The Sports Wire

NFL team efficiency, 2026

Updated

Through Week 5 of the 2026 regular season, the Bills have the best offense by opponent-adjusted EPA per play (+0.17) and the Vikings the best defense (−0.13 allowed per play).

By net EPA per play, the 49ers (+0.19), the Jaguars (+0.18) and the Chiefs (+0.12) lead; the Titans (−0.18) are last.

The Texans rank 18th by net EPA per play (+0.01): 24th on offense (−0.05) and 6th on defense (−0.05 allowed).

Data through Week 5's games (the last played Mon, Oct 12), from nflverse play-by-play; nflverse last published it .

Opponent-adjusted, season, competitive plays

EPA per play and success rate, opponent-adjusted, season, competitive plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
1Jaguars+0.20+0.10−0.10+0.22−0.0846%244
249ers+0.17+0.15−0.03+0.24−0.0152%230
3Bengals+0.13+0.10−0.03+0.17−0.0547%241
4Chiefs+0.13+0.13−0.01+0.15+0.0847%218
5Patriots+0.09+0.05−0.04+0.15−0.0946%245
6Rams+0.09+0.05−0.04+0.12−0.0746%293
7Ravens+0.08+0.09+0.01+0.15+0.0247%242
8Panthers+0.07+0.13+0.05+0.24−0.0845%202
9Bills+0.06+0.17+0.10+0.280.0048%267
10Bears+0.05+0.07+0.01+0.15−0.0448%266
11Seahawks+0.05−0.09−0.14+0.04−0.2841%241
12Packers+0.03+0.04+0.02+0.18−0.2044%221
13Vikings+0.02−0.10−0.12−0.05−0.1936%277
14Broncos+0.02−0.01−0.030.00−0.0341%248
15Falcons+0.01−0.06−0.07−0.09−0.0344%239
16Browns+0.01−0.04−0.05+0.05−0.2039%243
17Lions0.00+0.08+0.07+0.120.0046%235
18Jets0.00−0.05−0.05−0.01−0.1343%252
19Raiders−0.01+0.06+0.07+0.19−0.1543%249
20Buccaneers−0.03−0.05−0.03−0.10+0.0242%261
21Texans−0.03−0.040.00+0.07−0.2441%273
22Commanders−0.04−0.01+0.03+0.05−0.1140%276
23Giants−0.06−0.08−0.020.00−0.1741%268
24Steelers−0.06−0.01+0.060.000.0042%265
25Cardinals−0.08−0.02+0.060.00−0.0644%264
26Colts−0.08−0.02+0.07−0.07+0.0842%275
27Eagles−0.10−0.07+0.03−0.01−0.1738%261
28Saints−0.10−0.04+0.060.00−0.1244%271
29Cowboys−0.10+0.07+0.17+0.10−0.0146%257
30Dolphins−0.11−0.03+0.08−0.04−0.0341%207
31Chargers−0.15−0.20−0.05−0.20−0.2239%251
32Titans−0.26−0.14+0.12−0.17−0.0941%181

Raw, season, all plays

EPA per play and success rate, raw, season, all plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
149ers+0.28+0.21−0.07+0.41−0.0653%276
2Jaguars+0.24+0.15−0.09+0.28+0.0147%287
3Chiefs+0.23+0.18−0.05+0.21+0.1349%248
4Ravens+0.18+0.15−0.03+0.24+0.0651%302
5Rams+0.13+0.08−0.05+0.13−0.0347%346
6Vikings+0.11−0.10−0.21−0.04−0.1936%297
7Bengals+0.10+0.07−0.03+0.15−0.0747%308
8Panthers+0.09+0.12+0.02+0.23−0.1144%264
9Bills+0.08+0.22+0.13+0.35+0.0449%290
10Seahawks+0.06−0.07−0.14+0.09−0.2741%294
11Patriots+0.05+0.04−0.01+0.17−0.1445%312
12Texans+0.050.00−0.04+0.11−0.1942%311
13Jets+0.04−0.03−0.06+0.04−0.1243%288
14Lions+0.02+0.18+0.16+0.28+0.0149%330
15Packers+0.02−0.02−0.05+0.11−0.3040%289
16Bears+0.01+0.02+0.01+0.06−0.0246%360
17Falcons+0.01−0.03−0.04−0.12+0.0746%306
18Raiders0.00+0.01+0.01+0.15−0.2143%314
19Buccaneers−0.03−0.09−0.05−0.140.0041%301
20Steelers−0.05−0.050.00−0.10+0.0642%300
21Giants−0.05−0.02+0.03+0.10−0.1942%321
22Broncos−0.05−0.08−0.03−0.10−0.0539%283
23Commanders−0.06−0.02+0.04+0.07−0.1440%317
24Browns−0.06−0.08−0.02+0.05−0.3239%288
25Cowboys−0.07+0.13+0.19+0.20−0.0248%305
26Cardinals−0.14−0.02+0.12+0.01−0.0746%329
27Chargers−0.15−0.21−0.06−0.21−0.2038%307
28Colts−0.15−0.05+0.10−0.16+0.1042%320
29Saints−0.16−0.05+0.10−0.03−0.1043%332
30Eagles−0.20−0.13+0.07−0.08−0.2036%287
31Dolphins−0.23−0.12+0.11−0.13−0.1137%273
32Titans−0.23−0.15+0.08−0.19−0.1040%273

Raw, season, competitive plays

EPA per play and success rate, raw, season, competitive plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
1Jaguars+0.26+0.11−0.14+0.22−0.0446%244
249ers+0.25+0.18−0.08+0.31−0.0153%230
3Chiefs+0.24+0.23−0.01+0.25+0.2050%218
4Ravens+0.20+0.18−0.02+0.25+0.0951%242
5Bengals+0.18+0.13−0.05+0.20−0.0549%241
6Rams+0.10+0.08−0.02+0.13−0.0346%293
7Bills+0.10+0.21+0.11+0.35+0.0148%267
8Panthers+0.08+0.17+0.09+0.25−0.0246%202
9Bears+0.06+0.060.00+0.16−0.0647%266
10Patriots+0.06+0.05−0.01+0.16−0.1147%245
11Vikings+0.06−0.11−0.17−0.08−0.1636%277
12Seahawks+0.05−0.14−0.19+0.03−0.3840%241
13Raiders+0.02+0.08+0.06+0.23−0.1645%249
14Packers+0.02−0.01−0.03+0.14−0.2841%221
15Giants+0.01−0.05−0.06+0.09−0.2241%268
16Lions+0.01+0.14+0.12+0.20+0.0450%235
17Jets+0.01−0.05−0.06−0.03−0.0944%252
18Falcons+0.01−0.07−0.07−0.14+0.0145%239
19Commanders0.00−0.01−0.02+0.06−0.1239%276
20Texans0.00+0.03+0.03+0.17−0.2244%273
21Browns−0.02−0.07−0.05+0.04−0.2838%243
22Buccaneers−0.04−0.09−0.05−0.18+0.0841%261
23Broncos−0.07−0.07−0.01−0.09−0.0538%248
24Steelers−0.11−0.04+0.07−0.09+0.0741%265
25Cardinals−0.12−0.07+0.04−0.08−0.0643%264
26Cowboys−0.13+0.08+0.21+0.13−0.0246%257
27Colts−0.14−0.01+0.12−0.09+0.0942%275
28Saints−0.14−0.06+0.080.00−0.1643%271
29Eagles−0.14−0.10+0.05−0.03−0.2136%261
30Chargers−0.21−0.27−0.05−0.27−0.2637%251
31Dolphins−0.23−0.08+0.15−0.11−0.0438%207
32Titans−0.34−0.23+0.12−0.31−0.1138%181

Opponent-adjusted, last 4 games, all plays

EPA per play and success rate, opponent-adjusted, last 4 games, all plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
1Rams+0.15+0.08−0.07+0.16−0.0547%290
249ers+0.14+0.14+0.01+0.31−0.1049%212
3Jaguars+0.13+0.09−0.04+0.18−0.0545%234
4Chiefs+0.12+0.11−0.01+0.15+0.0447%248
5Patriots+0.09+0.05−0.05+0.13−0.0844%245
6Broncos+0.09+0.02−0.07+0.05−0.0342%237
7Panthers+0.07+0.08+0.01+0.19−0.1244%264
8Bengals+0.06+0.08+0.01+0.16−0.0846%246
9Packers+0.05+0.04−0.01+0.17−0.2042%222
10Bills+0.04+0.15+0.10+0.23+0.0449%239
11Vikings+0.03−0.09−0.12−0.03−0.1937%239
12Browns+0.03−0.02−0.05+0.11−0.2540%239
13Falcons+0.02+0.030.00+0.01+0.0446%249
14Texans+0.02−0.05−0.07+0.05−0.2441%238
15Lions+0.02+0.14+0.12+0.23−0.0248%257
16Ravens+0.01+0.04+0.02+0.10−0.0347%242
17Seahawks0.00−0.07−0.08+0.03−0.2142%247
18Buccaneers0.00−0.04−0.04−0.03−0.0441%250
19Jets0.00−0.06−0.05+0.01−0.1741%228
20Bears−0.02−0.02+0.01+0.02−0.0645%290
21Cowboys−0.03+0.09+0.11+0.14−0.0148%253
22Colts−0.030.00+0.03−0.05+0.0843%267
23Raiders−0.03+0.02+0.05+0.17−0.2143%250
24Steelers−0.03+0.02+0.05+0.03+0.0144%239
25Chargers−0.04−0.13−0.09−0.11−0.1540%256
26Commanders−0.09−0.05+0.04+0.01−0.1540%250
27Dolphins−0.10−0.03+0.07−0.01−0.0541%223
28Saints−0.12−0.02+0.10+0.01−0.0745%247
29Giants−0.12−0.11+0.01−0.04−0.2039%256
30Eagles−0.14−0.11+0.03−0.06−0.1839%236
31Cardinals−0.16−0.04+0.12−0.03−0.0745%260
32Titans−0.17−0.10+0.07−0.11−0.0842%224

Opponent-adjusted, last 4 games, competitive plays

EPA per play and success rate, opponent-adjusted, last 4 games, competitive plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
149ers+0.14+0.12−0.02+0.24−0.0650%179
2Chiefs+0.13+0.13−0.01+0.15+0.0847%218
3Jaguars+0.13+0.06−0.07+0.16−0.0845%208
4Patriots+0.12+0.05−0.07+0.12−0.0545%178
5Rams+0.12+0.06−0.06+0.14−0.0845%257
6Bengals+0.09+0.080.00+0.16−0.0846%202
7Browns+0.080.00−0.08+0.11−0.2140%220
8Panthers+0.07+0.13+0.05+0.24−0.0845%202
9Broncos+0.060.00−0.06+0.03−0.0440%216
10Bills+0.04+0.15+0.10+0.24+0.0348%216
11Vikings+0.04−0.10−0.13−0.04−0.1936%224
12Falcons+0.020.00−0.03−0.01−0.0145%182
13Ravens+0.02+0.06+0.04+0.11+0.0147%207
14Buccaneers+0.02−0.03−0.05−0.050.0041%226
15Seahawks+0.02−0.12−0.130.00−0.2941%194
16Packers+0.01+0.03+0.02+0.14−0.1743%168
17Bears+0.01+0.02+0.01+0.09−0.0846%212
18Lions+0.01+0.11+0.11+0.17+0.0248%170
19Texans−0.01−0.04−0.02+0.09−0.2841%200
20Colts−0.02+0.02+0.04−0.01+0.0843%244
21Raiders−0.03+0.04+0.07+0.19−0.2142%208
22Commanders−0.04−0.02+0.02+0.04−0.1240%210
23Jets−0.04−0.08−0.04−0.04−0.1741%210
24Cowboys−0.06+0.06+0.12+0.090.0046%220
25Steelers−0.08+0.03+0.11+0.04+0.0343%214
26Dolphins−0.09−0.03+0.06−0.060.0041%173
27Chargers−0.09−0.20−0.11−0.20−0.2138%209
28Giants−0.10−0.13−0.03−0.05−0.2138%219
29Saints−0.10−0.01+0.09+0.04−0.1045%204
30Eagles−0.11−0.09+0.02−0.02−0.2039%210
31Cardinals−0.13−0.07+0.06−0.08−0.0643%204
32Titans−0.22−0.13+0.09−0.16−0.0841%156

Raw, last 4 games, all plays

EPA per play and success rate, raw, last 4 games, all plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
1Rams+0.26+0.14−0.12+0.20+0.0148%290
249ers+0.24+0.21−0.03+0.47−0.1251%212
3Chiefs+0.23+0.18−0.05+0.21+0.1349%248
4Jaguars+0.18+0.11−0.07+0.18+0.0244%234
5Patriots+0.10+0.08−0.02+0.20−0.0846%245
6Vikings+0.10−0.12−0.22−0.06−0.2036%239
7Panthers+0.09+0.12+0.02+0.23−0.1144%264
8Ravens+0.09+0.11+0.02+0.19+0.0251%242
9Bengals+0.09+0.090.00+0.19−0.1147%246
10Texans+0.08−0.01−0.10+0.11−0.2841%238
11Packers+0.07+0.02−0.05+0.16−0.2641%222
12Bills+0.06+0.21+0.15+0.30+0.0951%239
13Seahawks+0.05−0.10−0.15+0.06−0.2942%247
14Broncos+0.05−0.03−0.07−0.01−0.0540%237
15Browns+0.03−0.06−0.09+0.10−0.3738%239
16Lions+0.02+0.23+0.21+0.35+0.0250%257
17Falcons+0.01+0.04+0.03−0.02+0.1148%249
18Buccaneers0.00−0.07−0.07−0.10−0.0140%250
19Bears−0.02−0.07−0.05−0.06−0.0944%290
20Jets−0.02−0.08−0.05−0.02−0.1741%228
21Cowboys−0.04+0.11+0.14+0.17−0.0248%253
22Raiders−0.04+0.02+0.06+0.18−0.2543%250
23Colts−0.06−0.01+0.04−0.09+0.1042%267
24Steelers−0.06+0.02+0.08−0.04+0.1344%239
25Commanders−0.07−0.04+0.03+0.04−0.1739%250
26Chargers−0.08−0.20−0.12−0.22−0.1738%256
27Giants−0.11−0.12−0.01−0.02−0.2638%256
28Saints−0.20−0.07+0.13−0.04−0.1143%247
29Titans−0.22−0.16+0.06−0.20−0.1039%224
30Eagles−0.24−0.17+0.07−0.14−0.2236%236
31Dolphins−0.24−0.09+0.15−0.11−0.0838%223
32Cardinals−0.26−0.06+0.20−0.05−0.0845%260

Raw, last 4 games, competitive plays

EPA per play and success rate, raw, last 4 games, competitive plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
1Chiefs+0.24+0.23−0.01+0.25+0.2050%218
249ers+0.24+0.16−0.08+0.34−0.0851%179
3Rams+0.18+0.10−0.08+0.16−0.0346%257
4Jaguars+0.16+0.07−0.09+0.15−0.0544%208
5Patriots+0.15+0.11−0.04+0.19−0.0149%178
6Ravens+0.12+0.14+0.02+0.20+0.0752%207
7Bengals+0.11+0.110.00+0.19−0.0948%202
8Browns+0.10−0.01−0.11+0.14−0.3038%220
9Vikings+0.08−0.12−0.20−0.08−0.1736%224
10Panthers+0.08+0.17+0.09+0.25−0.0246%202
11Bills+0.07+0.20+0.13+0.30+0.0750%216
12Buccaneers+0.05−0.05−0.10−0.11+0.0540%226
13Bears+0.04−0.01−0.05+0.07−0.1245%212
14Texans+0.04+0.01−0.02+0.19−0.3442%200
15Seahawks+0.03−0.18−0.22−0.01−0.4440%194
16Packers+0.010.00−0.02+0.12−0.2442%168
17Falcons+0.01+0.010.00−0.01+0.0547%182
18Broncos+0.01−0.06−0.07−0.06−0.0638%216
19Commanders+0.01−0.03−0.04+0.05−0.1538%210
20Lions−0.02+0.20+0.22+0.27+0.0751%170
21Raiders−0.03+0.03+0.07+0.22−0.2643%208
22Colts−0.05+0.03+0.08−0.02+0.1043%244
23Giants−0.06−0.15−0.09−0.03−0.3037%219
24Jets−0.08−0.12−0.04−0.10−0.1441%210
25Cowboys−0.09+0.08+0.17+0.13−0.0246%220
26Saints−0.15−0.03+0.12+0.05−0.1744%204
27Steelers−0.16+0.02+0.18−0.04+0.1443%214
28Chargers−0.16−0.29−0.13−0.33−0.2435%209
29Eagles−0.19−0.14+0.05−0.08−0.2337%210
30Dolphins−0.22−0.10+0.12−0.18−0.0137%173
31Cardinals−0.24−0.15+0.09−0.18−0.0841%204
32Titans−0.30−0.22+0.09−0.31−0.1038%156

Opponent-adjusted, season, all plays

EPA per play and success rate, opponent-adjusted, season, all plays. Defense is what it allowed: lower is better.
#TeamNetOffenseDefenselower is betterPassingoffenseRushingoffenseSuccessoffensePlays
149ers+0.19+0.16−0.03+0.31−0.0551%276
2Jaguars+0.18+0.12−0.05+0.25−0.0547%287
3Chiefs+0.12+0.11−0.01+0.15+0.0447%248
4Rams+0.10+0.05−0.05+0.11−0.0646%346
5Bengals+0.08+0.070.00+0.14−0.0546%308
6Ravens+0.07+0.070.00+0.14−0.0147%302
7Panthers+0.07+0.08+0.01+0.19−0.1244%264
8Patriots+0.06+0.04−0.03+0.14−0.1245%312
9Bills+0.06+0.17+0.11+0.28+0.0148%290
10Vikings+0.05−0.08−0.13−0.02−0.1836%297
11Broncos+0.03−0.02−0.05−0.01−0.0341%283
12Seahawks+0.03−0.05−0.09+0.06−0.2142%294
13Packers+0.03+0.02−0.01+0.16−0.2243%289
14Bears+0.02+0.05+0.02+0.10−0.0246%360
15Falcons+0.01−0.02−0.04−0.06+0.0245%306
16Jets+0.01−0.04−0.05+0.03−0.1442%288
17Lions+0.01+0.11+0.10+0.19−0.0346%330
18Texans+0.01−0.05−0.05+0.04−0.2041%311
19Buccaneers−0.01−0.06−0.04−0.06−0.0441%301
20Browns−0.02−0.03−0.02+0.08−0.2340%288
21Raiders−0.02+0.01+0.03+0.13−0.1842%314
22Steelers−0.03−0.02+0.01−0.01−0.0243%300
23Cowboys−0.06+0.10+0.16+0.16−0.0147%305
24Giants−0.09−0.06+0.03+0.01−0.1641%321
25Colts−0.09−0.03+0.06−0.10+0.0943%320
26Commanders−0.09−0.04+0.06+0.03−0.1440%317
27Cardinals−0.100.00+0.10+0.03−0.0745%329
28Chargers−0.10−0.15−0.05−0.15−0.1640%307
29Saints−0.10−0.04+0.07−0.01−0.0844%332
30Dolphins−0.11−0.06+0.05−0.05−0.0740%273
31Eagles−0.13−0.09+0.04−0.05−0.1638%287
32Titans−0.18−0.10+0.09−0.11−0.0842%273

How these numbers work

EPA per play
Expected points added: how much each play changed the points a team could expect to score on that drive, from nflverse's model. Higher is better for an offense; for a defense, the number is what it allowed, so lower is better. Net is offense minus defense.
Success rate
The share of plays that added expected points.
Opponent-adjusted
Each team's numbers corrected for the offenses and defenses it has faced and for home field, and pulled toward the league average by two games' worth of plays, so one game can't dominate early in the season. Raw is the plain average.
Which plays count
Dropbacks (passes, sacks and scrambles) and designed runs in the regular season. Kneel-downs and spikes are left out. Competitive plays also leave out second-half plays when the offense's chance of winning, by nflverse's model, is under 10% or over 90%.
Last 4 games
Each team's four most recent regular-season games, adjusted against its opponents' full-season numbers.