How to Figure National Football League Stats

Founded in 1920, the National Football League has become the most successful organization in U.S. spectator sports based on average attendance per game and television rights for the league, which are the most expensive sports broadcasting property in the business. Like other professional sports leagues, the NFL lends itself to statistical scrutiny by fans. The most common NFL statistics are straightforward and entail simple tasks like adding up the number of touchdowns a player scores. Figuring more complex NFL stats, however, requires some extra calculations and skill with numbers.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine a quarterback's passer rating by using an arcane formula the NFL has used since 1973. Divide a quarterback's complete passes by his pass attempts, subtract 0.3, divide by 0.2 and record the total. Divide passing yards by pass attempts, subtract 3, divide by 4 and record the total. Divide touchdown passes by pass attempts, divide by .05 and record the total. Take .095, subtract interceptions divided by attempts, divide the difference by .04 and record the total. Add the four results, multiply by 100 and divide by 6. As an illustration, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots led the NFL in this category in the 2010-11 season with a rating of 111.0.

    • 2

      Divide touchdown passes by pass attempts to figure a quarterback's touchdown percentage. Likewise, divide completions by pass attempts to determine a quarterback's percentage of completed passes. Divide interceptions by pass attempts to figure interception percentage.

    • 3

      Divide yards by rushing attempts to determine a running back's average yards per carry. Divide yards by receptions to figure a receiver's average yards per reception.

    • 4

      Add rushing yards to receiving yards to determine total yards from scrimmage for a player or team.

    • 5

      Divide total yards by attempts to determine average kickoff or punt yards per return for a special-teams player.

    • 6

      Divide extra points made by extra points attempted to figure a kicker's percentage of extra points made. Divide field goals made by field goals attempted to determine a kicker's percentage of field goals made.

    • 7

      Figure net punting average by subtracting return yards from gross punting yards, then subtracting 20 yards for each touchback, then dividing by total punts.