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]

This installs nfl-data-py (or use nflreadpy if preferred). Parquet support (pyarrow) is also needed for most nflverse data beyond schedules.

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.

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