In a league built around star quarterbacks, the ability to survive an injury can decide a season.
Neil Paine, sports writer and data analyst, explores how NFL teams can build a more resilient formula when their starting quarterback is unavailable. He examines why defenses, coaching, and the gap between a starter and backup can determine whether a team stays competitive, along with the strategic question of when to play a rookie quarterback.
Paine also breaks down Major League Baseball’s playoff-seeding problem, where weak division winners can receive advantages over stronger wild card teams.
The conversation closes with a look at the Florida Panthers and why an injury-plagued “gap year” does not always mean a championship window has closed.
