Any given season

Abstract

An econometric analysis of the 2016 National Football League season is conducted with respect to regular season victories. Results obtained confirm many of the hypotheses made and bear much in common with one prior NFL study and several earlier MLB econometric analyses. Most of the data employed are fairly symmetric with relatively small standard deviations. Estimation results validate the importance of both defense and offense. Evidence is obtained that indicates that passing games are more important on offense, while shutting down the run matters most on defense. Beyond that, the regression equations also provide some insight to how human capital and payroll expenditures affect NFL regular season performances. The magnitudes of some coefficients and elasticities indicate that further analysis involving more explanatory variables can potentially provide additional clarity about what helps determine success in the NFL.