02-06-2017, 05:10 PM
michaelb wrote:
[quote=pRICE cUBE]
[quote=Drew]
What is it about running against the Patriots when you just need a yard?
(Still bitter Seahawks fan here)
I said THE exact same thing at my SB gathering yesterday. One stinking yard. Seattle had Lynch, the biggest baddest RB at the time. Falcons had Freeman, top 5 RB in the NFL. WHY ARE YOU THROWING THE BALL? Even if Atlanta got stuffed and gained nothing, they still could have punted and caused the Pats to drive over 60 yards to score. Instead they fumble and give an extremely short field. What the heck?
I never have a problem with a coach playing to win. There are far more examples of teams losing when they are ahead and afraid to make a play. If memory serves me, the Patriots threw a fade on first and goal at the end of regulation to Bennett, the Atlanta defender had inside position and could have made the pick. So the Pats could have lost this game by throwing on first goal just like Seattle.
The Pats would have turned the ball over but the ensuing touchback would have required the Falcons to make something of the turnover. The Falcons fumble gave the Pats 2 things they needed, a quick score on a shorts field, little time taken off the clock.
Running for 1 yard would have been winning strategy. Get the first down, burn some clock, make progress. Get a field goal and the game would have been out of reach.