The biggest play that impacted the outcome no one is talking about: Browns go for 2

[SB39]

The Browns decision to go for two points when they went up 12 - 0 on a TD in the third quarter which they failed to convert. I am aware that the two points would have given the Browns a two TD lead but the call was plain stupid for that time in the game.

It was a bad decision because they failed to convert. If they converted, they would have been geniuses. It's like when a QB throws late across his body. Whenever a QB does that and throws an interception, the announcer says "you never, NEVER throw late against your body!". But whenever a QB does that and throws a touchdown or gets a big gain, they say "oh, what a great play there!"

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

It was a bad decision because they failed to convert. If they converted, they would have been geniuses. It's like when a QB throws late across his body. Whenever a QB does that and throws an interception, the announcer says "you never, NEVER throw late against your body!". But whenever a QB does that and throws a touchdown or gets a big gain, they say "oh, what a great play there!"

Exactly, the decision would have looked more brilliant if he had made it. always easy to second guess. as it stands, he may have had the right mindset. "Those Patriots will be putting up points in the 2nd half".

But, hard to criticize coaches for doing what is expected (usually). BB's done this and taken the heat for it too, biggest difference is, we typically win 10+ games each season.

 

[PatsDeb]

Well it would of been 27-28 as we would not have gone for two either.

Right. I thought about the OP's view too - that it was dumb not to kick the extra point early because that is the margin of their loss, but then I realized, as you said, that we would have just kicked the extra point after our last TD (instead of trying for 2 (which we also missed) to break the 27-27 tie and make it 28-27, so the margin of victory would have been the same, unless somehow Gost missed an extra point.

 

[captain stone]

I thought a big play no one was talking about was the refs blowing the whistle early after Campbell fumbled. Easy six points for the Pats if he hadn't, and a huge swing in the momentum of the game...

To be accurate, that was Greg Little who caught a swing pass from Campbell, and who clearly
fumbled before his forward progress was stopped. Hightower (or whoever if he were smart
he would've given the ball) would've scored an easy TD. An absolutely brutal, criminally
negligent premature whistle. Disgraceful.