NFL Data

Before writing queries, consult references/api-reference.md for endpoints, ID conventions, and data shapes.

Setup

Before first use, check if the CLI is available:

which sports-skills || pip install sports-skills

If pip install fails (package not found or Python version error), install from GitHub:

pip install git+https://github.com/machina-sports/sports-skills.git

The package requires Python 3.10+. If your default Python is older, use a specific version:

python3 --version  # check version
# If < 3.10, try: python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills
# On macOS with Homebrew: /opt/homebrew/bin/python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills

No API keys required.

For nflverse-backed commands (get_nflverse_*), install the NFL extra:

pip install sports-skills[nfl]

On Python 3.10+ this installs nflreadpy (the preferred backend) plus pyarrow, which is needed for most nflverse data beyond schedules. On Python 3.9 it installs nfl-data-py instead, since nflreadpy requires 3.10+.

The nfl-data-py backend is a reduced fallback: it cannot serve get_nflverse_team_stats, which returns an explanatory error there. Use Python 3.10+ for full nflverse coverage.

Quick Start

Prefer the CLI — it avoids Python import path issues:

sports-skills nfl get_scoreboard
sports-skills nfl get_standings --season=2025
sports-skills nfl get_teams

Python SDK (alternative):

from sports_skills import nfl

scores = nfl.get_scoreboard({})
standings = nfl.get_standings({"params": {"season": "2025"}})

CRITICAL: Before Any Query

CRITICAL: Before calling any data endpoint, verify:

• Season year is derived from the system prompt's currentDate — never hardcoded.
• If only a team name is provided, call get_teams to resolve the team ID before using team-specific commands.

Choosing the Season

Derive the current year from the system prompt's date (e.g., currentDate: 2026-02-16 → current year is 2026).

• If the user specifies a season, use it as-is.
• If the user says "current", "this season", or doesn't specify: The NFL season runs September–February. If the current month is March–August, use season = current_year (upcoming season). If September–February, the active season started in the previous calendar year if you're in Jan/Feb, otherwise current year.

Commands

See references/api-reference.md for full parameter lists and return shapes.

Shaping Wide nflverse Results

nflverse tables are wide: one week of get_nflverse_player_stats is ~960 rows with 100+ stat columns (millions of characters). Every get_nflverse_* command accepts sort_by, descending, limit and fields so you can ask for just the rows you need:

# Week 5 passing leaders, 5 rows, 2 stat columns
sports-skills nfl get_nflverse_player_stats --season=2025 --week=5 --position=QB \
  --sort_by=passing_yards --limit=5 --fields=passing_yards,attempts

• sort_by: one column to sort by. Numbers (and numeric strings) sort numerically; missing values always go last.
• descending: true (default) or false; only used with sort_by.
• limit: positive integer, applied after sorting.
• fields: comma-separated keep-list. The identity columns below and the sort_by column are always kept.
• An unknown sort_by/fields column returns an error listing the valid columns.
• With any of these set, the response adds total_rows (matching rows before limit) and returned_rows. With none set, output is unchanged. They are applied after the fetch, so they never change the upstream request or its replay entry.
• Stat columns inside stats (e.g. passing_yards) are addressable directly; fields keeps stats as an object holding only the selected keys.

Using ESPN and nflverse Together

The two backends use different identifier systems. get_nflverse_schedule is the bridge: each event carries espn_event_id, which is exactly the ESPN event ID.

To combine nflverse analytics (EPA, win probability, betting lines) with ESPN detail (box scores, drives) for the same game:

1. Call get_nflverse_schedule(season=..., week=...).
2. Read espn_event_id off the event you want.
3. Pass it as event_id to get_game_summary, get_play_by_play, or get_win_probability.

Two things that do not line up automatically:

• Team abbreviations. ESPN uses LAR and WSH; nflverse uses LA and WAS. The get_nflverse_* functions accept either and translate. Going the other way (nflverse → ESPN), resolve via get_teams.
• Player IDs. ESPN athlete IDs and nflverse GSIS IDs (00-0033873) are unrelated, and no crosswalk is available. Match on name plus team instead.

Field to watch on schedule rows: total is the combined points actually scored, while total_line is the betting over/under. Use total_line for market work.

Examples

Example 1: Today's scores User says: "What are today's NFL scores?" Actions:

1. Call get_scoreboard() Result: All live and recent NFL games with scores and status

Example 2: Conference standings User says: "Show me the AFC standings" Actions:

1. Derive season year from currentDate
2. Call get_standings(season=<derived_year>)
3. Filter results for AFC conference Result: AFC standings table with W-L-T, PCT, PF, PA per team

Example 3: Team roster User says: "Who's on the Chiefs roster?" Actions:

1. Call get_team_roster(team_id="12") Result: Full Chiefs roster with name, position, jersey number, height, weight

Example 4: Super Bowl box score User says: "How did the Super Bowl go?" Actions:

1. Call get_schedule(week=23) to find the Super Bowl event_id
2. Call get_game_summary(event_id=<id>) for full box score Result: Complete box score with passing/rushing/receiving stats and scoring plays

Example 5: Injury report User says: "Who's injured on the Chiefs?" Actions:

1. Call get_injuries()
2. Filter results for Kansas City Chiefs (team_id=12) Result: Chiefs injury list with player name, position, status, and injury type

Example 6: Player statistics User says: "Show me Patrick Mahomes' stats this season" Actions:

1. Derive season year from currentDate
2. Call get_player_stats(player_id="3139477", season_year=<derived_year>) Result: Season stats by category with value, rank, and per-game averages

Example 7: nflverse weekly rosters User says: "Give me the Week 1 Chiefs roster from the data table backend" Actions:

1. Derive season year from currentDate
2. Call get_nflverse_weekly_rosters(season=<derived_year>, week=1, team="KC") Result: Weekly roster rows normalized for team, player, position, jersey, and status

Example 8: nflverse play-by-play User says: "Pull Bills Week 3 play-by-play" Actions:

1. Derive season year from currentDate
2. Call get_nflverse_play_by_play(season=<derived_year>, week=3, team="BUF") Result: Play rows with game_id, down/distance, description, EPA, WP/WPA, and score state

Commands that DO NOT exist — never call these

• get_odds / get_betting_odds — not available. For prediction market odds, use the polymarket or kalshi skill.
• search_teams — does not exist. Use get_teams instead.
• get_box_score — does not exist. Use get_game_summary instead.
• get_player_ratings — does not exist. Use get_player_stats instead.

If a command is not listed in the Commands table above, it does not exist.

Error Handling

When a command fails, do not surface raw errors to the user. Instead:

1. Catch silently and try alternatives
2. If team name given instead of ID, use get_teams to find the ID first
3. Only report failure with a clean message after exhausting alternatives

Troubleshooting

Error: sports-skills command not found Cause: Package not installed Solution: Run pip install sports-skills. If not on PyPI, install from GitHub: pip install git+https://github.com/machina-sports/sports-skills.git

Error: nflverse backend unavailable Cause: Optional NFL backend extra not installed Solution: Install sports-skills[nfl] so the nflverse provider (nflreadpy or compatibility fallback) is available

Error: Team not found by ID Cause: Wrong or outdated ESPN team ID used Solution: Call get_teams to get the current list of all 32 NFL teams with their IDs

Error: No data returned for a future game Cause: ESPN only returns data for completed or in-progress games Solution: Use get_schedule to see upcoming game details; get_scoreboard only covers active/recent games

Error: Postseason week number returns no results Cause: Postseason uses unified week numbers (19-23) that differ from regular season Solution: Use week 19 for Wild Card, 20 for Divisional, 21 for Conference Championship, 23 for Super Bowl