Power Rankings: A Readjustment

Immediately after the publication of the first round of power rankings, each of the 32 teams was re-adjusted to a standard of 48,000 total points.

As soon as the post was published, every team was subject to a slight shift based on the number 48,000, which will represent the total number of points in ELO throughout the season. Some teams experienced massive drops.

For example, the Steelers lost 101 points in the readjustment based on their 16th place finish in the first power ranking. The only team to improve by 100 points was the Cleveland Browns who similarly jumped from a subpar ELO of 1431 to an impressive ELO of 1535 based on their 13th place finish in the power rankings.

The upper echelon team such as the Patriots, Chiefs, and Rams suffered minor losses in ELO rating due to the correction factor of the new ELO ratings. Many of the worst teams in the NFL such as the Cardinals, Jets, and 49ers moved up slightly based on the adjusted ELO ratings.

Methodology:

New England was placed with a maximum ELO rating of 1655 points. Each team below New England had 10 points subtracted from their position. For example, the Saints, who finished three positions lower the New England, had 30 points subtracted from 1655 and were left with an ELO of 1625, 39 points lower than their original power rankings value. This active readjustment of the teams serves to put the teams on a relatively equal level heading into free agency. Since this readjustment, each team has moved up or down based on free agency and any trades.

Each team was originally placed in a 10-point interval in order to ensure that 48,000 total points were up for grabs in the season. While the adjustment ELO ratings may not be the most accurate depiction of the talent disparity in the NFL, the rankings have been subsequently adjusted based on team transactions. Arizona, for example, has already dropped to 23 points because of general ineptitude. Most teams have stayed relatively close to their original value, but some have been active in free agency or passive in free agency, leading to a dramatically changed value.

Remember, the power rankings are pretty pointless and reflect on more so the perceived ability of the teams especially in the off-season. The power ranking should improve dramatically once football is actually being played in September. As of now, many ups and downs in the power rankings will be based on the perceived effective a player more so than their actual on-field effect which will take place in the fall. The addition of Antonio Brown both serves as an addition of a head case but the addition of one of the best receivers in football, so Oakland ELO rating was adjusted appropriately. Pre-draft and post-draft power rankings will be published and each team will look to not tank their season in the off-season.

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