OT: Coughlin's coaching decision

[Plunkett2Vataha]

I think that was Westbrook for Philly, and they were able to run the clock completely out after he dropped down at the 1. Smart play.

I believe it was Maurice Jones-Drew. Either way, the other team had no timeouts left. The TD would have given his team something like a nine point lead. This could have led to a TD, onside kick recovery, and a game-winning FG. Odds were high against, but have seen it happen a couple of times before.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

I remember a game a long time ago….I think it was the Giants….where the running back broke free and ran to the one and basically knelt down and ran the clock out and in that situation it was the right thing to do. I remember the media hailing it as the smartest play ever nd an example of excellent coaching. Its likely Manning was remembering that too.

It was Brian Westbrook, but taking a knee allowed them to run the clock to zero. In this case Dallas was getting the ball back either way.

 

[Joseph K. Brady]

I can see Eli going rogue for a single down, but being allowed to make the decision for a set of downs without being overruled is tantamount to Coughlin making the decision, so he's not off the hook on this.

 

[Bella*chick]

It was Brian Westbrook, but taking a knee allowed them to run the clock to zero. In this case Dallas was getting the ball back either way.

That was it, thanks for that!

eta: Yeah, it definitely seems that Manning did not know the situation and made a huge error. He wasn't even supposed to do it in the first place.

 

[Plunkett2Vataha]

It was Brian Westbrook, but taking a knee allowed them to run the clock to zero. In this case Dallas was getting the ball back either way.

Yes, you are indeed correct for that particular scenario. I just mixed up the two running backs who did the same thing. I looked it up and both Westbrook and MJD passed up sure TDs to take a knee at the one yard line. But they were different scenarios. The Westbrook knee at the one came with the Eagles winning, but the opponents having no time outs, which allowed the Eagles to run out the clock. The MJD knee at the one came with the Jags losing by one and the opponents not having a timeout left. The Jags let the clock run down to seconds left, and then Scobee kicked the game winning FG.