Postseason Game Scripts: The Saints Won — And Lost

Postseason Game Scripts: The Saints Won — And Lost — With Reverse Game Scripts

by Chase Stuart on January 23, 2019

As regular readers know, I publish the Game Scripts data after each week of the regular season. Below are the results from each of the 10 playoff games so far:

Search:

Team	H/R	Opp	Boxscore	PF	PA	Margin	Game Script	Pass	Run	P/R Ratio	Op_P	Op_R	Opp_P/R Ratio
NWE		LAC	Boxscore	41	28	13	17.2	44	34	56.4%	53	10	84.1%
IND	@	HOU	Boxscore	21	7	14	15	32	35	47.8%	52	16	76.5%
KAN		IND	Boxscore	31	13	18	13.8	45	33	57.7%	39	14	73.6%
LAC	@	BAL	Boxscore	23	17	6	8.4	33	33	50%	36	23	61%
LAR		DAL	Boxscore	30	22	8	6.5	28	48	36.8%	33	22	60%
NWE	@	KAN	Boxscore	37	31	6	4.9	46	48	48.9%	35	12	74.5%
DAL		SEA	Boxscore	24	22	2	2.1	34	34	50%	28	24	53.8%
PHI	@	CHI	Boxscore	16	15	1	0.2	41	23	64.1%	45	18	71.4%
NOR		PHI	Boxscore	20	14	6	-4.2	40	31	56.3%	31	16	66%
LAR	@	NOR	Boxscore	26	23	3	-5.6	41	26	61.2%	43	21	67.2%

In 8 games, the team with the higher Game Script won. In two games — both Saints games — the team with the worse Game Script was successful. Against the Eagles, the Saints fell behind 14-0 early, and New Orleans didn’t take the lead until there were just 16 minutes remaining. Meanwhile, New Orleans jumped to a 13-0 lead against the Rams, and led most of the way… before ultimately losing in overtime, 26-23.

The most notable run/pass ratio of the postseason so far has been from Los Angeles in the Division Round win over the Cowboys. The Rams held a comfortable lead, but even a +6.5 Game Script doesn’t justify a team rushing on 63% of plays. What does justify it? Rushing for 261 yards on 42 non-QB carries, a whopping 6.21 YPC average.

Tagged as: Game Scripts

{ 0 comments }