Can the wrong spark plug cause acceleration problems?

Yes. Spark plugs are designed for specific engines and can cause erratic performance when not mated properly. Some engines are more prone to misfiring than others. Starting can become a very big problem. All plugs are not created equal. Some are warmer and vice versa. Every plug has also a built in resistance which can become a problem, should the resistance be for instance too high from the outset, as resistance increases as the plug is used, due the gap increasing during use.