I understood the call to go for it at 4th and 1 with 5 min left needing a TD. I was actually thinking FG, but i was not objecting the call. In hindshight if DA didn't get those 2-3 extra yards it might have been better for us as the FG made more sense. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20
4th + 4 you go for it, and that's not even a question
you're still down 5 w/6 min to play, needing a td to win, anyway, but in much worse field position.
in 12 previous drives the pats had held the broncos scoreless on less than a 1:40 ToP only once, and that was on the hillman play where it was ruled a fumble on challenge the 2nd play of the drive, which was clearly not happening again with 6 min to play, but all these geniuses knew we'd hold the broncos to 1:21 + 26 seconds on the next 2 drives.
all these geniuses know for sure that not only would we have had time for that 3rd fg, but that we'd bang all 3 through, because fg are automatic, unlike extra points.
in 12 previous drives we scored a td once, on a 22 yd possession, and managed 30+ yds only twice, but these geniuses would have us pass up 2 chances from the redzone because we could easily drive down the field 3x starting from our own 20 -- they knew that would happen.
when you hit that fg there's a good chance you start on your own 20, fyi, and if you miss.....
in their 7 previous punts the broncos had averaged 45 yds, including punts of 26 + 38, with a 50 yarder being only 22 net after the return, but these geniuses knew the broncos would ball out with a game long 54 yarder followed up by a 52 yarder, to make those last couple drives a little longer than they might've been.
we were actually able to score on that 3rd drive because we started at the 50 following a punt return, rather than our own 20 after a kickoff, and we miraculously had a little time left on the clock -- but nevermind all that, crying makes everything better.