What if? Bradshaw’s late TD had doomed the Giants. (1 Viewer)

[Raiderfan32904]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense.

Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

 

[inzanitee]

Supposedly Eli was screaming at him to fall down at the one, so yeah, it seemed like the G-Men fully intended to run the clock down and kick a chip shot FG. I do think it was a mistake to score so quickly - if Brady beats them Bradshaw probably feels like Welker does today, or worse.

 

[shadyridr]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

He meant to stop. Momentum carried him in.

 

[identikit]

I'd like to know what the actual call was on that play. If Coughlin indeed wanted to 'not' score a TD, he wouldn't have had bradshaw (who had fumbled already in the game) not get a handoff.

 

[theedge]

He meant to stop. Momentum carried him in.

This

 

[Pipes]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

He meant to stop. Momentum carried him in.

Yeah I think he was expecting some resistance and when the sea parted he just couldn't stop in time.

 

[identikit]

Nicks not staying in bounds prior to that was as bad, if not worse.

 

[JAA]

If the TD wasnt enough? Then the Giants D couldnt stop Brady when it mattered.

We now know The Golden Child is more Zn+Cu than Au.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

He meant to stop. Momentum carried him in.

Yeah I think he was expecting some resistance and when the sea parted he just couldn't stop in time.

I don't buy this. He looked like he was pretty much all-stop and he had the choice of kneeling like you do when you go to church or roll into the EZ. He made a decision there, and I don't think momentum was a factor.

 

[Pipes]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

He meant to stop. Momentum carried him in.

Yeah I think he was expecting some resistance and when the sea parted he just couldn't stop in time.

I don't buy this. He looked like he was pretty much all-stop and he had the choice of kneeling like you do when you go to church or roll into the EZ. He made a decision there, and I don't think momentum was a factor.

I disagree. He was at the goaline and may have even broken the plane when he put on the brakes. 5 yards isn't that far and as a RB when you bust through the line of scrimmage with all your momentum I don't think it's easy to say to just fall down.Blame Coughlin. If he wanted to burn the clock there then have Manning take a knee in the middle of the field. Why risk a fumble on a handoff just to gain a couple of yards? It was already a chip shot field goal.

 

[gianmarco]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go "screw it, I am gonna score", damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he's gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should've taken a knee at the one? We'll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

He meant to stop. Momentum carried him in.

Yeah I think he was expecting some resistance and when the sea parted he just couldn't stop in time.

I don't buy this. He looked like he was pretty much all-stop and he had the choice of kneeling like you do when you go to church or roll into the EZ. He made a decision there, and I don't think momentum was a factor.

I disagree. He was at the goaline and may have even broken the plane when he put on the brakes. 5 yards isn't that far and as a RB when you bust through the line of scrimmage with all your momentum I don't think it's easy to say to just fall down.Blame Coughlin. If he wanted to burn the clock there then have Manning take a knee in the middle of the field. Why risk a fumble on a handoff just to gain a couple of yards? It was already a chip shot field goal.

 

[mbuehner]

Thats about equivalent to asking whether a running back should have a called a time out after he is tackled. Its not his decision. If Coughlin wanted him not to score, he should have either told him not to or knelt. If not, its his job to score not think about the implications. You don't pay your running backs to make critical game changing decisions, you pay them to follow orders. Unless Bradshaw was told to fall down, it can't be his fault. He doesn't get the discretion.

 

[netnalp]

Coughlin claims he didn't get the chance to tell Bradshaw to get down or to not score. It would have been really awful if they didn't score on that play and then missed the FG like the Ravens or tried to run it in a couple of times and turned the ball over.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Thats about equivalent to asking whether a running back should have a called a time out after he is tackled. Its not his decision. If Coughlin wanted him not to score, he should have either told him not to or knelt. If not, its his job to score not think about the implications. You don't pay your running backs to make critical game changing decisions, you pay them to follow orders. Unless Bradshaw was told to fall down, it can't be his fault. He doesn't get the discretion.

If his orders were clear to run the ball up the gut and score, then why did he break momentum at all?

 

[mozzy84]

Supposedly Eli was screaming at him to fall down at the one, so yeah, it seemed like the G-Men fully intended to run the clock down and kick a chip shot FG. I do think it was a mistake to score so quickly - if Brady beats them Bradshaw probably feels like Welker does today, or worse.

Bradsahw was just on mike and mike and said the first time anyone said anything about not scoring is right when Eli handed him the ball he said don't score, don't score...The coach said the same thing, it was never brought up one time on the sidelines to not score the td. (which is shocking)

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I don't understand why Coughlin didn't have just Manning take a knee.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?

nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiff

you score the points when you can

 

[mbuehner]

Thats about equivalent to asking whether a running back should have a called a time out after he is tackled. Its not his decision. If Coughlin wanted him not to score, he should have either told him not to or knelt. If not, its his job to score not think about the implications. You don't pay your running backs to make critical game changing decisions, you pay them to follow orders. Unless Bradshaw was told to fall down, it can't be his fault. He doesn't get the discretion.

If his orders were clear to run the ball up the gut and score, then why did he break momentum at all?

Probably the same reason half the country was screaming for him to fall down, everybody wants to be the coach. But again if Coughlin wanted to kill the clock he should have knelt on the ball. If things are happening too fast for the coaching staff to figure out, your surely don't want each player trying to do the math in the middle of play instead of concentrating on their job. There should be no room for improv.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?

nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiff

you score the points when you can

Agreed, though it seems just about all of the ESPN guys disagree. I want the lead, then see what happens with a D that has played pretty well recently. If the Giants lay down for a FG and botch the snap, then Bradshaw (& Coughlin) are run out of NY on a rail. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

 

[renesauz]

Nicks not staying in bounds prior to that was as bad, if not worse.

nope...Nicks was fighting for a first down. 1st down w/ stopped clock > 3rd down with clock running.One could argue that Nicks would have had the first anyway, but that's a lot easier to see from our couches then for him to see with 2 players hitting him.Bradshaw expected to get hit, and was running hard....he simply had too much momentum to stop.Neither player deserves blame...give the NE DST some credit for these plays.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiffyou score the points when you can

Generally, I don't disagree. But you leave Tom Brady nearly a minute and a timeout to get the game winning TD. It's a stretch to compare Brady to Joe Montana (even though he broke one of Montana's records in-game). But we've seen Montana come back in the late 4th with cool composure and wink in the huddle. Why take the risk of losing with your defense on the field. Nothing is certain. But if I am betting the odds, I'll take the chip shot FG as time expires over the scenario that played out last night. Sure, a bad snap could happen, but that run by Bradshaw could also have been swatted from him and the Pats recover and game over. The short FG was the safer option for the win.

 

[Franknbeans]

During a timeout, Patriots coach Bill Belichick instructed his defense to allow the Giants to score. The players did so begrudgingly, clearing the way for a Bradshaw touchdown.

“It killed me,” linebacker Brandon Spikes said. “When the call came in to let them score I kind of was like, ‘What?’ I’m here to do a job and it’s my job to play the defense and let them score. It was tough, though.”

 

[Ghost Rider]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiffyou score the points when you can

Agreed. Tynes had barely made both earlier field goals, and if you're the Giants, how would you feel if you lost the Super Bowl when you refused to score a touchdown and then your kicker missed a field goal? Remember that they were trailing, not tied, so you score the touchdown.

 

[mbuehner]

During a timeout, Patriots coach Bill Belichick instructed his defense to allow the Giants to score. The players did so begrudgingly, clearing the way for a Bradshaw touchdown.“It killed me,” linebacker Brandon Spikes said. “When the call came in to let them score I kind of was like, ‘What?’ I’m here to do a job and it’s my job to play the defense and let them score. It was tough, though.”

If they would have done their job somewhere else in the 80 yards down the field this wouldnt have been an issue.

 

[KentGraham10]

I was following along with the Patriots fans on their message board and they thought Myra pushed him in

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Brian Burke at Advanced Football Stats (great site, you should follow it) estimated that kneeling at the one instead of scoring the TD would have raised the Giants chances of winning from 88% to 98%. In other words scoring the TD made it six times more likely that the Giants would lose the game.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiffyou score the points when you can

Agreed. Tynes had barely made both earlier field goals, and if you're the Giants, how would you feel if you lost the Super Bowl when you refused to score a touchdown and then your kicker missed a field goal? Remember that they were trailing, not tied, so you score the touchdown.

Why not tackle him and try to make him fumble? stupid to let them score.

 

[mbuehner]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiffyou score the points when you can

Agreed. Tynes had barely made both earlier field goals, and if you're the Giants, how would you feel if you lost the Super Bowl when you refused to score a touchdown and then your kicker missed a field goal? Remember that they were trailing, not tied, so you score the touchdown.

Why not tackle him and try to make him fumble? stupid to let them score.

Because your odds of scoring a touchdown with 1 minute and 1 timeout are better than staking the game on forcing a fumble on a running back concentrating on not fumbling. They'd been trying to make guys fumble the whole drive.

 

[qimqam]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

There is not a chance in a million years that I try not to score in that situation. I would much rather let Brady or any other QB try beat me with 57 seconds left than to kneel down and have my kicker shank the kick. That would be unforgivable!!!!When you played scared bad things happen

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Brian Burke at Advanced Football Stats (great site, you should follow it) estimated that kneeling at the one instead of scoring the TD would have raised the Giants chances of winning from 88% to 98%. In other words scoring the TD made it six times more likely that the Giants would lose the game.

See, this is what I was guessing to the be the case, just on a gut feel. Glad to hear the case explained in terms of mathematical probabilities.

 

[roadkill1292]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?

nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiff

you score the points when you can

Agreed, though it seems just about all of the ESPN guys disagree. I want the lead, then see what happens with a D that has played pretty well recently. If the Giants lay down for a FG and botch the snap, then Bradshaw (& Coughlin) are run out of NY on a rail. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Points are hard to come by in the NFL. I don't care what the math says, you've got a sure six looking at you. Take it and make Brady be great to beat you.

 

[humphrp]

Any one else think he should have stopped at the 1 and just stood there letting the time run? It would have taken the Pats off guard then when they realized it he could step in. Not that I am second guessing the call. I think you take the points when they are there. They made the Pats try to score a TD, not just a field goal. If it would have only given the Giants a FG advantage then I think you sit on the ball and take the last second chip shot FG.

 

[Warrior]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?

nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiff

you score the points when you can

Agreed, though it seems just about all of the ESPN guys disagree. I want the lead, then see what happens with a D that has played pretty well recently. If the Giants lay down for a FG and botch the snap, then Bradshaw (& Coughlin) are run out of NY on a rail. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Points are hard to come by in the NFL. I don't care what the math says, you've got a sure six looking at you. Take it and make Brady be great to beat you.

With all due respect, the numbers don't lie and your opinion would have resulted in the wrong decision being made. The odds of the Giants winning went down when he scored the TD, though they won anyway.

 

[renesauz]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

There is not a chance in a million years that I try not to score in that situation. I would much rather let Brady or any other QB try beat me with 57 seconds left than to kneel down and have my kicker shank the kick. That would be unforgivable!!!!When you played scared bad things happen

Exactly how often do NFL kickers miss extra point trys? Hint: it's less then 4%. What was Brady's chance at scoring a TD with 1 minute, 1 TO, and the knowledge that they WILL go for it on 4th down?Hint: It's not great, but it's a heck of a lot higher than 4%

 

[Leroy Hoard]

if Coughlin wanted to kill the clock he should have knelt on the ball. If things are happening too fast for the coaching staff to figure out, your surely don't want each player trying to do the math in the middle of play instead of concentrating on their job. There should be no room for improv.

 

[Genester]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense. Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

There is not a chance in a million years that I try not to score in that situation. I would much rather let Brady or any other QB try beat me with 57 seconds left than to kneel down and have my kicker shank the kick. That would be unforgivable!!!!When you played scared bad things happen

I think you're contradicting your own point - you're scared the kicker would shank the kick The issue is very simple - the arguments against a FG are emotional arguments - they look at what would happen if the FG failed. It is true, it would be disastrous emotionally and politically for Coughlin, Bradshaw, and the Giants. At the same time, a purely statistical argument says the FG is better. So, do you minimize the risk of emotional trauma or your job security over winning the game? The rational approach is to maximize the chances of winning the game, but human beings aren't always wired for a rational approach.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

As I said during the game, it looked like the choice to slow down and try and stop was his, and at the last minute he decided not to make a choice that big in the split of a second and just went ahead and scored.

I'd imagine Bradshaw's thought process went a bit like this.

"Don't fumble, don't fumble....oh *#&$ HUGE HOLE!!! Wait, they're clearly trying to let me score, maybe I should stop and take a knee? Bah, I don't have time to think this one through in a split second and I don't want to make a huge blunder here so I'm just going to take the score".

It was absolutely 100% the coaching staff's fault for not telling him not to score ahead of time. A bunch of frat boys in an intramural game are smart enough to say that in the huddle before a play like that so it's always boggled my mind that the NFL folk never do.

The real issue is that no one ever thought an NFL team would do the right thing and let the other team score. Bellicheck (whom I loathe beyond all) is the only one progressive enough to do that and he's probably the only one in the league that would have told his RB not to score in that scenario as well.

 

[Ghost Rider]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiffyou score the points when you can

Agreed. Tynes had barely made both earlier field goals, and if you're the Giants, how would you feel if you lost the Super Bowl when you refused to score a touchdown and then your kicker missed a field goal? Remember that they were trailing, not tied, so you score the touchdown.

Why not tackle him and try to make him fumble? stupid to let them score.

Now, that I disagree with. I think it was the smart move to let the Giants score, but I do also think the Giants should have scored. It's not like the Giants defense was getting torn apart. Brady had struggled big time down the stretch following Tuck's first sack, which seemed to mess up that shoulder again a bit and made him uncomfortable the rest of the way, so make him go 80 yards in less than a minute to beat you.

 

[identikit]

As I said during the game, it looked like the choice to slow down and try and stop was his, and at the last minute he decided not to make a choice that big in the split of a second and just went ahead and scored.

I'd imagine Bradshaw's thought process went a bit like this.

"Don't fumble, don't fumble....oh *#&$ HUGE HOLE!!! Wait, they're clearly trying to let me score, maybe I should stop and take a knee? Bah, I don't have time to think this one through in a split second and I don't want to make a huge blunder here so I'm just going to take the score".

It was absolutely 100% the coaching staff's fault for not telling him not to score ahead of time. A bunch of frat boys in an intramural game are smart enough to say that in the huddle before a play like that so it's always boggled my mind that the NFL folk never do.

The real issue is that no one ever thought an NFL team would do the right thing and let the other team score. Bellicheck (whom I loathe beyond all) is the only one progressive enough to do that and he's probably the only one in the league that would have told his RB not to score in that scenario as well.

Mike Holmgren.

 

[Chase Stuart]

It's a no brainer decision. The fact that Belichick wanted the Giants to score is all you need to know about whether Coughlin should have instructed Bradshaw not to score.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

It's a no brainer decision. The fact that Belichick wanted the Giants to score is all you need to know about whether Coughlin should have instructed Bradshaw not to score.

what? because BB is such a better coach than Coughlin?

 

[Raiderfan32904]

During a timeout, Patriots coach Bill Belichick instructed his defense to allow the Giants to score. The players did so begrudgingly, clearing the way for a Bradshaw touchdown.“It killed me,” linebacker Brandon Spikes said. “When the call came in to let them score I kind of was like, ‘What?’ I’m here to do a job and it’s my job to play the defense and let them score. It was tough, though.”

That's gotta be a hard way to end your season as a defensive player. Spikes was playing a great game. Remember that there was a strip/fumble by Sterling Moore that was called back due to penalty. The "knowing that you intentionally failed" has to hurt. Some of those guys may never get back to a Super Bowl and they have to live with the fact they gave up the winning score intentionally. IDK why BB didn't call a play to tackle high at the football and surrender leverage to Bradshaw should he not fumble and then let him in the EZ? They could have at least tried for the turnover. At least it would have left the defense without such as bitter taste in their mouth. They'd have had a sporting chance.

 

[Tanner9919]

What was Bradshaw thinking? How do you get the goal line, stutter step, fake kneel and then go “screw it, I am gonna score”, damn the implications. I was cringing when I saw that and thinking he’s gotta be ####ting his pants on the bench when he was watching the Giants on Defense.

Does anyone else think he screwed up and should’ve taken a knee at the one? We’ll never know because it all worked out, but if the Pats had come back to win, Bradshaw would never live this down. He would be the modern day Jackie Smith.

hindsight being 20/20, I would have done the same thing, score the TD, no matter what.Giants have had problems gaining just 1 yard all year long( see their failures on 3rd-and-1 during the 2011 season). chip shot FG's are anything but easy, see Ravens two weeks ago.I'd rather score, and force Tommy to drive the Pats 80 yards in 57 seconds, than to risk a blocked FG , bad snap,etc.

question: When was the last time Tommy drove the Pats 80+ yards for the game-winning TD, with less than a minute left in the game without a full slate of time-outs????

 

[FreeBaGeL]

question: When was the last time Tommy drove the Pats 80+ yards for the game-winning TD, with less than a minute left in the game without a full slate of time-outs????

It's not exactly a scenario one finds themselves in very often so "when was the last time" is a pretty ridiculous question.That said, Alex Smith did it in 1:18 a couple of weeks ago so it's not much of a stretch to think that Brady could do it in 0:57.

 

[glock]

It's a no brainer decision. The fact that Belichick wanted the Giants to score is all you need to know about whether Coughlin should have instructed Bradshaw not to score.

what? because BB is such a better coach than Coughlin?

 

[Sam Quentin]

what if Tynes missed? Or the snap was botched?nothing is guaranteed, ask billy cundiffyou score the points when you can

Agreed. Tynes had barely made both earlier field goals, and if you're the Giants, how would you feel if you lost the Super Bowl when you refused to score a touchdown and then your kicker missed a field goal? Remember that they were trailing, not tied, so you score the touchdown.

It's all about oddsTynes makeing an 18 yarder is about 98%.The D stopping Bradty with 57 seconds is maybe 75%

 

[renesauz]

I think you have to take the 6. I decent KO return and a couple of passes puts the Pats in FG range for the win.

So...The return is immaterial, since it effects the TD drive the same as the FG drive.Assume a 40 yard return (a good return!) Is it easier to drive 60 yards for a TD with 1 minute and 1 TO, or to drive 30 yards for a LONG FG with 10 seconds and no timeouts?Given the choice with a QB like Brady...I'd rather have the first option, but could see a vote being close.And that's with a GOOD return...how about a normal return to the 25? 75 yards for TD (with a TO in a minute) is much more attractive than needing to go 45 yards for a LONG FG with 10 seconds and no timeouts.Statistically, there is definately a point where the clock is more meaningful than the size of the lead. Going up 1 point with 5 seconds is more meaningful than going up 14 at halftime. Similarly, going up 2 with 10 seconds is more meaningful than going up 4 with 1 minute+.

 

[mbuehner]

Brian Burke is the goods. Anybody interested in this stuff should read his blog, it will change the way you watch the game.

My question is- would the Patriots have been better off letting the Giants score even earlier. According to Advanced Football Stats the Giants odds of winning jumped to even money with the Manningham sideline catch and the lost challenge. There was 3:46 left at that point and the Giants were on the 50 with a big legged kicker, and NE had 2 timeouts left plus the 2 min warning. Obvious if NE holds here they win the game.

Next play incomplete, but the following play Manningham catches another for 16 yards putting the giants in FG range with about 3 minutes left. Giants are 67% WP. Its first down. There are 2 TOs and a 2minute warning to stop the clock, so the Patriots can expect to get the ball back with about 1:45 and 1 TO and needing a FG to take back the lead if their defense could hold. Thats pretty favorable Tom Brady territory (assuming his receivers would catch the ball, which was a bad assumption).

Now, the next play was a 2 yard gain which is fine by the above strategy (clock running), but it is followed by a 14 yard pass to Nicks for another first down at the 2 min warning. Here is where things go sideways. The Pats REALLY needed to make that stop there, i'd argue that Nicks play was actually the most important play of the drive from the Pats POV. Giants are at 80% WP. Now its decision time. IF the Pats can hold here they can allow a 30 yardish FG attempt and get the ball back with maybe 45 seconds and 1 TO needing a FG. The alternative is to let the Giants score now with just under 2 minutes and 2 time outs, but needing a touchdown to win the game.

So which scenario is better- 2 minutes with 2 TOs needing a TD, or 45 seconds with 1TO needing a FG?

Also the thing I noticed in retrospect how balsy the Giants were to keep throwing the ball when they got into comfortable FG range. An incomplete pass would have really hurt them and might have cost them the game, but they were clearly playing to win and not let Brady have a full 2 min drill. Its easy to overlook that, a lot of coaches would have been running the ball exclusively once they got in range.

 

[Avery]

88% vs 98% over the corse of all football games and all teams... so in that base statistical sense, Bradshaw should not have scored the TD.

In this game, in this situation, with the Giants defense playing well, with their pass rush coming on very strong in the 4th quarter, as a fan, I'm happy with what happened and would rather trust the Giants defense to stop Brady over what could go wrong even on a chip shot field goal.

 

[Sam Quentin]

I don't understand why Coughlin didn't have just Manning take a knee.

Was it 3rd down?get the first and ou can runn the whole clock