Game+Theory+Analysis

There is a clear use of game theory in this game. On every play, the two opposing players must make a choice, and to see the result of the combined choices, you look on a payoff matrix. In the box of the payoff matrix is what happens. In this game though, because football can have different results even with the same plays, we added the element of the dice. This adds even more thinking and trying to outsmart your opponent in order to benefit yourself the most. It is assumed that your opponent is going to try to pick plays to stop (or score on) you, so you must, in turn, choose plays that will do you the most benefit and do them the most harm.

This is an example of a non-cooperative game because this is two people against each other trying to have the most success for themselves. The football game theory game has zero sum outcomes for each play. This is because if, for example, I am on offense, if I move forward 5 yards, that means you are defending 5 yards farther towards your own end zone. If I throw an interception, I lose the ball, but you get it. Each outcome has the opposite outcome for the opposing team.

The game players in this game would be smart to show opportunistic behavior, because the only lasting effect from each play is the yardage gained from the play. The football players in this game do not get tired, so it would not be smart to plan for the long term and save players energy by only running short plays. Each player should try to maximize their result from each play.