The Effect of Prime Time Football Game Pressure on Quarterback Performance in the National Football League
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Issue Date
2024-04-08
Authors
Bouthet, Cassady
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First Reader
Ormiston, Russell A.
Additional Readers
Nonnenmacher, Tomas W.
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Abstract
This research utilizes a regression analysis in order to determine whether pressure as a result of playing in a prime time game, which typically results in higher viewership, affects the performance of quarterbacks in the National Football League. The negative effects of pressure are documented in the literature across a wide variety of different sports. However, the focus of the literature is frequently on isolated high pressure moments and not pressure sustained across a whole game. Two main psychological theories are presented as an explanation for why athletes perform worse under pressure, providing a framework for the regression analysis to use. When using passer rating as a metric for quarterback performance, this research presents statistically significant evidence that playing in a prime time game results in a decrease in passer rating by 4.681 holding all else equal.
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Economics
Department
Business and Economics
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Business and Economics, 2024