NEGoldenAge
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/200906-strange-call-bb.html#post1228565He's had Brady do that before also. Clearly the idea was to pin them back near the goal line and force them to drive the entire legnth of the field and chew up the clock. They probably wouldn't have converted a 3rd and long and the Bill's would have their special teams ready to block or return the punt on the 4th.. Not a bad move by Belichick at all. He obviously knew what down it was.
Only thing could be that Bill was hedging against a possible bad snap on fourth down, like when teams try the game winning FG kick on third down. Either that or he didn't know what down it was.
It does give them another attempt in case of a bad snap. It's better to give up the extra 15 yards of field position than turn it over so close with only 67 seconds remaining.
definite head scratcher. I think as stated it was to hedge against bad snap. Or maybe the wind had just died down and they wanted to take advantage?
After listening to Cassels interview on EEI, I believe the punt was on 3rd down because long snapping into the wind was very risky. I think they just wanted a second attempt if the first snap got muffed by the wind.
Belichick said he did it because the Bills had rushed 10 men on the punter earlier in the game, and he did not want to risk a blocked kick.
Actually, there is. On third down, the defense must be aware of a fake punt, and take care to prevent it. That means not rushing in and letting the "punter" get outside and run for a first.There's no reason to thinking punting on 3rd is any less likely to be blocked
The only way buffalo was scoring twice in the little time that was remaining was
Winning the game wasn't in question. Preserving the shutout was. This made sure the Bills were pinned and would be unlikely to score.If they had taken a knee on the play there is no risk. They would have been punting with about 37 second left and a two score lead. Even a blocked kick and you're still in business. It's a bizzare call.
Winning the game wasn't in question. Preserving the shutout was. This made sure the Bills were pinned and would be unlikely to score.
Winning the game wasn't in question. Preserving the shutout was. This made sure the Bills were pinned and would be unlikely to score.
Okay, Hotshot, I'll bite. Name a half dozen or so of these many instances of teams scoring two TDs in the last minute of play in a game to come from behind win the game.I suspect BB would disagree with this statement. There are many instances of two scores happening ....
I suspect BB would disagree with this statement. There are many instances of two scores happening in very tiny time intervals. Sure it's VERY unlikely, but it's certainly not outside the realm of possibility. I think BB made the call to make that possiblity as minute as he could.
Okay, Hotshot, I'll bite. Name a half dozen or so of these many instances of teams scoring two TDs in the last minute of play in a game to come from behind win the game.
I can't think of a single game in the last 50 years where a team was behind by 13 points with a minute to play and scored two TDs in the last minute to win the game. There may be one, but I can't think of it off the top of my head.
Even in the Heidi Bowl, the Raiders were only down by 3 points with a minute to play. They did score two TDs, though, but that was 19friggin68.
Given the need to score two TDs in a minute where the Bills had been unable to score in 59 minutes, even the 30 minutes when the weren't going into the wind, I don't see how you can say the outcome of the game was in question.
Seriously, dude. The game was over. BB knew it, the players knew it, even the Bills knew it. They had the ball back with 1:04, tossed a short incompletion and ran the clock out with a pair of runs, not calling time out. Didn't even try a Hail Mary. 'Cause the game was over.
When the Pats punted the second time, all that was left was preserving the shutout.
Which BB ensured by punting on third down.
Belichick worked the field position to his advantage in the fourth quarter by having quarterback Matt Cassel make a quick-kick punt on third down. It went for 57 yards to pin the Bills back at their own 2.
Belichick said he did it because the Bills had rushed 10 men on the punter earlier in the game, and he did not want to risk a blocked kick.
I wish I could remember which press conference BB was asked about why he went for it on fourth when the game seemed out of reach. His response was angry and he basically said something like "Do you know how fast teams can score points in this league. Hopefully someone else can link that, cuz I've dedicated enough time on this. Either way, if you think that BB will let up if the is even the tiniest possible chance that a team could catch up... no matter how unlikely, you're insane.
That's a good point.Actually, there is. On third down, the defense must be aware of a fake punt, and take care to prevent it. That means not rushing in and letting the "punter" get outside and run for a first.
Remember, there is no risk in a fake punt on third down. If it is unsuccessful, you can still punt of fourth down.
Punting on third down made sure the Bills weren't in a block-the-punt mentality, and made sure to pin them deep.