Smidgeon
01-06-2010, 11:25 AM
Courtesty of ESPN's NFC North Blog referring to the frequency of a week 17 rematch in the first round of the playoffs:
To that end, let’s note that there have been 13 occasions in NFL history when two teams have faced each other in the final week of the regular season and then the following week in the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information. (Both games were played at the same site on seven of the 13 instances.) Overall, the team that won the first game is 5-8 in the second game.
The most recent instance of a same-site rematch came in 2001, when the New York Jets defeated Oakland 24-22 in the regular season. The Raiders then defeated the Jets 38-24 in the next game.
So it appears there's no statistical basis for assuming the Pack has an edge because they beat the Cards on Sunday.
Will this trend continue or is this another one of those statistical coincidences that helps with fascinating reporting but is completely arbitrary when it comes to playing the game?
To that end, let’s note that there have been 13 occasions in NFL history when two teams have faced each other in the final week of the regular season and then the following week in the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information. (Both games were played at the same site on seven of the 13 instances.) Overall, the team that won the first game is 5-8 in the second game.
The most recent instance of a same-site rematch came in 2001, when the New York Jets defeated Oakland 24-22 in the regular season. The Raiders then defeated the Jets 38-24 in the next game.
So it appears there's no statistical basis for assuming the Pack has an edge because they beat the Cards on Sunday.
Will this trend continue or is this another one of those statistical coincidences that helps with fascinating reporting but is completely arbitrary when it comes to playing the game?