Football strategy part 3

The post is a continuation on two previous posts, Football strategy parts 1 and 2, examining the various influences upon a successful team in the NFL playoffs. The initial posts demonstrate that coaching strategy alone does not guarantee a winning team. Another weekend has passed by with the second round results giving a clear indication of other factors that significantly contribute to victory. Of the three games, three of four games had the home team winning (Saints, Vikings, and Colts) by land slides. The fourth game had the visiting team winning (Jets) by a small margin. The home teams all had one week off without a game. Knowing these facts, two factors stick out here: homefield advantage and player rest.

Homefield advantage is as it sounds, the home team has a slight advantage. Reading up on the topic, the bookies in Las Vegas give the home team a ~3 point advantage. Why? To me, these following things are obvious. Playing in an arena who cheers for your side will help the momentum in your favor. This contributes to the fact that the field is familiar and is your turf. Defend the homeland, it is instinctual. The other factor is sleeping in your own bed without the hassle of travel. Stress levels are reduced. It is easier to prepare for game day.

The other important factor, especially at this late point in the season, is one week of rest without a game. These guys have been working hard since late July in weight rooms, practice fields and during games. The physical punishment upon a human body is severe. Even to the young in-shape men it is tough. Players are big and strong enough to routinely deliver head trauma through concussions with helmets on for protection. Teams are riddled with injuries of all sorts. Psychological stress to keep playing your best is also really high. Failure to perform on the field and someone else will gladly take your spot on the team. The one week of rest allows injured players to heal and prevents new injuries opportunities that could occur during a game. Rest will allow further focus on the game at hand instead of recovering from a prior game. I believe the one week off is the true advantage to a team.