NFL Team Fourth Down Conversion Rates before 1982

[SeahawkFever]

Hi everyone,

One of the components of my main My Score% Differential stat is fourth down conversions and the attempts of them for both the team’s offense and defense.

As is, I have been able to find those totals since the 1982 season.

Out of curiosity, do any of you know if there are totals, box scores that would list that, or play by play that would show that for the 1981 season or earlier?

[Throwin_Samoan]

A very quick look at game books seems to indicate that Fourth Down Efficiency wasn't added to the official stats template until 1982.

I see one from 1975 where 4th down efficiency was scribbled into the final stats columns, but it looks like you might have to comb through each individual game book, unless team media guides for 1982 happened to list them. (The Bucs' 1982 guide does not.)

[SeahawkFever]

A very quick look at game books seems to indicate that Fourth Down Efficiency wasn't added to the official stats template until 1982.

I see one from 1975 where 4th down efficiency was scribbled into the final stats columns, but it looks like you might have to comb through each individual game book, unless team media guides for 1982 happened to list them. (The Bucs' 1982 guide does not.)

Is there a digitized archive of said game books?

[JohnTurney]

Hi everyone,

One of the components of my main My Score% Differential stat is fourth down conversions and the attempts of them for both the team’s offense and defense.

As is, I have been able to find those totals since the 1982 season.

Out of curiosity, do any of you know if there are totals, box scores that would list that, or play by play that would show that for the 1981 season or earlier?

my understanding from ELias is that 4th downs were lumped in with 3rd downs ... so when you see 3rd down conversions prior to them becoming official the tat is really '3rd and 4th down" conversions.

Talked to one of their guys and that is what he thinks, though he was not a main guy and was more into baseball than football, so he could not swear to it

[Throwin_Samoan]

Another reason to digitize the information in game books!