We’ve reached that time of year where ESPN releases its Football Power Index (FPI) rankings for the upcoming NFL season. If you’re a Seattle Seahawks fan expecting a high opinion of the team, you can probably stop reading at this paragraph. I’m surprised you even got this far when I gave the details away in the title.
Anyway, ESPN’s FPI is a ratings and win projection model for NFL teams. During the preseason the predictive ratings involve a team’s schedule and projected win total from its betting service, “along with factors such as the strength difference between a team’s starting and backup quarterback and a revamped special teams rating based primarily on new predictive kicker ratings.