The broadcast angle only shows the quarterback and not the full field or the timing of route breaks.
We can never truly see how open each receiver was unless the broadcast specifically shows it.
We can't see the defensive coverage schemes and how they change over the course of the play.
What we think we see on TV is nothing like the decision environment a quarterback actually faces.
Our visualization solves this gap. It lets viewers experience the play from a true birds-eye perspective and understand what the quarterback is seeing in real time, something the broadcast simply cannot show.
See the entire field, not just the quarterback
Frame-by-frame tracking of every player
Experience the process, not just outcomes
Preview: Interactive Field View
As the play unfolds, every receiver and every defender is tracked.
The spacing between each pair updates frame-by-frame, showing who is open at each moment. This is the critical information a quarterback processes in real-time, but you can anaylze it at your own pace.
Is there a way to objectively measure the quality of a quarterback's decision?
We developed a catch probability model - based on the receiver's speed, separation from defender, and the proximity of other defenders - to have a continious measure of how likely each reciever is to catch the ball at different windows of time. Using this model, we can then compare the actual decision of the quarterback to the objectively optimal decision.
Watch how catch probability, target probability, and expected yards evolve frame-by-frame for each receiver.
As receivers run their routes, our model continuously updates predictions for each receiver. Watch how catch probability, target probability, and expected yards change as the play develops. The optimal receiver is the one with the highest expected yards at any given moment.
We analyzed every passing play from Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season to see how often quarterbacks chose the receiver with the highest expected yards—the objectively optimal decision according to our model.
Even the best quarterbacks in the NFL don't always make the optimal decision. Factors like pressure, timing, trust in receivers, and defensive schemes all influence their choices. The top performers highlighted above made the optimal decision more than 60% of the time, showing just how difficult it is to consistently make the "right" read.
Time to throw measures how quickly a quarterback releases the ball after the snap.
Let's look at each QB from 2023 Week 1 and see how fast, on average, they make throwing decisions.
We filtered plays in which the QB made the optimal decision. Try to guess which reciever the QB threw to!
Watch the defense to identify their coverage scheme.
🎬 Press Play to start!
Watch the routes develop, then pick your target.
Tips: Analyze the coverage, look for separation, and look at player trails to make your decision!
After playing Quarterback Mode, see how your accuracy and decision speed compare to NFL Week 1 averages.
Optimal Decision Percentage
Average Time to Throw
These comparisons don't factor in the real-world challenges that NFL quarterbacks face every play:
What you've experienced is just a glimpse into the quarterback's world—the decision-making, the timing, the precision required. But in reality, these athletes perform under conditions we can barely imagine.
This is your sandbox. Explore freely, randomize plays, and experience what a quarterback sees in real-time.
Game ID: 2023090700 | Play ID: 101 | Direction: -