Fourth-Down Frenzy: Analytics Pressure Reshapes a Super Bowl Era
A growing analytics-driven trend pushes teams to go for it on fourth down in opponent territory, with NFL teams converting about 57% and attempting 34% of such plays in 2025—the highest rate this century. The pattern is illustrated by the Broncos’ playoff gamble, the Patriots’ success, and Indiana’s national title via a fourth-down conversion. While analytics argue it increases win probability, critics like Mike Martz warn the emphasis on numbers can erode football’s human element.
