|- |-
|]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 56.5% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -49.2% || <ref></ref> |]|| ]|| 27.8% || ] || -36.6% || <small>] won ], ] got ]</small><ref></ref>
|- |-
|]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 30.6% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"| ]|| -40.8% ||<ref></ref> |]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 35.3% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -42.5% ||<ref></ref>
|- |-
|]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 37.2% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -37.5% || <small>Dallas had the league's worst record, but forfeited their first round pick</small> <ref></ref> |]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 49.5% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -49.5% || <ref></ref>
|- |-
|]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 29.1% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"| ]|| -41.0% ||<ref></ref>
⚫ |]
|-
|]
|]|| style="background:#cfc;"|]|| 34.9% || style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]|| -32.5% || <small>Dallas had the league's worst record, but forfeited their first round pick</small> <ref></ref>
⚫ |27.4%
|-
⚫ |]
|style="background:#cfc;"|]
|23.7%
|] |]
| -25.9% | -27.6%
|<small>] won Super Bowl, ] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small> |<small>] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small>
|- |-
|] |]
|] |]
|47.2% |41.5%
|style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] |style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]
| -43.2% | -34.3%
|<small>] won Super Bowl<ref></ref></small> |<small>] won Super Bowl<ref></ref></small>
|- |-
|] |]
|] |]
|30.2% |30.5%
|style="background:#FFCCCC;"|] |style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]
|<nowiki>-44.9%</nowiki> |<nowiki>-42.8%</nowiki>
|<small>] won Super Bowl<ref></ref></small> |<small>] won Super Bowl<ref></ref></small>
|- |-
|] |]
|style="background:#cfc;"|] |style="background:#cfc;"|]
|52.9% |45.8%
|] |]
|<nowiki>-37.5%</nowiki> |<nowiki>-36.6%</nowiki>
|<small>] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small> |<small>] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small>
|- |-
|] |]
|style="background:#cfc;"|] |style="background:#cfc;"|]
|33.5% |33.8%
|] |]
|<nowiki>-41.2%</nowiki> |<nowiki>-35.7%</nowiki>
|<small>] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small> |<small>] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small>
|- |-
|] |]
|] |]
|37.2% |35.8%
|] |]
|<nowiki>-31.6%</nowiki> |<nowiki>-32.4%</nowiki>
|<small>] won Super Bowl, ] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small> |<small>] won Super Bowl, ] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small>
|-
|]
|]
⚫ |27.4%
|]
|<nowiki>-42.3%</nowiki>
|<small>] won Super Bowl, ] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small>
|-
|]
|]
|22.3%
|]
|<nowiki>-32.9%</nowiki>
|<small>] won Super Bowl, ] got #1 overall pick<ref></ref></small>
|-
|]
|]
|24.6%
|]
|<nowiki>-26.2%</nowiki>
|<small>] won Super Bowl, ] got #1 overall pick</small>
|-
|]
|style="background:#cfc;"|]
|30.9%
|style="background:#FFCCCC;"|]
|<nowiki>-25.7%</nowiki>
|
|} |}


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So why the name change, and why aren’t we in bookstores? So why the name change, and why aren’t we in bookstores?


For those who don’t know, our first four books were published through an agreement with Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, the company that owns ] (as well as the expansion projects Basketball Prospectus and Puck Prospectus). It was PEV that had the publishing contract (first with ], then ]). This year, for various reasons, Plume decided they no longer wanted to publish books related to other sports besides baseball. Other publishers were interested in doing our book, but by the time Plume made their decision, it was too late to get on the publication schedule for 2009.<ref>As quoted in "Football Outsiders Almanac 2009 Interview With Aaron Schatz," .</ref> For those who don’t know, our first four books were published through an agreement with Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, the company that owns ] (as well as the expansion projects Basketball Prospectus and Puck Prospectus). It was PEV that had the publishing contract (first with ], then ]). This year, for various reasons, Plume decided they no longer wanted to publish books related to other sports besides baseball. Other publishers were interested in doing our book, but by the time Plume made their decision, it was too late to get on the publication schedule for 2009.<ref>{{cite web | last=Allen | first=Bruce | title=''Football Outsiders Almanac 2009'' Interview With Aaron Schatz | url=http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/2009/07/football-outsiders-almanac-200 | website=Boston Sports Media Watch | date=July 29, 2009}}</ref>
</blockquote> </blockquote>


==Management== ==Management==
Editor-in-Chief: Aaron Schatz<br> Editor-in-Chief: Aaron Schatz<br>
Assistant Editors: Vincent Verhei, Scott Spratt<br> Senior Editor: Vince Verhei<br>
Senior Writer: Mike Tanier


==Books== ==Books==
Line 220: Line 258:


==General references== ==General references==
{{More footnotes|date=May 2011}} {{More footnotes needed|date=May 2011}}
*Bob Glauber, http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/glauber-s-nfl-hot-reads-1.811959/a-football-outsider-s-perspective-1.1413423 "Glauber's NFL Hot Reads"], '']'' (September 1, 2009). *Bob Glauber, http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/glauber-s-nfl-hot-reads-1.811959/a-football-outsider-s-perspective-1.1413423 "Glauber's NFL Hot Reads"], '']'' (September 1, 2009).
*"Football Outsider: Football Statistics from Outside the Box—An Interview with Aaron Schatz," . *"Football Outsider: Football Statistics from Outside the Box—An Interview with Aaron Schatz," .
Line 232: Line 270:


==External links== ==External links==
* * (Link not working)
* *


Latest revision as of 20:51, 15 December 2024

American football website
This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Football Outsiders" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Football Outsiders
Available inEnglish
Created byAaron Schatz
URLwww.footballoutsiders.com
LaunchedAugust 2003; 21 years ago (2003-08)

Football Outsiders (FO) was a website started in July 2003 which focused on advanced statistical analysis of the National Football League (NFL). The site was run by a staff of regular writers, who produced a series of weekly columns using both the site's in-house statistics and their personal analyses of NFL games.

In 2005 and 2006, the site partnered with FOXSports.com to cross-publish many of the Outsiders' regular features, including power rankings based on a "weighted" version of the DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) statistic. In 2007, Football Outsiders content appeared on FOXSports.com (in a reduced capacity) along with AOL Sports and ESPN.com. Since 2008, the site has partnered exclusively with ESPN and provides mostly ESPN Insider content. In 2009, Football Outsiders began analyzing college football using similar statistical principles.

As of 2023, after financial mismanagement, the site seems to have been abandoned by its owners. As of September 1, 2023, the website was no longer accessible. DVOA statistics have been moved to FTN Fantasy, which is owned by FTN Network. Aaron Schatz joined FTN Network as Chief Analytics Officer on August 29, 2023.

History

Football Outsiders was launched in August 2003 by Aaron Schatz, with two regular columns, one of which used an early version of the proprietary DVOA statistic. The original purpose of the site was to disprove a statement by Boston Globe reporter Ron Borges that the 2002 New England Patriots failed to make the postseason because they could not establish the run. Over the course of time, the site added more writers, and hosted Gregg Easterbrook for part of 2003.

Between 2004 and 2005, the site introduced new statistics such as Defense-adjusted Points Above Replacement (DPAR, later Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement, DYAR) and Adjusted Line Yards (ALY). In 2005, the site began to cross-publish many of its columns on FOXsports.com. In 2005, Football Outsiders also took over publication of Pro Football Prospectus, a book giving a preview of the upcoming NFL season. In 2009, the annual was renamed Football Outsiders Almanac.

Currently, the site has incorporated the 1981–2022 NFL seasons into their statistics.

Key Metrics

Football Outsiders has devised a series of proprietary formulas to calculate different advanced metrics.

DVOA

DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) calculates a team's success based on the down-and-distance of each play during the season, then calculates how much more or less successful each team is compared to the league average. According to Football Outsiders, DVOA "breaks down every single play of the NFL season to see how much success offensive players achieved in each specific situation compared to the league average in that situation, adjusted for the strength of the opponent. ... Football has one objective -- to get to the end zone -- and two ways to achieve that, by gaining yards and getting first downs. These two goals need to be balanced to determine a player's value or a team's performance."

There is a separate DVOA measurement for special teams, which "compare each kick or punt to the league average for based on the point value of field position at the position of each kick, catch, and return."

DYAR

DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) calculates each player's cumulative value above or below a "replacement-level" alternative. DYAR differs from DVOA in calculating a player's total value through the course of a year, and not on a play-for-play rate. States Football Outsiders, "DVOA, by virtue of being a percentage or rate statistic, doesn’t take into account the cumulative value of having a player producing at a league-median level over the course of an above-average number of plays. By definition, a median level of performance is better than that provided by half of the league and the ability to maintain that level of performance while carrying a heavy work load is very valuable indeed."

Adjusted Line Yards

Adjusted Line Yards (ALY) "differentiate between the contribution of the running back and the contribution of the offensive line." ALY attempts to "separate the effect that the running back has on a particular play from the effect of the offensive line (and other offensive blockers) and the effect of the defense. ... Yardage ends up falling into roughly the following combinations: Losses, 0-4 yards, 5-10 yards, and 11+ yards. In general, the offensive line is 20% more responsible for lost yardage than it is for yardage gained up to four yards, but 50% less responsible for yardage gained from 5-10 yards, and not responsible for yardage past that. Thus, the creation of Adjusted Line Yards."

Drive Stats

Drive Stats calculate a team's average success rate on a possession-by-possession basis: "ach team's total number of drives as well as average yards per drive, points per drive, touchdowns per drive, punts per drive, and turnovers per drive, interceptions per drive, and fumbles lost per drive. LOS/Drive represents average starting field position (line of scrimmage) per drive from the offensive point of view. Drive stats are given for offense and defense, with NET representing simply offense minus defense."

Pythagorean projection

Main article: Pythagorean expectation

Another metric Football Outsiders uses is Pythagorean projection, which estimates wins in a season by a formula originally conceived by baseball analyst Bill James, that takes the square of team points, and divides it by the sum of the squares of team points scored and allowed.

The 2011 edition of Football Outsiders Almanac states, "From 1988 through 2004, 11 of 16 Super Bowls were won by the team that led the NFL in Pythagorean wins, while only seven were won by the team with the most actual victories. Super Bowl champions that led the league in Pythagorean wins but not actual wins include the 2004 Patriots, 2000 Ravens, 1999 Rams and 1997 Broncos."

Although Football Outsiders Almanac acknowledges that the formula had been less-successful in picking Super Bowl participants from 2005 to 2008, it reasserted itself in 2009 and 2010.

Furthermore, "he Pythagorean projection is also still a valuable predictor of year-to-year improvement. Teams that win a minimum of one full game more than their Pythagorean projection tend to regress the following year; teams that win a minimum of one full game less than their Pythagorean projection tend to improve the following year, particularly if they were at or above .500 despite their underachieving. For example, the 2008 New Orleans Saints went 8-8 despite 9.5 Pythagorean wins, hinting at the improvement that came with the next year's championship season."

DVOA results

Each year, Football Outsiders calculates the best and worst teams, per play, with the DVOA metric (see above). Below is a list of the highest- and lowest-rated teams in the league in each year from 1985 to 2019.

Since Football Outsiders shut down in 2023, DVOA stats have been moved to FTN Fantasy; a historical archive of DVOA rankings dating back to 1979 is available.

= Team Won Super Bowl
= Team Awarded First Overall Draft Pick in following year's draft
Season Best DVOA rating DVOA Worst DVOA rating DVOA Notes
2023 Baltimore Ravens 45.5% Carolina Panthers -35.3% Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII; Panthers finished with worst record, but #1 pick was owned by Chicago Bears
2022 Buffalo Bills 38.9% Indianapolis Colts -29.3% Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII, Chicago Bears got #1 pick.
2021 Dallas Cowboys 29.3% New York Giants -31.4% Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI, Jacksonville Jaguars got #1 pick
2020 New Orleans Saints 32.0% Jacksonville Jaguars -31.1% Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV
2019 Baltimore Ravens 38.5% Miami Dolphins -37.4% Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV, Cincinnati Bengals got #1 pick.
2018 Kansas City Chiefs 34.8% Arizona Cardinals -37.6% New England Patriots won Super Bowl LIII.
2017 Minnesota Vikings 33.0% New York Giants -28.7% Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII, Cleveland Browns got #1 pick
2016 Atlanta Falcons 31.0% Cleveland Browns -33.8% New England Patriots won Super Bowl LI
2015 Seattle Seahawks 35.4% San Francisco 49ers -31.2% Denver Broncos won Super Bowl, Tennessee Titans got #1 pick.
2014 Denver Broncos 32.6% Jacksonville Jaguars -34.2% New England Patriots won Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers got #1 pick.
2013 Seattle Seahawks 35.8% Jacksonville Jaguars -37.5% Houston Texans received #1 overall pick in 2014 draft.
2012 Denver Broncos 35.6% Kansas City Chiefs -40.7% Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl.
2011 New Orleans Saints 28.3% Indianapolis Colts -36.4% New York Giants won Super Bowl.
2010 New England Patriots 45.7% Carolina Panthers -41.2% Green Bay won Super Bowl
2009 New England Patriots 26.7% Detroit Lions -48.3% New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl, St. Louis Rams got #1 overall pick
2008 Philadelphia Eagles 28.9% Detroit Lions -43.9% Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl
2007 New England Patriots 52.3% San Francisco 49ers -35.4% New York Giants won Super Bowl, Miami Dolphins got #1 pick
2006 San Diego Chargers 29.7% Oakland Raiders -31.5% Indianapolis Colts won Super Bowl
2005 Indianapolis Colts 30.7% San Francisco 49ers -49.7% Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl, Houston Texans got #1 pick
2004 New England Patriots 35.9% San Francisco 49ers -42.0%
2003 Kansas City Chiefs 27.5% Arizona Cardinals -41.3% New England Patriots won Super Bowl, San Diego Chargers got #1 pick
2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30.7% Houston Texans -39.9% Cincinnati Bengals got #1 overall pick
2001 St. Louis Rams 31.2% Carolina Panthers -24.4% N.E. Patriots won Super Bowl, Panthers had #2 pick (to expansion Houston Texans)
2000 Tennessee Titans 31.2% Cincinnati Bengals -39.4% Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl, San Diego Chargers got #1 pick
1999 St. Louis Rams 36.4% Cleveland Browns -41.0%
1998 Denver Broncos 34.9% Philadelphia Eagles -35.0% Philadelphia had worst record, got #2 pick after expansion Cleveland Browns
1997 Green Bay Packers 33.9% Chicago Bears -31.1% Denver Broncos won Super Bowl, Indianapolis Colts got #1 pick
1996 Green Bay Packers 39.7% New York Jets -30.9%
1995 San Francisco 49ers 39.0% Jacksonville Jaguars -33.9% Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl, New York Jets got #1 pick
1994 Dallas Cowboys 33.9% Houston Oilers -27.9% San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl, Oilers picked #3 behind expansion Carolina/Jacksonville.
1993 San Francisco 49ers 27.8% Indianapolis Colts -36.6% Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl, Cincinnati Bengals got #1 overall pick
1992 Dallas Cowboys 35.3% New England Patriots -42.5%
1991 Washington Redskins 49.5% Indianapolis Colts -49.5%
1990 New York Giants 29.1% New England Patriots -41.0%
1989 San Francisco 49ers 34.9% Dallas Cowboys -32.5% Dallas had the league's worst record, but forfeited their first round pick
1988 San Francisco 49ers 23.7% Kansas City Chiefs -27.6% Dallas Cowboys got #1 overall pick
1987 San Francisco 49ers 41.5% Atlanta Falcons -34.3% Washington Redskins won Super Bowl
1986 Chicago Bears 30.5% Tampa Bay Buccaneers -42.8% New York Giants won Super Bowl
1985 Chicago Bears 45.8% Houston Oilers -36.6% Tampa Bay Buccaneers got #1 overall pick
1984 San Francisco 49ers 33.8% Minnesota Vikings -35.7% Buffalo Bills got #1 overall pick
1983 Washington Redskins 35.8% Houston Oilers -32.4% Los Angeles Raiders won Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers got #1 overall pick
1982 New York Jets 27.4% Houston Oilers -42.3% Washington Redskins won Super Bowl, Baltimore Colts got #1 overall pick
1981 Philadelphia Eagles 22.3% Baltimore Colts -32.9% San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl, New England Patriots got #1 overall pick
1980 Philadelphia Eagles 24.6% New York Giants -26.2% Oakland Raiders won Super Bowl, New Orleans Saints got #1 overall pick
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers 30.9% Detroit Lions -25.7%

Pro Football Prospectus and Football Outsiders Almanac

From 2005 through 2008, Football Outsiders published the Pro Football Prospectus book each year before the football season began. It included an essay for each team analyzing the previous season, evaluating off-season moves, and projecting future performance.

In 2009, Football Outsiders did not publish a Pro Football Prospectus volume, but instead produced the self-published Football Outsiders Almanac 2009. The reason for this is explained in the book:

So why the name change, and why aren’t we in bookstores?

For those who don’t know, our first four books were published through an agreement with Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, the company that owns Baseball Prospectus (as well as the expansion projects Basketball Prospectus and Puck Prospectus). It was PEV that had the publishing contract (first with Workman, then Plume). This year, for various reasons, Plume decided they no longer wanted to publish books related to other sports besides baseball. Other publishers were interested in doing our book, but by the time Plume made their decision, it was too late to get on the publication schedule for 2009.

Management

Editor-in-Chief: Aaron Schatz
Senior Editor: Vince Verhei
Senior Writer: Mike Tanier

Books

General references

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (May 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

See also

External links

Citations

  1. "The People Who Acquired Football Outsiders Are Screwing The People Who Built It | Defector". defector.com. 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  2. Schatz, Aaron (August 29, 2023). "Announcement". Twitter.
  3. (ISBN 1448648459)
  4. Football Outsiders: DVOA explained
  5. Football Outsider: Special Teams
  6. Football Outsiders: DYAR explained
  7. Football Outsiders: Adjusted Line Yards explained
  8. Football Outsiders: Drive Stats
  9. Football Outsiders Almanac 2011 (ISBN 978-1-4662-4613-3), p.xviii
  10. NFL Archives - FTN (For the Numbers)
  11. ^ Total Team DVOA: NFL Football Stats | FTN
  12. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2019
  13. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2018
  14. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2017
  15. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2016
  16. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2015
  17. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2014
  18. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2013
  19. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2012
  20. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2011
  21. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2010
  22. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2009
  23. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2008
  24. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2007
  25. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2006
  26. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2005
  27. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2004
  28. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2003
  29. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2002
  30. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2001
  31. Football Outsiders: DVOA 2000
  32. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1999
  33. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1998
  34. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1997
  35. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1996
  36. ^ Football Outsiders: DVOA 1994
  37. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1993
  38. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1992
  39. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1991
  40. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1990
  41. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1989
  42. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1988
  43. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1987
  44. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1986
  45. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1985
  46. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1984
  47. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1983
  48. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1982
  49. Football Outsiders: DVOA 1981
  50. Allen, Bruce (July 29, 2009). "Football Outsiders Almanac 2009 Interview With Aaron Schatz". Boston Sports Media Watch.
  51. Much of this volume was written by Football Outsiders (FO) authors, but the book itself is not officially a FO publication. See "Pro Football Prospectus 2004: The Lost Year".
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