meatface
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2012
- Messages
- 5,378
- Reaction score
- 3,451
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
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.Going for two early in a close game is sort of like doing on onside kick with 7 minutes left. It's bad strategy and it sends a message of desperation.
Because your "one score/two score" descriptions are really just a semantic issue. Regardless of the order you need two TDs and a 2pt conversion. Looking a little deeper:
XP/2pt
1) Make the two pointer - Tie game
2) Miss the two pointer - You've likely orchestrated this to the point that there is little time on the clock to react. In this case, missing the 2pter means a loss.
2pt/XP
1) Make the two pointer - Tie game
2) Miss the two pointer - You now have the remainder of the game (in this case, nearly a full quarter) to react to your 9 point deficit.
In both cases if you make the 2 pointer you are tied. If you choose to delay the 2pter, it creates the false security of still being within one score, but a 2pt failure virtually guarantees a loss. Your odds of being able to miss the 2pter and still win are substantially higher if you do it first.
I suppose that a case could be made that there is an emotional advantage to waiting. Maybe you feel the team is more likely to score both TDs if they feel the game is close and they'll check out if they score a TD and still trail by two scores. But that is the only advantage to waiting.
THE COLTS ABSOLUTELY MADE THE RIGHT & PROFESSIONAL DECISION. This is not even a question. The 2 should always be a LAST RESORT and always near the end of the game. Going for two early in a close game is sort of like doing on onside kick with 7 minutes left. It's bad strategy and it sends a message of desperation.
At least in that case, I think think it was better to wait on the 2 point conversion for a few reasons:
- Either way the Pats would be prepared.
- The Colts couldn't run the ball and our secondary is strong, so 2 yards is no sure thing.
- If they went for 2 points and missed, then they'd lose some their momentum at a point in the game when that is critical.
- A 28-19 score is overcome with either TD + FG or 3 FGs, while a 28-20 score is overcome with a TD + 2 pt. conversion. Given the time constraints, it seems to me the 28-20 choice is the most realistic.
- If they are two scores behind, and we don't score more points, then the Pats have more strategic options on defense, such as a clock management type defense.
- Either way, I think their strategy is the same. Whether they're down by 7 or 8, their strategy is to tie the game quickly and have enough time to win.
There was also the case of the Panthers in the SB of 2003. I think they did it twice, and instead of having the lead after their last TD they were only tied with the Pats. Just one of those extra points and a missed FG would have won the SB for them instead of sending it into OT.