Usually when you break down a matchup and determine a winner, you look at numbers like who’s ranked higher in defense or who is averaging more yards on offense. You don’t often think about the number on the front of a player’s jersey.
But in a weird coincidence, jersey numbers have played an interesting role in these playoffs.
Reddit user “maxwellsherman” found that, depending on the round of the playoffs, either the higher jersey number or the lower jersey number of the quarterback won each game of the playoffs.
In the wild-card round, the quarterback with the higher jersey number won each game. In the case of the Cincinnati Bengals, it was No. 9 Joe Burrow defeating No. 4 Derek Carr.
In the divisional round, the results flipped and the lower number won. Burrow’s No. 9 was lower than Ryan Tannehill’s No. 17.
The lower number won again on championship Sunday. Burrow’s No. 9 over Patrick Mahomes’ No. 15. Same story in the NFC title game.
Of course, it just so happens that this trend will not take place at the Super Bowl because both quarterbacks, Burrow and Matthew Stafford, wear No. 9. But it was a fun little coincidence that this Reddit user pointed out. And numbers are always fun to play with.
Who wins the battle of the No. 9s will decide much about both quarterbacks’ legacies.
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