Harmon INT: The Play that Never should have Been

brdmaverick · Jan 11, 2015

Ravens at the NE 36, 2 and 5 with 1:46 to play.

Flacco bombs a pass to the end zone that was picked off by Harmon (essentially ending the game).

Here's the odd part that I'm sure has Ravens fans going crazy this morning.......why would the Ravens draw up that play anyway?

I mean, sure, the Ravens needed to score, but it would have been in their best interest to kill more clock en route to scoring. Think about it, as Pats fans even if the Ravens scored on that play we would all be thinking "hmm, that sucks but at least they left us 1:40 to get at least the game tying field goal." We would have appreciated that they scored so quickly. As it turns out, their impatience cost them the game given the resulting interception, which was a terrific catch given the receiver's attempt to break it up.

I just think it's crazy that Baltimore went to that play considering the circumstances but I'm sure glad they did.

sarge · Jan 11, 2015

What was the most odd about it to me was Flacco's explanation for it in the press conference.

Said they had seen that coverage in Greenbay and new the safety was cheating in over the top. But he said it in a way which made you think he thought that was a good thing.

Knowing he had plenty of time, and knowing the DB had help over the top, he put up an airball anyway.

So it wasn't like he didn't see the safety. He made the throw knowing the safety was there.

Head scratcher.

Oinko · Jan 11, 2015

Strategy: try to draw pass interference call.

Rob0729 · Jan 11, 2015

I said in another thread that I thought picking on Ryan deep was actually a good idea, but I questioned why they would want to give Brady that much time when the Ravens' defense have not been able to slow down the Pats' offense with any consistency.

I probably would have run the ball a few more times to drive down the clock and then tried to exploit Ryan.

TomPatriot · Jan 11, 2015

They ran that play because it should have been unexpected for the reason you pointed out. If you run plays to kill the clock you may not score at all. They needed six, which is tougher to get the closer you get to the end zone.

Collingsworth was mistaken; the Pats didn't have two deep safeties, but it looked that way. Pats were in Cover 1. Flacco looked for Torrey Smith on a fly from the second the ball was in his hands. The two receivers split wide right got single coverage. Daniels was doubled and checkdown was shadowed by Collins. Harmon was the lone deep safety. He read Flacco, read that no other receiver was going deep and hustled to Smith. That's why the pick looked so easy.

50-yard-line · Jan 11, 2015

brdmaverick said:
Ravens at the NE 36, 2 and 5 with 1:46 to play.

Flacco bombs a pass to the end zone that was picked off by Harmon (essentially ending the game).

Here's the odd part that I'm sure has Ravens fans going crazy this morning.......why would the Ravens draw up that play anyway?

I mean, sure, the Ravens needed to score, but it would have been in their best interest to kill more clock en route to scoring. Think about it, as Pats fans even if the Ravens scored on that play we would all be thinking "hmm, that sucks but at least they left us 1:40 to get at least the game tying field goal." We would have appreciated that they scored so quickly. As it turns out, their impatience cost them the game given the resulting interception, which was a terrific catch given the receiver's attempt to break it up.

I just think it's crazy that Baltimore went to that play considering the circumstances but I'm sure glad they did.

Reminds of what the Pats tried in the last minutes of the Green Bay game.

When Browner went out, Flacco got big eyes - and the Pats set him up on Ryan...twice.

Fencer · Jan 11, 2015

Hey -- they DID get the ball back after the INT.

mihap · Jan 11, 2015

sarge said:
What was the most odd about it to me was Flacco's explanation for it in the press conference.

Said they had seen that coverage in Greenbay and new the safety was cheating in over the top. But he said it in a way which made you think he thought that was a good thing.

Knowing he had plenty of time, and knowing the DB had help over the top, he put up an airball anyway.

So it wasn't like he didn't see the safety. He made the throw knowing the safety was there.

Head scratcher.

Thank you Joe for that throw.

PrairiePat · Jan 11, 2015

Agree with all of this, and am equally baffled by Flacco's press conference explanation that he saw the lone safety coming over, and threw it up there anyhow. Harmon was on that throw the minute Flacco let it go. A lot of Ravens fans are blaming Smith for not fighting harder for the ball, but Flacco really put him in a no-win situation with an inside throw that made him more of a defender than receiver.

I guess Flacco just expected his guy to out fight our safety for the ball and threw it up there for grabs. Jump Ball Joe indeed.

buile · Jan 11, 2015

brdmaverick said:
I just think it's crazy that Baltimore went to that play considering the circumstances but I'm sure glad they did.

Remember, you don't usually "go" to a play and execute like a robot. With under 2 mins to go, if you see a good matchup, you try for it... Flacco evaluated the matchups: Smith covered by Ryan (not Revis), with single high safety. Flacco liked his star receiver there, and the safety help over the top suggested that Ryan will trail/take chances that let Smith get by him.

Sounds like Flacco's mistake was he didn't think Harmon would quickly get better position on the ball than his own receiver.

RIpats88 · Jan 11, 2015

Thats what joe flacco does. Throw it up there and try and draw the pi

He got revis earlier in the game and it finally bit him in the @$$

PATSYLICIOUS · Jan 11, 2015

I said the same thing in Rob's thread. Yesterday Flacco was having success both on deep and intermediate routes. I thought it was poor strategy not just because he was picking us apart underneath but say they do score, Brady has plenty of time and timeouts to respond.

Patriot Missile · Jan 11, 2015

Still don't know why they threw that up there. They weren't stopping Forsett. I would of ran it right down to the end and when the opportunity presented itself maybe a swing pass on play action. If I were a Rats fan I wouldn't be happy with the play calling on that last drive at all.

unoriginal · Jan 11, 2015

Keep in mind the Ravens scored a TD on a similar play down the right sideline over Browner. On a 3rd or 4th down if I recall. Why call that play?

PrairiePat · Jan 11, 2015

unoriginal said:
Keep in mind the Ravens scored a TD on a similar play down the right sideline over Browner. On a 3rd or 4th down if I recall. Why call that play?

Hardly the same - no safety help on Browner's guy. Straight man coverage.

Flacco said he SAW the FS coming over to help on the other play. Just seemed like a bad decision.

patsfan13 · Jan 11, 2015

As to the clock management, if you think you have a play take it, too many things can happen you can't assume you can get the score and run out the clock.

Jump Ball Joe may have been hoping for the TD or a PI. Harmon played the ball and not the man, great play Harmon, wonder what Mel Kiper thinks about Harmon now?

Tasco · Jan 11, 2015

He said he thought he had a good matchup with Smith EVEN with the safety coming over...so he either thought the safety wouldn't be able to come over in time or (more probable imo) he wanted to place the ball more towards the sideline and a bit deeper and made a bad throw...maybe with a better throw that could've been a TD. Thank god he missed.

jeman022004 · Jan 11, 2015

It almost appears that they coach the PI call as part of their playbook. If Flacco sees the covering DBs back, he underthrows purposely and the receiver tries to run through the covering DB towards the ball to get the call.

Baboon · Jan 11, 2015

When the Ravens got the ball, the broadcast showed a stat that flacco had 2 postseason game winning drives (in 5 opportunities.) He is now 2 for 6. Seems about right for a guy nicknamed Jump Ball Joe.

Earlier in the broadcast one of the commentators compared him to Eli. I agree: He just gets lucky now and then, and everybody remembers the miracle, not the f-ups.

Deus Irae · Jan 11, 2015

His mechanics were poor on the throw. If they'd been good, there might have been a different result.

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