The NFL’s explosive plays stat is a crucial metric in evaluating a team’s performance. However, the definition of an explosive play can vary depending on the source. Some define it as a 20-yard play from scrimmage, while others use different yardage markers.

Defining Explosive Plays

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick introduced the concept of explosive plays in a 2011 article. He defined an explosive play as any scrimmage play, run or pass, of 20 yards or more. This definition is useful in evaluating the story of a particular game.

A recent analysis found that the combination of 20-yard pass plays and 10-yard runs gives the best result when tying explosive plays to winning football games. The analysis also found that the winning percentage increases with the differential of explosive plays, with a team having a significant edge when winning the explosive play differential.

Correlation with Winning Percentage

The analysis also found a moderate correlation between the seasonal cumulative explosive play differential and a team’s regular season winning percentage. This suggests that explosive plays are an important factor in determining a team’s success.

While the definition of explosive plays may vary, the analysis provides a clear answer on which combination to use moving forward. Ideally, all outlets would use the same numbers to talk about explosive play numbers, tying the differential to winning football games is an elegant and defensible method.

Original reporting: All Sports Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.