Analyzing NFL Team Strength Beyond Win-Loss Records

Resources

Books

• "The Game of Inches" by Unknown Author - Mentioned as a book that explains the concept of small margins in sports predicting outcomes.
• "The Book of Basketball" by Bill Simmons - Mentioned as a reference for basketball analysis.
• "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley - Mentioned as a book that has influenced Sam Presti's thinking on leadership and team building.
• Books by Robert Caro (e.g., on Robert Moses, Lyndon B. Johnson) - Mentioned as influential works for Sam Presti, with the interviewer also teaching and reading Caro's books.

Videos & Documentaries

• Anchorman - Mentioned in reference to Kevin Cole's "100% correct" power rankings, likening it to Ron Burgundy's style.

Research & Studies

• PFF (Pro Football Focus) grading - Mentioned as a data source for evaluating player performance.
• EPA per play (Expected Points Added per Play) - Used as a metric for offensive efficiency.
• DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) - Mentioned as a metric that might rank the Seahawks as the best team in the NFL.

Tools & Software

• Substack - The platform where Kevin Cole publishes his newsletter, "Unexpected Points."

Articles & Papers

• ESPN article on Sam Presti and Robert Caro - Mentioned as a recent article discussing the GM's interest in Caro's biographies.
• Article by Mike Sando on The Athletic - Mentioned as a piece discussing the Chicago Bears' performance.

People Mentioned

• Teddy Roosevelt - Mentioned in the context of how sports have changed since his time.
• Michael Jordan - Mentioned as a historical benchmark for basketball greatness.
• LeBron James - Mentioned as a contemporary benchmark for basketball greatness.
• Dan Orlovsky - Mentioned as an example of an analyst making implicit predictions.
• Stephen A. Smith - Mentioned as an example of a media personality making implicit predictions.
• Neil Payne - Mentioned as someone who might have appeared on the podcast more than 20 times.
• Massie PBody - Mentioned in relation to standard formulas for calculating team strength.
• Sam Darnold - Discussed as the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks and his surprising performance.
• Aaron Schatz - Mentioned as someone who might have insights into DVOA rankings.
• Daniel Jones - Discussed as the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and his strong performance.
• Peyton Manning - Mentioned in comparison to Bo Nix's performance in a Super Bowl-winning season.
• Jalen Hurts - Mentioned in relation to QBR rankings and his contract.
• Nick Sirianni - Mentioned in the context of fan dissatisfaction with the Eagles' performance.
• Jordan Love - Discussed as the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and his performance metrics.
• Matt LaFleur - Mentioned as a coach who previously revived Aaron Rodgers' career.
• Malik Willis - Mentioned as an example of a player whose rookie performance might unfairly influence perceptions.
• Kevin O'Connell - Mentioned as a coach who is perceived to make players better.
• Caleb Williams - Mentioned in relation to a highlight play and potential for inconsistent performance.
• Mike McCarthy - Mentioned as a coach whose impact might have been overvalued.
• Lamar Jackson - Discussed in relation to the Ravens' struggles and his injury.
• Josh Allen - Discussed as a top-tier quarterback and his history with the Bills.
• Patrick Mahomes - Mentioned as a benchmark for quarterback greatness.
• Sam Presti - General Manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, discussed for his interest in Robert Caro's biographies.
• Robert Moses - A New York figure whose biography was written by Robert Caro.
• Lyndon B. Johnson - A former US President, whose biography was written by Robert Caro.
• Jalen Jackson - Mentioned as the second-best player for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Chet Holmgren - Mentioned as a key player for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Mike Vrabel - Mentioned as a strong candidate for Coach of the Year.
• Drake Maye - Mentioned as a player with potential for a breakout season.

Organizations & Institutions

• Wharton School - The academic institution where the podcast hosts are professors.
• Wharton Moneyball Podcast Network - The network producing the podcast.
• PFF (Pro Football Focus) - Formerly where Kevin Cole worked.
• AP College Football Poll - Mentioned as a type of poll that judges by past performance.
• NFL (National Football League) - The primary subject of the podcast's sports discussion.
• NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) - Mentioned in the context of college football playoffs.
• SEC (Southeastern Conference) - Mentioned in relation to college football championship games.
• ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) - Mentioned in relation to college football championship games.
• Big 12 Conference - Mentioned in relation to college football conference championship scenarios.
• Big Ten Conference - Mentioned in relation to college football conference championship scenarios.
• NBA (National Basketball Association) - The subject of later discussion in the podcast.
• NHL (National Hockey League) - The subject of discussion regarding the Colorado Avalanche.
• PSA (Public Service Announcement) - Mentioned regarding a new laptop.

Courses & Educational Resources

• Wharton Moneyball - The podcast itself, serving as an educational resource on sports analytics.

Websites & Online Resources

• Unexpected Points (Substack) - Kevin Cole's newsletter where he publishes his power rankings and analysis.
• The Athletic - A sports publication where Mike Sando writes.

Other Resources

• Power Rankings - A recurring concept discussed throughout the episode, with Kevin Cole's "100% correct" rankings being a focal point.
• Adjusted Scores - A metric developed by Kevin Cole to evaluate game performance by stripping out high-variance elements.
• Expected Point Differential - A standard formula used in sports analytics to measure team strength.
• Win-loss record - Discussed as a common but potentially misleading metric for team strength.
• QBR (Total Quarterback Rating) - A metric used to evaluate quarterback performance.
• Yards per Play - A metric used to evaluate team efficiency.
• Peripherals (in baseball context) - Mentioned as an analogy for fundamental metrics in hockey.