Bill O'Brien and Clock Management

[Ring 6]

He had until he saw how they lined up. He's able to look across the field and see if Gostkowski is going to come on the field. Why did he throw the flag right away? He didn't need to. This is not about time. This is about preparation. He's been coaching for how long? He should know this stuff. That's his job as a Head Coach.

He had to make a decision in a short period of time with many considerations
Maybe he felt it was worth the yards alone.

 

[luuked]

The worst mistake they made was taking the field goal instead of going for the win. I immediately said in the game thread that the Pats just won the game. The defense had their hands on their hips and looked whipped. I don't think they were capable of another stop on 4th and 1. As it stands? They took the field goal and the GOAT did what the GOAT does best: win the game.

Against 31 teams, sure, that makes sense. But when you're going against the Pats--and Tom Brady, more importantly--being up 5 with 2:28 to go is a coin flip at best.

Just playing the odds, you're a lot more likely to get 1 yard on that specific defense at that point in the game than you are to stop Brady on a 2 minute drill.

I dont think I fully agree with it.

The Texans defense sent our offense home with two or three 3&outs in a row. And in the end we had to get away with a fumble recovery and a pretty badly dropped INT to even be in the position for Brady to attempt the final throw to Cooks. Others have already posted the video showing how close Clowney was to disrupting the game winning throw as well.



By kicking the FG you make the Pats go the full length with not a lot of time instead of risking to lose the game on a FG which needs 25-35 fewer yards to be attempted.

It worked out this time but I dont think BoBs decision was as stupid as people make it out to be now with the benefit of hindsight.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Just playing the odds, you're a lot more likely to get 1 yard on that specific defense at that point in the game than you are to stop Brady on a 2 minute drill.

To be fair, they did stop Brady on the 2-min drill. Twice. He was sacked and fumbled -- which Andrews was able to recover (which Brady had nothing to do with). Then Moore after catching and having clear control of the ball somehow (thankfully!) managed to lose it when he hit the ground (and again, Brady had nothing to do with avoiding that turnover).

That's not to say Brady didn't do great things on that final drive. But rerun those plays (especially the dropped INT) over and over and NE loses that game way way more times than they win it.