mb6592
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2005
- Messages
- 1,159
- Reaction score
- 167
You could argue the 3rd and 1 drop back that led to the Hightower sack (and fumble) or the 2nd and 11 from the 24 drop back that led to the sack - both those plays HAD to happen for the Patriots to win. But the under the radar - absolutely essential - play was the loss of two yards on the run on 1st and 10 from the Patriots 22 after the Jones miracle catch. It was a dumb decision to try a sweep instead of a straight ahead run on that play. I absolutely believe, that play's outcome led to the decision to throw on 2nd down. Had they even gained one yard, Shanahan would have, almost certainly, run on 2nd down. Losing those two yards put the idea in his head to abandon the safe (correct) route of "three runs, kick a field goal, let's get out of here". That play goaded him into resuming the petal to the metal approach that got them to within an inch of winning Super Bowl LI. Thank God!!!