NFL 2016-17 playoffs running thread

I am sure that the major part of Reid's thinking was that they could hold the Steelers under 10 yards on three running plays -- because Andy Reid could not conceive of a scenario where a team wouldn't run the ball three times in a row and punt.

 

Teams can get stupid conservative in such situations.

Every time Tennessee (college) is faced with a "get a first down and win the game" scenario, they run up the gut three times and punt. Every damn time.

 

I'd consider putting Don Shula on there, too, even though he did win a couple of Super Bowls. For all the great things he did, the last 20 years of his career included a lot of playoff flameouts.

 

If you'd consider putting Don Shula on there, you're forgetting the question.

 

With the caveat, of course, that it's Don Shula post-1973. If we need a fourth.

 

Well, Marv Levy did get to four Super Bowls, but ...

 

Great Don Shula stat: In six Super Bowls and an NFL championship game (1964), his teams scored a total of two second-half touchdowns.

One of those was when the Colts were down 16-0 to the Jets with three minutes left in Super Bowl III.

The other was vs. the Vikings in Super Bowl VIII when the Dolphins were up 17-0 in the third quarter.

 

Bud Grant says hello

 

True. I wouldn't have been shocked to see runs on first and second down, but unless they lost yardage or it was third and two or less, Tomlin was going to have them passing on third down.

 

I'm sure the thinking was -- and rightly so -- that the Chiefs were far more likely to get a three-and-out than recover an onside kick. Neither of those outcomes was likely (greater than 50-50), but the probability of a defensive stop was probably three times greater than that of a kick recovery.

And as someone pointed out, it's not like they needed a touchdown -- just to get into field goal range. Kicking was the right call.

 

Not really though, because they weren't risking giving up a short field for a score. The Steelers' whole goal there was the first down. So the onside kick would essentially be giving them two chances at the same goal when the Steelers had only one positive outcome they were looking for.

Field position was an important consideration though, and ultimately they got good odds -- a stop on third-and-four and they get the ball back almost in FG range. I don't have a huge problem with them kicking off.

I do have a huge problem with them treating their fourth-quarter drive like a May mini-camp. Does Reid know there isn't a required minimum of seconds that must run off the clock before every snap?

 

I agree. The Chiefs stood no shot against the Pats. The Steelers at least roll into New England with the best RB, best WR and a top 5ish QB. They've got a better chance than the Chiefs did.