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Tag: Football

All research and blog posts relating to football

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By Atul Venkatesh '27

22 weeks. 284 games. The NFL season has brought us everything, from incredible individual performances to walk-off wins. After five months of hard-fought football, it comes down to the final four quarters. 60 minutes. Legends will undoubtedly be made. Dreams will certainly be fulfilled. And hearts will certainly be broken. After nearly two full weeks of anticipation, the big game is happening this Sunday. Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers. 6:30 PM.

...continue reading "Predicting the Chiefs vs. 49ers Super Bowl"

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This year's NFL featured some incredible performances from teams that weren't expected to be great, or even very good, coming into the season. These teams were all led by incredible coaches, who, through their leadership and adaptability, were able to outperform expectations and guide their players to the playoffs with a chance for a deep run. The race for the Coach of the Year award appears tighter this season than in previous ones. Who will win? Some of our club members make the (analytical) case for some of the top candidates below.

...continue reading "Predicting the NFL Coach of the Year Winner"

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Another thrilling round of playoff games has narrowed the NFL playoff field to four final teams remaining. In the AFC, the Chiefs are heading into Baltimore to face the Ravens, while in the NFC, the Lions are taking a trip out West to face the 49ers. Our club members provide insight into the Chiefs-Ravens matchup and predict who will make it to the Super Bowl.

...continue reading "Predicting the 2024 NFL AFC Championship Game"

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By Quentin Proud '26 and Grayson Segars '26

Introduction

On December 4th, 2017, Jimbo Fisher shocked the college football world by leaving Florida State to sign a 10-year, $75 million fully guaranteed contract to become the next head coach at Texas A&M. Fisher, just a few years removed from back-to-back college football playoff appearances and a national championship, was viewed by the Texas A&M’s administration as the man who would finally help the school’s football program make the jump from “great, but not elite, program” to “perennial championship contender”. In Fisher’s introductory press conference, Texas A&M Athletic Director Scott Woodward would claim that Fisher “is the right coach at the right time...” and that he was “confident that the opportunity for greatness is right around the corner.” Fisher echoed this optimistic tone, saying he would “try to take Texas A&M where it should be at the top of the college football world.”

...continue reading "Predicting the Success of Football Coaches"

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Last week's NFL wild card round produced some thrilling games, with the Buccaneers and Packers upsetting the Eagles and Cowboys, the Bills, Chiefs, and Texans winning blowout games, and the Lions' defense just barely holding on for their one-point win. In the AFC, the top four seeds remain, while in the NFC, the 7-seed Packers are looking to continue their hot streak against the 1-seeded 49ers. Our club members predict the upcoming divisional round below.

...continue reading "Predicting the 2024 NFL Divisional Round"

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By Michael Bond '25

Introduction

When the game is on the line, few players face as much pressure and public scrutiny as kickers. Some of the most memorable games have ended with similarly legendary field goal attempts, from Justin Tucker’s record-breaking 66-yard make to Cody Parkey’s “Double Doink” miss. Certain players may handle the pressure better than others, and the clutch factor could be an important consideration when front offices look for their next kicker. This paper aims to evaluate kicker performance at the end of close games in order to determine whether performance significantly changes in clutch time and discover which players have historically stepped up their game when it matters most.

...continue reading "Are Kickers Clutch? An Analysis of NFL Kicker Performance at the End of Close Games"

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If the NFL were scripted, the writers couldn’t have come up with a better lineup to open up the 2024 playoffs this weekend. Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff facing off against their former teams in Detroit. Tyreek Hill returning to Arrowhead for the first time since leaving the Chiefs. Mike McCarthy facing off against a team he coached for over ten years, who themselves will see if Jordan Love is next in line in the succession of great Packers quarterbacks. In this article, our club members look past the storylines to predict the outcome of each Wild Card game below. ...continue reading "Predicting the 2024 NFL Wild Card Round"