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Did Kyle Shanahan make the right OT coin toss decision?

February 23, 2024 by Jeff G.

In this year’s Super Bowl we were all introduced to a new playoff overtime format that boils down to The Coaches’ Differing Strategies The 49ers won the coin toss and took the ball first. Coach Shanahan of the 49ers told the media after the Super Bowl “We wanted the ball...

Sports

Interesting Insights from SIG’s 2022 Super Bowl Square Probabilities

February 23, 2022 by Zach

Every year at SIG, we celebrate the Super Bowl with a firm-wide Super Bowl Sweepstakes. This year, every employee was randomly assigned Cincinnati or Los Angeles as the winner and the last digit of each team’s final score. In order to win, both the team you were assigned needed to...

Sports

Rooting for the Favorite

November 8, 2017 by Doug

Imagine this hypothetical scenario: The Patriots have advanced to the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs and are waiting to see who will play the Falcons in the NFC Championship game. The Eagles are playing the Packers in the divisional round for the right to play the Falcons in the...

Sports

Did Kyle Shanahan blow the Super Bowl for the Atlanta Falcons?

February 27, 2017 by Justin

Here is the situation: The Falcons have the ball on the New England 23. It is 2nd and 11 with four minutes left, and the Falcons are nursing a 28 to 20 lead. Matt Ryan doesn’t hand it off! He gets sacked, putting the Falcons out of field goal range,...

Sports

Trading for a Chance at the Super Bowl

May 19, 2016 by Justin

In response to “The Only Way to Beat the NFL Draft: Trade with Someone Who Thinks They Can!”, there are some qualitative arguments to support the Eagles giving up many picks to trade up for the #2 draft pick this year. This is not an endorsement for their trades. However,...

Sports

The Only Way to Beat the NFL Draft: Trade with Someone Who Thinks They Can!

May 5, 2016 by Al

There have been two blockbuster trades in the NFL as we approach the 2016 Draft on April 28-30. The LA Rams traded for the #1 overall pick, and separately, the Philadelphia Eagles traded for the #2 overall pick. However, both teams trading up had to give up a considerable amount...

Sports

Overtime: The Unconventional Decision to Kick

January 21, 2016 by Al

On December 27, 2015, the New England Patriots and the New York Jets were tied 20-20 after regulation and were headed to overtime. The Patriots won the coin toss and elected to kick off rather than receive the ball first. The decision startled the broadcasters, and most of America for...

Sports

Trading Win Percentage for a “Friendly Loss”

January 12, 2016 by Marc

On December 20, 2015, the New York Giants were set to face the undefeated Carolina Panthers. The game had huge implications for the Giants’ season – with just 3 games remaining in the season, they came into it tied with the Eagles and Redskins for the best record in the...

Sports

A Volatility-based Drafting Strategy for Fantasy Football

December 22, 2015 by Ricky

At SIG, one of our main goals is to maximize expected value (EV) on a daily basis. In fantasy football (and all fantasy sports for that matter), the goal is the same, draft players that give us the most expected points. But I propose that there is another variable to...