Abstract

This study investigates many commonly purported beliefs by fans and media concerning a team’s likelihood of advancing in the National Football League’s (NFL) postseason, including the impact of a team’s previous playoff experience on its future postseason performance. Using data covering the 1966-2012 NFL postseasons, four empirical models are estimated to examine the factors that influence various outcomes associated with a team’s postseason performance. Overall, there is little evidence to suggest that a team’s previous playoff experience has a significant impact on its future postseason performance.