Clock Management inside 3 minutes (1 Viewer)

[The Jerk]

I've seen the thread questioning the Patriots going for it on 4th and 13 from the 31 and with good reason.

To me, a significant blunder was the clock management on the drive that ended with the Brady to Moss TD.

A Giant was injured on the play that took the ball to the 6 or 7 yard line for first and goal. I think the clock was stopped with around 3:20 to go until the injured player got off the field. So the Patriots had to take a snap no later than 2:55 or so to avoid a delay of game. If the Patriots had run the ball once, they would have taken another 35 seconds or so off the clock, which would have put more pressure on the Giants two-minute drill.

I understand that the goal was to score a TD, and maybe this issue actually points to the lack of running game seen often during this season by the Patriots. Either way, more time was left on the clock due to the two incompletions on first and second down than if at least one run had been executed.

Perhaps it would not have mattered, but certainly the Giants chances were better with 2:42 to play rather than 2:07 or so.

 

[WisWolvrns]

I agree with you there. I was very surprised they did not try to run it in atleast once...

35 seconds from perfection...

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

That way the Giants would've scored with :00 on the clock instead of the :35 or so they gave the Pats to make it a semi-exciting finish.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I agree with you there. I was very surprised they did not try to run it in atleast once...

I don't agree with this argument. NE doesn't have a very good running game. If I'm down 4 points with two minutes left to go, I'm putting the game in Tom Brady's hands. Hard to fault BB for this one.The 4th and 13, on the other hand . . .

 

[mbuehner]

Anybody notice how the clock didnt run at all during one giants play (with about 1:20 left), and then it started late on the near interception (only took 4 ticks to run that play)? Thats unbelieveably shoddy work for the superbowl. I dont think it affected how the game ended, but it definately distracted me.

 

[shadyridr]

Anybody notice how the clock didnt run at all during one giants play (with about 1:20 left), and then it started late on the near interception (only took 4 ticks to run that play)? Thats unbelieveably shoddy work for the superbowl. I dont think it affected how the game ended, but it definately distracted me.

That was just Fox's game clock

 

[FlapJacks]

I have to disagree here.

The offense needs to get a TD. When they've only scored 1 in 3 quarters, there's no need to to waste a play screwing around with trying to burn a little clock.

 

[Godsbrother]

I have to disagree here.The offense needs to get a TD. When they've only scored 1 in 3 quarters, there's no need to to waste a play screwing around with trying to burn a little clock.

When you're behind and you have the opportunity for a TD you score, regardless of how much time is left.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Brady ran off over five minutes on that drive - taking the ball with almost 8 minutes and running it down to under three. I thought the clock management was pretty good and the Pats were in great shape after the Moss td given the flow of the game at that point.