NFL Playoff Thread: Championship round

You guys who watch the NFL more closely than I can confirm, but is it true that Belichick championed moving the PAT back in order to make it more competitive?

 

Yep.

 

It's definitely 20-20 hindsight, and going for it with 2-1/2 minutes to play was a definitely no-brainer. The first one, though, was one of those 50-50, damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't decisions that cause coaches to drink heavily. You've still got 6 minutes, a defense that's played a good second half and a Hall of Fame QB who's done this before (although he was getting the hell beat out of him). I probably would have taken the points there, but Belichick wasn't necessarily wrong for the choice he made. They had a good play called, but Broncos defended it expertly.

 

A little dab will do ya

 

Here's the

Is there any doubt that if the Pats had scored on that play, and went on to win, that everyone would be praising Belichick as a total genius again?

 

Yes and it's been making me laugh the more I think about it. Just a subtle twist of the knife.

Not really, because it wasn't a stretch. I preferred field goal because 46 yards in Denver shouldn't be a problem (aware he missed the XP). Even if they converted, they'd still need to go another 29 yards and then convert a 2-pointer conversion to tie. My preference was kick, play defense - as someone mentioned, maybe DEN playcalling would have changed, but they're still protecting the clock - and then get a TD to win.
I don't have a problem with going for it, just hated the call at that point. It's telling your defense and offense the same thing - you don't think they can get the job done.

 

Panthers-Broncos! Yay!

(OK, be back later)

 

Well, that was enlightening.

 

Hooray!