2024 NFL season · final
The luckiest and unluckiest teams of 2024
The Chiefs were the luckiest team of 2024: 15 wins from play that, replayed with the same day’s form, was worth 12.1. The 49ers were the unluckiest: 6 wins from play worth 9.9.
Luck here is wins minus replay wins: for each game, how often this team wins it when it’s replayed with the way both teams actually played, added up over the season. Regular season only. How the replay works
| # | Team | Record | Replay wins | Luck in wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15–2 | 12.1 | +2.9 | |
| 2 | 10–7 | 7.3 | +2.7 | |
| 3 | 15–2 | 12.8 | +2.2 | |
| 4 | 5–12 | 2.9 | +2.1 | |
| 5 | 11–6 | 8.9 | +2.1 | |
| 6 | 10–7 | 8.0 | +2.0 | |
| 7 | 14–3 | 12.1 | +1.9 | |
| 8 | 14–3 | 12.3 | +1.7 | |
| 9 | 10–7 | 8.4 | +1.6 | |
| 10 | 10–7 | 8.4 | +1.6 | |
| 11 | 8–9 | 6.8 | +1.2 | |
| 12 | 7–10 | 5.8 | +1.2 | |
| 13 | 3–14 | 1.8 | +1.2 | |
| 14 | 13–4 | 12.6 | +0.4 | |
| 15 | 4–13 | 3.8 | +0.2 | |
| 16 | 5–12 | 4.8 | +0.2 | |
| 17 | 10–7 | 10.0 | 0.0 | |
| 18 | 12–5 | 12.3 | −0.3 | |
| 19 | 10–7 | 10.6 | −0.6 | |
| 20 | 3–14 | 3.7 | −0.7 | |
| 21 | 8–9 | 8.7 | −0.7 | |
| 22 | 4–13 | 4.9 | −0.9 | |
| 23 | 8–9 | 9.5 | −1.5 | |
| 24 | 11–6 | 12.5 | −1.5 | |
| 25 | 3–14 | 4.7 | −1.7 | |
| 26 | 8–9 | 9.9 | −1.9 | |
| 27 | 12–5 | 14.0 | −2.0 | |
| 28 | 5–12 | 7.2 | −2.2 | |
| 29 | 4–13 | 6.3 | −2.3 | |
| 30 | 9–8 | 11.5 | −2.5 | |
| 31 | 5–12 | 7.7 | −2.7 | |
| 32 | 6–11 | 9.9 | −3.9 |
Replay wins: the sum, over every game, of how often the team wins a replay with the same day’s form. Coin-flip wins: the same with only kicks, bounces, drops, conversions and calls re-rolled; it is the number that best predicts the rest of a season (validation). One-score: games decided by 8 points or fewer.
Did luck add wins or take them away?
Each logo is a team. Across: the wins its play was worth (replay wins). Up: the wins it actually got. On the diagonal the two match; above it, luck added wins; below it, luck cost wins.
Game by game
The luck index of every game: 100 × (the result − how often they win the replay). A loss in a game they win 9 times in 10 scores −90. Teams sorted luckiest to unluckiest.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | WC | DIV | CONF | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| DEN | 68 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DET | 84 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CAR | 89 | 76 | 89 | |||||||||||||||||||
| LAC | 69 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PIT | 95 | 90 | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||
| MIN | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| PHI | 76 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SEA | 64 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| LA | 73 | 64 | 72 | 66 | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
| MIA | 64 | 84 | 72 | |||||||||||||||||||
| DAL | 66 | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CLE | 84 | 99 | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||
| BUF | 66 | 73 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NE | 73 | 84 | 86 | 70 | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| CHI | 64 | 99 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| HOU | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WAS | 74 | 95 | 66 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||
| TB | 84 | 63 | 67 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NYG | 67 | 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| IND | 86 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| JAX | 84 | 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ATL | 67 | 70 | 60 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
| GB | 76 | 99 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEN | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ARI | 61 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| BAL | 85 | 99 | 90 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NO | 70 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| LV | 85 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CIN | 73 | 74 | 69 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NYJ | 68 | 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SF | 73 | 61 |
The adjusted standings, 2024
The standings adjusted for luck: every kick, fumble bounce, drop, conversion and referee call re-rolled, everything else as played. Four division winners and three wild cards a conference make the playoffs (no tiebreakers). Move the sliders to decide how much of each counts as luck; the link keeps your settings.
Order by Group by
AFC
Adjusted for luck, the Bengals would make the playoffs instead of the Steelers.
| Adjusted | Now | Team | Record | Adjusted wins | Luck | Seed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1▲2 | 3 | 12–5 | 13.6 | −1.6 | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | 13–4 | 12.0 | +1.0 | 2 | |
| 3▲2 | 5 | 10–7 | 11.7 | −1.7 | 3 | |
| 4▼3 | 1 | 15–2 | 11.4 | +3.6 | 5 | |
| 5▲3 | 8 | 9–8 | 10.8 | −1.8 | 6 | |
| 6▼2 | 4 | 11–6 | 10.4 | +0.6 | 7 | |
| 7▼1 | 6 | 10–7 | 9.5 | +0.5 | out | |
| 8▼1 | 7 | 10–7 | 9.5 | +0.5 | 4 | |
| 9▲2 | 11 | 5–12 | 8.2 | −3.2 | ||
| 10▼1 | 9 | 8–9 | 7.9 | +0.1 | ||
| 11▼1 | 10 | 8–9 | 7.4 | +0.6 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 4–13 | 5.6 | −1.6 | ||
| 13▲1 | 14 | 4–13 | 5.5 | −1.5 | ||
| 14▼1 | 13 | 4–13 | 4.9 | −0.9 | ||
| 15▲1 | 16 | 3–14 | 2.9 | +0.1 | ||
| 16▼1 | 15 | 3–14 | 2.7 | +0.3 |
NFC
Adjusted for luck, the 49ers would make the playoffs instead of the Rams.
| Adjusted | Now | Team | Record | Adjusted wins | Luck | Seed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1▲1 | 2 | 14–3 | 13.3 | +0.7 | 1 | |
| 2▲3 | 5 | 11–6 | 12.9 | −1.9 | 2 | |
| 3▼2 | 1 | 15–2 | 12.1 | +2.9 | 5 | |
| 4▼1 | 3 | 14–3 | 11.0 | +3.0 | 6 | |
| 5▼1 | 4 | 12–5 | 10.0 | +2.0 | 7 | |
| 6 | 6 | 10–7 | 9.5 | +0.5 | 3 | |
| 7▲5 | 12 | 6–11 | 9.3 | −3.3 | 4 | |
| 8▼1 | 7 | 10–7 | 8.9 | +1.1 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 8–9 | 8.4 | −0.4 | ||
| 10 | 10 | 8–9 | 8.3 | −0.3 | ||
| 11▼3 | 8 | 10–7 | 7.7 | +2.3 | out | |
| 12▲1 | 13 | 5–12 | 6.2 | −1.2 | ||
| 13▼2 | 11 | 7–10 | 5.9 | +1.1 | ||
| 14 | 14 | 5–12 | 5.6 | −0.6 | ||
| 15▲1 | 16 | 3–14 | 4.8 | −1.8 | ||
| 16▼1 | 15 | 5–12 | 4.2 | +0.8 |
Adjusted wins: every kick, fumble bounce, drop, conversion and referee call re-rolled at your settings, everything else as played. Seed: playoff seed in the adjusted standings; 5 in only in the adjusted standings (luck kept them out), out made the playoffs only thanks to luck. Adjusted: rank in the conference by adjusted wins, ▲ places up because luck cost them, ▼ down because luck helped. Now: rank by record.
2024, week by week
| Week | Dates | Winners behind in replays | Biggest heist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl | Feb 9, 2025 | 0 of 1 | Eagles 40–22 Chiefs · won 85% of replays |
| Conference championships | Jan 26, 2025 | 0 of 2 | Chiefs 32–29 Bills · won 93% of replays |
| Divisional round | Jan 18, 2025–Jan 19, 2025 | 0 of 4 | Chiefs 23–14 Texans · won 46% of replays |
| Wild Card | Jan 11, 2025–Jan 13, 2025 | 1 of 6 | Commanders 23–20 Buccaneers · won 33% of replays |
| Week 18 | Jan 4, 2025–Jan 5, 2025 | 3 of 16 | Bears 24–22 Packers · won 1% of replays |
| Week 17 | Dec 25, 2024–Dec 30, 2024 | 1 of 16 | Rams 13–9 Cardinals · won 19% of replays |
| Week 16 | Dec 19, 2024–Dec 23, 2024 | 1 of 16 | Cowboys 26–24 Buccaneers · won 37% of replays |
| Week 15 | Dec 12, 2024–Dec 16, 2024 | 0 of 16 | Broncos 31–13 Colts · won 44% of replays |
| Week 14 | Dec 5, 2024–Dec 9, 2024 | 1 of 13 | Rams 44–42 Bills · won 34% of replays |
| Week 13 | Nov 28, 2024–Dec 2, 2024 | 2 of 16 | Colts 25–24 Patriots · won 30% of replays |
| Week 12 | Nov 21, 2024–Nov 25, 2024 | 4 of 13 | Browns 24–19 Steelers · won 26% of replays |
| Week 11 | Nov 14, 2024–Nov 18, 2024 | 3 of 14 | Steelers 18–16 Ravens · won 10% of replays |
| Week 10 | Nov 7, 2024–Nov 11, 2024 | 3 of 14 | Steelers 28–27 Commanders · won 5% of replays |
| Week 9 | Oct 31, 2024–Nov 4, 2024 | 2 of 15 | Panthers 23–22 Saints · won 11% of replays |
| Week 8 | Oct 24, 2024–Oct 28, 2024 | 2 of 16 | Browns 29–24 Ravens · won 1% of replays |
| Week 7 | Oct 17, 2024–Oct 21, 2024 | 0 of 15 | Lions 31–29 Vikings · won 48% of replays |
| Week 6 | Oct 10, 2024–Oct 14, 2024 | 0 of 14 | Chargers 23–16 Broncos · won 55% of replays |
| Week 5 | Oct 3, 2024–Oct 7, 2024 | 3 of 14 | Jaguars 37–34 Colts · won 14% of replays |
| Week 4 | Sep 26, 2024–Sep 30, 2024 | 2 of 16 | Falcons 26–24 Saints · won 31% of replays |
| Week 3 | Sep 19, 2024–Sep 23, 2024 | 3 of 16 | Commanders 38–33 Bengals · won 26% of replays |
| Week 2 | Sep 12, 2024–Sep 16, 2024 | 4 of 16 | Raiders 26–23 Ravens · won 15% of replays |
| Week 1 | Sep 5, 2024–Sep 9, 2024 | 3 of 16 | Eagles 34–29 Packers · won 24% of replays |
Questions
Who is the luckiest NFL team of 2024?
The Kansas City Chiefs: 15–2, from play worth 12.1 wins (+2.9 wins of luck). The unluckiest: the San Francisco 49ers, 6–11 from play worth 9.9 wins.
What is postgame win expectancy?
How often a team would win a game it just played if the game were played again with the way both teams actually played. Ours replays each team’s own plays from that game 4,000 times, with kicks, fumble bounces and turnovers at the rates you would expect. Added up over a season it gives the replay wins above, and wins minus replay wins is the luck.
More from 2024
Turnover luck · Kicking luck · Injury luck · Dropped passes · Where luck comes from
Every upset · Regression candidates · Expected wins · One-score games · Penalties by team · Referee calls