Earlier in the off-season I introduced my NerdBall Efficiency Ranking or NEFF Rating, a set of rankings that give an analytical take of a multitude of facets of NFL play, with an aim to identify the best and worst performing teams throughout the NFL season. A breakdown of how the rankings are put together and some historical context can be found here.
The final games of the 2021 regular season are now in the books and I can reveal the final standings for the season.
2021 NEFF Ratings – Season to Date
| Team | Total NEFF | Rank | ONEFF | Rank | DNEFF | Rank | STNEFF | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 31.2% | 1 | 51.5% | 5 | -22.2% | 1 | -2.9% | 22 |
| Cowboys | 23.0% | 2 | 52.6% | 2 | -37.0% | 8 | 15.9% | 1 |
| Buccaneers | 22.3% | 3 | 53.7% | 1 | -32.9% | 4 | -4.4% | 23 |
| Rams | 18.5% | 4 | 48.8% | 9 | -33.7% | 5 | 3.7% | 10 |
| Cardinals | 18.1% | 5 | 49.9% | 6 | -36.6% | 7 | 8.6% | 4 |
| Chiefs | 15.5% | 6 | 51.8% | 4 | -41.5% | 20 | 11.0% | 2 |
| Patriots | 12.7% | 7 | 42.9% | 13 | -29.4% | 2 | -8.1% | 25 |
| Colts | 9.6% | 8 | 44.4% | 11 | -38.5% | 13 | 8.3% | 5 |
| 49ers | 9.3% | 9 | 49.0% | 8 | -37.1% | 10 | -12.3% | 32 |
| Packers | 8.7% | 10 | 51.8% | 3 | -40.9% | 18 | -11.0% | 30 |
| Titans | 7.4% | 11 | 41.3% | 15 | -36.5% | 6 | 5.4% | 9 |
| Eagles | 6.5% | 12 | 48.6% | 10 | -44.0% | 23 | 3.7% | 10 |
| Saints | 6.5% | 12 | 34.2% | 24 | -29.6% | 3 | 3.7% | 10 |
| Bengals | 3.4% | 14 | 44.3% | 12 | -41.3% | 19 | 0.0% | 17 |
| Chargers | 2.7% | 15 | 49.5% | 7 | -47.6% | 27 | 1.5% | 16 |
| Vikings | -1.8% | 16 | 42.5% | 14 | -45.1% | 24 | 3.4% | 13 |
| Ravens | -2.4% | 17 | 37.9% | 18 | -40.7% | 17 | 2.5% | 15 |
| Steelers | -4.5% | 18 | 33.5% | 25 | -38.2% | 12 | 2.7% | 14 |
| Browns | -4.5% | 19 | 38.4% | 16 | -39.9% | 16 | -8.3% | 26 |
| Dolphins | -5.1% | 20 | 35.8% | 22 | -37.4% | 11 | -9.8% | 28 |
| Broncos | -5.2% | 21 | 36.0% | 21 | -37.1% | 9 | -11.8% | 31 |
| Seahawks | -7.8% | 22 | 36.2% | 20 | -43.0% | 21 | 0.0% | 17 |
| Raiders | -9.2% | 23 | 38.1% | 17 | -45.7% | 25 | -1.2% | 20 |
| Bears | -12.3% | 24 | 26.5% | 27 | -39.3% | 15 | 6.9% | 6 |
| Football Team | -12.8% | 25 | 36.3% | 19 | -46.8% | 26 | -2.2% | 21 |
| Panthers | -18.6% | 26 | 25.3% | 30 | -38.8% | 14 | -9.1% | 27 |
| Falcons | -18.8% | 27 | 31.0% | 26 | -49.8% | 29 | 6.4% | 7 |
| Lions | -20.8% | 28 | 34.7% | 23 | -52.8% | 31 | -0.5% | 19 |
| Giants | -25.5% | 29 | 19.8% | 32 | -44.0% | 22 | 6.4% | 7 |
| Texans | -26.5% | 30 | 25.5% | 29 | -47.9% | 28 | -6.6% | 24 |
| Jaguars | -31.7% | 31 | 25.9% | 28 | -50.4% | 30 | -10.5% | 29 |
| Jets | -31.7% | 31 | 23.8% | 31 | -54.2% | 32 | 8.8% | 3 |