One Night Only: Offensive Packers-Redskins Game Review, Mythbusters Edition

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

... So why exactly are 2 games not a good enough sample size, statistically speaking of course?

It's an adequate sample for some things, but not for others.

It's not an adequate sample to conclude the Redskins are a 0-16 team (sample size - 2), although that is what they are on pace for.

It is an adequate sample to conclude something that happens on every play. For example, the Redskins are allowed to line up with 11 players on every play, and their continued success at doing so can be confirmed through statistics. I.e. through 150 plays this year on offense, the Redskins have lined up in a legal formation 146 times (or something). We CAN conclude that the Redskins know how to line up in a legal formation (Sample size - 150), because they have to do it every play, and they're generally pretty good at it.

That's a really stupid example, but my point is two games is only a large sample when we talk about events that happen on every play.