Editor's note: This story originally ran on Nov. 11, 2019. We're bringing it back after the Green Bay Packers successfully pulled it off as part of a comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The move raised eyebrows, but for others it was a high-stakes embodiment of a longstanding strategy in analytics circles. Going for 2 down 8 late in the game is generally the correct move. And more and more, it's a move head coaches are willing to make.
An NFL team is down by 14 points in the fourth quarter, and it scores a touchdown to pull within 8.