Opportunity Missed

[XLIX]

I am not focused on that last play at all. I am focused on suspect decisions by McDaniels in the last offensive drive, which were OKed by Belichick, which led to Miami having 20 seconds to score a TD. Had they just tried to score a TD on the last drive, instead of kill time, they would have left MIA with under a minute to score at least 9-10 points.

This was a coaching loss.

What are you talking about? They threw the ball deep and did try to score a TD. But once they were inside the 10, they would have been stupid to pass it.

 

[stcjones]

McDouche sux.....please, please take the HC position with GB....or anyone else.... have

I am not focused on that last play at all. I am focused on suspect decisions by McDaniels in the last offensive drive, which were OKed by Belichick, which led to Miami having 20 seconds to score a TD. Had they just tried to score a TD on the last drive, instead of kill time, they would have left MIA with under a minute to score at least 9-10 points.

This was a coaching loss.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Where’s the poll?

Dolphins wore their real, classy traditional helmets and uniforms and won.

Patriots...did not.

 

[aluminum seats]

For this d yep

We will see.

 

[aluminum seats]

This loss would have been a little more bearable if the Ravens had won. With 2 mins left in our game it looked like we would have the #1 seed since we were winning and KC was losing and then everything changed in a blink of an eye.

I think Kansas City winning makes it easier to take. It’s unlikely the Pats would have the number one seed anyway, which makes the loss more palatable to me.

 

[mgteich]

It's like when I grew up. Didn't win down there for 20 years until the 85 AFCCG.

Squish The Fish!

 

[LivinLovin&Breathin_Brady]

What are you talking about? They threw the ball deep and did try to score a TD. But once they were inside the 10, they would have been stupid to pass it.

Why would it have been stupid to pass it? It's not like Brady was turning over the ball or did not score inside the 10 during the game. I do recall him throwing a TD to Edelman inside the 10. Brady was more likely to score than any of those scrubs at RB, or even Gostkowski at that point. So explain to me why that would have been stupid?

McDaniels/Belichick made no attempt to score, it was never an option at that point. They chose to play it "smart" and run down the clock because apparently less time for the opponent to score a TD is better than having more points, and forcing the opponent to score twice in under a minute. Stupidity from the coaching staff is why the game is lost.

 

[mosi]

We hear a lot about this being a typical loss in Miami but it wasn’t. Usually the Patriots just get thrashed there. This was one where it’s a real “House of Horrors” game because it involved losing in the most unlikely way possible.

No, they often have these wacky things. Like 2004.

 

[XLIX]

Why would it have been stupid to pass it? It's not like Brady was turning over the ball or did not score inside the 10 during the game. I do recall him throwing a TD to Edelman inside the 10. Brady was more likely to score than any of those scrubs at RB, or even Gostkowski at that point. So explain to me why that would have been stupid?

You're kidding, right? Newsflash: An incomplete pass stops the clock.

Your 20/20 hindsight must be nice. Of course, if they passed, you'd be sitting here saying "why did they pass when running the ball 3 times is clearly the smart thing?!?!?"

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I am not focused on that last play at all. I am focused on suspect decisions by McDaniels in the last offensive drive, which were OKed by Belichick, which led to Miami having 20 seconds to score a TD. Had they just tried to score a TD on the last drive, instead of kill time, they would have left MIA with under a minute to score at least 9-10 points.

Miami had 7 seconds to score a TD, not 20.
You’re beclowning yourself taking it for granted they score a TD there.
If they throw the ball on 3rd down and it’s incomplete Miami has about 50 seconds to try to score a TD (or just a FG if NE goes for the TD on 4th down and fails to get it) and then you’d be here *****ing about “why didn’t Josh just run the clock down so Miami would have almost no time left?”

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Miami had 7 seconds to score a TD, not 20.
You’re beclowning yourself taking it for granted they score a TD there.
If they throw the ball on 3rd down and it’s incomplete Miami has about 50 seconds to try to score a TD (or just a FG if NE goes for the TD on 4th down and fails to get it) and then you’d be here *****ing about “why didn’t Josh just run the clock down so Miami would have almost no time left?”

Definitely the right call to run the ball. Why you run it up the middle with a running back - which was absolutely stonewalled the entire game - is another issue. Why you wouldn’t try Develin for two yards, or have Brady sneak for two yards, rather than trying a run play that must have failed all 15 times previously, not sure on that one.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

The play calling and execution at the end of the first half and the end of the game were explainable. Throw in a missed extra point and a 54 yard TD by our former backup RB and countless other miscues and you have the leftover ham sandwich we witnessed today.

 

[abdul7]

We were 1-4 in Miami since 2013. On that last play, we went to 1-5. It is not as if this should have been a shocker.

So right my friend ,,,funny enough I was telling my son the whole game that we were playing our best game for a long time down in Miami ,,,never looked like losing it compared to our struggles in previous visits. But we did leave points .
We know it,,they know it ,,,it was their Super Bowl down in South Florida.
One question buddy ,,on the last play,,who makes the call,,,DC ? HC ? or is it a Special Teams call ?
Whoever it was that Coach lost us the game.
Go Pats

 

[luuked]

Definitely the right call to run the ball. Why you run it up the middle with a running back - which was absolutely stonewalled the entire game - is another issue. Why you wouldn’t try Develin for two yards, or have Brady sneak for two yards, rather than trying a run play that must have failed all 15 times previously, not sure on that one.

Because ball security and placement for Ghost in terms of hashes was more important than scoring a TD.

 

[Wordsmyth]

McDouche sux.....please, please take the HC position with GB....or anyone else.... have

Our Achilles Heel wasn't the O, but the D and not-so-special teams.

 

[supafly]

Our Achilles Heel wasn't the O, but the D and not-so-special teams.

Seems to be a bit of a trend, this season.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Because ball security and placement for Ghost in terms of hashes was more important than scoring a TD.

Well, lateral positioning was only relevant to the 3rd down play.

 

[n1997y]

Definitely the right call to run the ball. Why you run it up the middle with a running back - which was absolutely stonewalled the entire game - is another issue. Why you wouldn’t try Develin for two yards, or have Brady sneak for two yards, rather than trying a run play that must have failed all 15 times previously, not sure on that one.

Question to me isn’t the failed running plays at the end of the game, but why not go for it on fourth and goal, instead of kicking the FG? Yes I know you’re only up by two so it makes the diff between MIA winning it with a FG and needing a TD, but Pats scoring a TD and EP clinches it and even a missed EP requires MIA to score. TD and convert a 2-point ret just to go to OT. Given the field position if the Pats fail on the fourth and goal it seems to me that it would’ve been a better choice, especially in hindsight.

 

[mgteich]

Our Achilles Heel wasn't the O, but the D and not-so-special teams.

Yes, a PAT and a FG were missed. However, 2 punts were blocked. The special teams were reasonable overall.

 

[Doctor DDS]

The Patriots strategy on their last drive was exactly as it always is. Received the ball up 2 for 4 minutes to go. Realized they needed first downs as their was too much time to focus on the clock. Once they got the first down on the PI call they then went into waste clock mode and it worked perfectly. Second guessing the strategy because they gave up a once in 30 year play to end the game is not smart. They had the exact same strategy against the Eagles in the first Super Bowl. Time was their friend so they ran the ball on their last possession and punted back to Philly with under a minute to go. Defense held as to be expected in that situation.

On their before halftime 2 minute drills which I've seen complaints about. If they have the ball relatively deep in their own territory with about 2 minutes left they almost always run the ball first (or a safe screen) as they want to keep the clock running and make sure the other team does not have substantial time left if they fail to make a first down. Once they make the first down they start hurrying up. Strategy varies at times based on time outs and score of game but they are almost always willing to go for it if they get the initial first down.