As someone who's done a lot of numerical analysis and watches a lot of football, the analysis here is pretty rudimentary. > On third down, pass attempts outnum

As someone who's done a lot of numerical analysis and watches a lot of football, the analysis here is pretty rudimentary. > On third down, pass attempts outnumber run attempts at almost a 4 to 1 clip. This is likely out of increased desperation to make a first down. Running is a low variance low yardage option, passing is a high variance high yardage option. Passing on third and medium to long is an obvious dominant strategy. Pulling the goaltender in hockey or bringing the keeper forward in soccer when trailing late in games/matches serves much the same effect.