Last week, we had a little discussion after the Rams Cardinals game about how a Rams player scored in the 4Q, leaving time for the Cardinals to kick the game winning FG on their next drive.
Some people agreed that the Rams receiver should have pulled up and milked the clock, others thought that it would be too ballsy a move and it was right to score. In that thread, I said we’d start seeing alot more moves where you purposely don’t score to milk the clock and make sure that you are the team possessing the ball last.
I thought it was absolutely right for Gibbs to not score at the end of the game. In his post game comments, though I believe Dan said that he wasn’t sure, so maybe Gibbs did this on his own?
I’m not eactly sure where Dan is on this. Right after it happened, I said that Dan is a pioneer, everyone is going to start doing that now. But maybe it wasn’t Dan?? In thinking about it more, I think that the FirST time Gibbs did it (EDIT - WITH 2:00 left) was absolutely the correct move. The second time he did it, (EDIT - with 1:08 left) it may have been Ok to score a TD there (EDIT - NOPE)- since even a short FG is not automatic.
Where are you guys on this? Do you think Dan told them to not score (at least at first)? Do you like milking the clock?
Second time I would have definitely been okay with a score. No TO and 15sec? Yes. As long as we didn’t do that play with Hutch standing at the sideline.
I think this decision is more widely agreed with vs the 4 and 1 decision. I also think dan said that because gibbs damn near injured himself trying to go down to the ground.
Very different situation in one important respect: the Lions were tied and only needed the FG to take the lead; the Rams needed the tuddy. BIG difference.
Barring complete and utter disaster, the Lions were guaranteed the chip-shot FG try. The only question was how much clock they ran before they tried it.
If you’re the Rams and need the 6, you could burn a down to milk the clock - I think it was 1st down at the 1 or something like that. But, maaaan, I say: get the points asap.
Big difference. If the field goal hadn’t been good (Bates didnt miss from this distance before), the worst-case scenario would have been overtime. The Rams would have lost.
Can you imagine the Rams burning a down to run clock and then NOT getting the TD because the Cardinals’ defense stonewalled them or they ran out of time?
The score and time remaining factor in so heavily that it will always tend to be a in the moment calculation.
I thought MCDC move was 4D chess but that is because we don’t have Minny defense. So your teams abilities also factors in heavily. Again it is truly a game by game analysis. Not to mention do you need a win to make it into the playoffs? So many factors.
Right - ours was the much easier decision. I think if the Rams burned one more down, though, they would have won the game. I was happy he scored upon review.
Only mistake Gibbs made was not getting the 1st down, the first time he went down on his own. That led to a 2nd & 2, which led to a 3rd & 1, which became a 3rd & 6 after a penalty. If Gibbs got the 1st down we could have kneeled it out and kicked the FG. If we didn’t convert that 3rd & 6, GB gets the ball back with 20-30 seconds and a chance to get in FG range.
I believe a lot of it also has to do with the trust the players and coaches have in the defense. I don’t believe anyone trusts the Lions defense to make a stop or defend a hail Mary when the game is on the line. So best to avoid the situation.
Disagree. If you go back you will see that GB had a TO left. So it was 2 minutes left on that play. If you work it out GB would get the ball back with around 25-30 seconds left.
1:56 1st down TO GB
2nd down Kneel - 44 off so 1:12 left
3rd down kneel 44 off so 28 left
4th kick FG 23 left
I mean it is not a huge deal but that is enough time to make it happen if GB gets a little lucky.
It probably is fairly close percentage wise.. and you really have to narrow it down to similar teams with similar defenses and kicker accuracy. Which would you rather have.. GB has 20 seconds or so with no timeouts to score a td.. or a short field goal attempt that ends the game. Id say with bates and our defense.. yeah you take the short field goal. But other teams that have bad kicking games.. I’d say the opposite. But its probably pretty close percentage wise across the league.
I heard an interview with Goff this morning. He was asked about it and said the plan was to not score (before the final FG), and that he reminded Gibbs in the huddle not to take it in.
Bates was great when we got him. He’s gotten a ton better. He may never miss another FG again. Cat has been working with Jack Fox every day for a few years, now.
Bates, Fox, and the ST unit make what Gibby did the Absoloute correct decision.
