1st down w/45 seconds to go, why didn't we try to get closer?

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Worse call than 4th and 2?

I never thought 4th and 2 was as bad as many, but this was mind-boggling. First down, complete mastery of the offense, 45 seconds left, best situational quarterback of all-time. Why on earth do you settle for a 42 yard field goal? I knew he missed it before he went on the field. Cardinals were giving the Patriots 10-15 yards if they wanted to take it.

 

[SyN65]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

I never thought 4th and 2 was as bad as many, but this was mind-boggling. First down, complete mastery of the offense, 45 seconds left, best situational quarterback of all-time. Why on earth do you settle for a 42 yard field goal? I knew he missed it before he went on the field. Cardinals were giving the Patriots 10-15 yards if they wanted to take it.

I agree they should have at least tried to get closer. I know you don't want to turn the ball over and show confidence in your kicker but Brady was shredding the Cards D on the final drive. Coulda at least got 10-15 yds or SOMETHING, a 42 yd. FG (or whatever it was) isn't a given in the NFL.

 

[Kdo5]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

Atrocious. I could not believe they didn't try three more plays, they were moving the ball. You can try to chalk up the blame on Gostkowski and he did choke, but he also drilled two 50 yarders earlier to keep us in the game at all.

Blame the coaches, its rare to see such unwise play calling but it was all over the place today.

 

[Mossed]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

This was one of a couple questionable decisions I thought he made today, along with the failed challenge for what would've been, what, 5 yards? Time-out burned.

And right before the half we are in borderline field goal range, instead we let the clock run down and punt. Should've at least thrown a pass with like 10 seconds left. Worst case scenario they get a chance at a hail mary.

But whatever, we deserved to lose today so it is what it is.

 

[letekro]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

I never thought 4th and 2 was as bad as many, but this was mind-boggling. First down, complete mastery of the offense, 45 seconds left, best situational quarterback of all-time. Why on earth do you settle for a 42 yard field goal? I knew he missed it before he went on the field. Cardinals were giving the Patriots 10-15 yards if they wanted to take it.

They looked terrified of running an actual play down the field. Way WAY too cautius with a kicker who has not yet earned his stripes. A fitting end to a dreadful performance by the coaches and players.

 

[randall146]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

Totally agree. On 1st down from the 18 with 46 seconds left they chose a 36 yard field goal over trying to get closer. Then after the bonehead false start, they made the same decision for a 42 yarder. Ridiculous. Did Belichick gets spooked by AZ's fumble?

 

[pats60]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

play calling was awful on 3rd downs all game

 

[NEboiTB]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

If we would of ran a play and turned the ball over everyone would be asking why we didnt just sit on the ball and kick a FG. He did the right thing, we were down by 2 and well in Gostkowski's range considering his 4 already made kicks. He missed the kick, theres nothing we can do to change that. Stuff happens.

 

[Kdo5]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

play calling was awful on 3rd downs all game

Draw to Woodhead! :bricks:

 

[Bill B.]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

I thought calling a pitchout to Woodhead on third down when your in field goal range was pretty bad. Of course they loss yards. They haven't been able to run sideways the whole game. If they wanted to run, then go up the middle and don't get knocked out of field goal range.

Playcalling was pretty atrocious the whole game. The clock management right before the half was some of te worse I've ever seen.

 

[MP-Logick]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

I thought, and still think, that 4th and 2 was the right call, so yes, it was much worse.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

If we would of ran a play and turned the ball over everyone would be asking why we didnt just sit on the ball and kick a FG. He did the right thing, we were down by 2 and well in Gostkowski's range considering his 4 already made kicks. He missed the kick, theres nothing we can do to change that. Stuff happens.

Yeah, I agree. I think the Pats could have gotten a few more yards, but a 42 yarder is easily makeable by Gostkowski. It wasn't the worst call in the world.

Again, Gostkowski wasn't making that kick from 22 yards. So what is the difference?

 

[BelizePats]

Re: Worse call than 4th and 2?

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought we were completely outcoached. Badly!
We lay an egg every year and I guess this was it.
Out played, out hussled, out coached. And we still almost stole it at the end.

I don't say this often but, GO STEELERS!!!

 

[GrogansArmy]

I didn't see a thread on this, but did anyone else find it odd that we had 40 something seconds left in the game and like 1st or 2nd down at the ~35 yard line and we didn't try getting closer? I was thinking that a 45ish yard fg is no gimme and would have liked for us to try to get closer. Just seems weird that with that much time left we wouldn't try to make it an easier fg.

Oh well not like it mattered considering I had figured a loss prior to the fumble.

 

[makoute]

Bill B was channeling his inner Herm Edwards.

 

[drew4008]

Yeah that's the headscratcher of the night... no freakin' clue. I'm guessing because AZ just fumbled, we were scared to do the same thing. Weaaaak.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

Seems like BB or McD are the only ones who know the answer to that question

 

[PatsGirl2011]

I couldn't believe they did that..like seriously. So dumb! That was the real issue. They should have taken at least one shot at the endzone and another to get closer..Just weak..

 

[DaBronxPats14]

I didn't see a thread on this, but did anyone else find it odd that we had 40 something seconds left in the game and like 1st or 2nd down at the ~35 yard line and we didn't try getting closer? I was thinking that a 45ish yard fg is no gimme and would have liked for us to try to get closer. Just seems weird that with that much time left we wouldn't try to make it an easier fg.

Oh well not like it mattered considering I had figured a loss prior to the fumble.

My thoughts exactly! and I'm not second guessing now after Gost's miss I was sayin it then. Sending Ridley in to hold on to ball with 2 hands for yardage I was thinking. I know Gost already booted a 40 & 50 something field goals but a holding call or false start could have backed us up even more. Strange Call, Strange Game!

 

[Deus Irae]

BB has to coach better....