Unpopular Opinion: I think Reich made the right call.

[SammyBlueCat]

He could win in overtime, right?

LOL! FYI Buddy, the game being discussed was already in overtime.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I can see the OP's point however the field position and time remaining meant it would be gift wrapping the the game if the catch was not made.

 

[fightingirish595]

What's wrong with ties?

You’re at war with the other team for 70 minutes and it ends in a tie? I don’t think players like ties.

I hated ties when I played sports. It’s different in soccer though. Different setup. There’s no ties in the other 3 major American sports

 

[MainePatsFan26]

I’ve noticed that everyone has been absolutely ridiculing Colts HC Frank Reich for the decision of going for it on 4th down.

But why?

In my opinion, you NEVER play for a tie. You play to win. It was a 4th and 4. That’s very convertible. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t put the fate of the game in your best player’s hands.

This reminds me of people criticizing Bill for the 4th and 2 call. A little different of a situation. But ultimately, you can’t treat going for it on 4th as giving up a win. The idea is that you have to take risks in order to WIN games. I can’t fault that strategy.

I can see wanting to win to turn the season around. But a tie counts for half a win if I understand the NFL rules correctly. (NFL standings: 8-6-2 team vs 9-7-0 team?). With that in mind, the percentages in that situation say get the tie and live to fight another day. The new NFL rules are going to lead to more teams getting 1 or 2 ties. It will make things interesting down the stretch.

 

[MainePatsFan26]

You’re at war with the other team for 70 minutes and it ends in a tie? I don’t think players like ties.

I hated ties when I played sports. It’s different in soccer though. Different setup. There’s no ties in the other 3 major American sports

I guess, from a theoretical perspective, a tie makes it a skirmish/battle rather than war. Deeply unsatisfying, certainly, but also important as relating to what each side lost (injuries, how deep they reached into the playbook) and learned (about themselves, about the other team's playbook).

 

[SammyBlueCat]

We can sit here and debate the play on our computers several hours later.
At full speed, it looked really bad.

 

[Triumph]

62 passes and now on a short week? I like it

Hilton left with a hamstring problem and did not return.

 

[Deus Irae]

What's wrong with ties?

In football, they needlessly screw with records and seasons.
In apparel, most men choose ones that are poor matches for their suits, or are just plain ugly.

 

[Wheelman]

You play to win the game.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

You play to win the game.

Herm Edwards wants his royalty payment.

 

[PittPatriot]

He could win in overtime, right?

They were already in OT.

 

[PittPatriot]

Herm Edwards wants his royalty payment.

Herman should be paying for the free advertisement. Repeating that statement is the only thing that keeps Mr. Edwards relevant in today’s game.

 

[1960Pats]

The issue from my pov is that he should had made that decision earlier and call accordingly on third down.

That's exactly how I felt about the Pats' 4th and 2 call vs Indy. If they were going to go for it on 4th they should have run a running play on 3rd, saved their last timeout and let the clock run down to the 2 minute warning. Had they done that they would have been able to challenge the call on 4th down or it would have been done automatically. It looked like Faulk had enough for the 1st down.

As for the call by Indy yesterday, it was 4th and 4 and they had the tie in their pocket and would have stayed ahead of Houston in their division. They also didn't have Tom Brady making the play. They were relying on crappy Andrew Luck who threw, what else, a crap pass.

 

[PittPatriot]

These absolute dilemmas plague my household on a daily basis:

Me: “you must finish your breakfast before you leave the house.”
9year old son: “ what if I missed the school bus?”
Me: “I don’t care. You finish your breakfast before you leave the house. Then you will know to get up earlier next time.”
9year old son: “ what if the house was burning down?”
Me: “well...uh... you grab the plate and I will carry you outside while you stuff your face with food.”

While most people say that statement makes me sound like an idiot, Andrew Luck would say, “ wow! What a great dad!”

 

[PatsFanSince74]

LOL! FYI Buddy, the game being discussed was already in overtime.

I think Ray was either being facetious (in which case, it was a funny remark) or had a few too many adult beverages watching the NFL all day and celebrating the Pats win (in which case, he is excused and hopefully got a good night's sleep).

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Pretty hard to justify the call rationally. The numbers say giving Houston the ball on a short field with an FG to win is kind of dumb.
Plus, they were 1--2, heading into Foxboro on a short week.
Fourth and four? Maybe on Fourth and one.

But, that changes if Coach has decided he's playing for next season and all that Cap space and thought he'd make a "Players' call."
I'd be interested in knowing how the locker-room took it (when the doors were closed). My guess is a lot of players liked it, especially in front of the Home crowd.

 

[fightingirish595]

My main beef with the OT is that it’s 10 min long. What was wrong with 15 minutes. Did the players want this?

 

[primetime]

In football, they needlessly screw with records and seasons.
In apparel, most men choose ones that are poor matches for their suits, or are just plain ugly.

I mean, I consider them a frivolous affectation of the bourgeoisie myself. But I have no issue with them in football.

 

[primetime]

My main beef with the OT is that it’s 10 min long. What was wrong with 15 minutes. Did the players want this?

The TV networks can't play commercials (other than network promos) during overtime because the contracts only allow for 9 commercial breaks per half and they tend to be frontloaded in the first and third quarters. I imagine the NFL was pressed to make it shorter by the networks, who want to run their other broadcasts with ads, and the players agreed because of injuries.

 

[Joey007]

I have another situational question for you guys. The Titans won yesterday on a 3rd and 10 at their 11. They were also down by 3 in OT. If they had not completed that pass and it was 4th down, what do you feel they should have done?

Much different situation in that case. The chances of winning would have been greater, as the end zone was only 10 yards away. But a FG also would be nearly certain in that situation.

That would have been an interesting decision.