I don't think I've ever seen anything like this play. >>

[El Supremo]

He didn't want to score.

[Yavin4]

1. It Has Actually Happened Twice in Recent History

in a Dallas/Philly game, the Philly RB stopped at the 1 yard line so that the clock would continue.

Also happened in a Jags/Jets game, the RB stopped right before the goal line in order to keep the clock moving.

[rocktivity]

5. But did the teams have the lead in each case, however slim?

The logic behind this I have GOT to hear. It reminds me too much of college basketball point shaving.


rocktivity

[JonLP24]

11. Not the Jaguars

It was the right decision in terms of increasing their chance to win. http://www.advancednflstats.com/2009/11/mjd-taking-knee.html

Had MJD scored it would have given the Jets 1:48 left to work the field with 4 downs to score.

[Condem]

2. Eli owns the Patriots....

...nothing else needs to be said.

[RagAss]

4. True...and you know what?...Eli will never win another Super Bowl.

Because the pats will never be there for another 35 years !

[rocktivity]

3. I understand their wanting to give the ball back with as little on the clock as possible

But surely doing so WITH the lead is the lesser of two evils!


rocktivity

[El Supremo]

6. Maybe this was more Belichick's idea.

He let the Giants score. But if have held them to a field goal all he needed was a field goal. But with little time left.

[rocktivity]

7. Then I'll re-phrase the question, your honor

Last edited Mon Feb 6, 2012, 01:09 AM - Edit history (4)

"I understand THE GIANTS wanting to give the ball back to THE PATRIOTS with as little on the clock as possible, but surely doing so WITH the lead was the LESSER of two evils!"

Belichick didn't let the Giants score, HE LET THEM TAKE THE LEAD. It's cool that he felt he had the kind of team that could go eighty yards in 57 seconds. But if he didn't realize that the odds were AGAINST the Patriots getting into the end zone in 57 seconds, he should have.


rocktivity

[caraher]

15. Don't forget the timeout situation

Because the Pats burned one on a challenge, the Giants could have run the game clock down to essentially nothing before trying a winning FG. So the question isn't whether the odds were against scoring a TD in 57 seconds, it's whether those odds were better than the odds of the Giants missing a chip shot field goal as time expired.

Letting the Giants take the lead gave the Pats their best chance of winning, even though it didn't work out that way and the odds were against a successful TD drive.

[a la izquierda]

10. I literally thought my husband was going to die in his chair...

He just got this weird grimace on his face and looked like a shade of death. Our Eagles fan buddy kept taunting us that that was the Giants would then lose and that play would be forever known as the Bradshaw screwup.

[VWolf]

18. FWIW It's REALLY tough to fight the instinct to score in that situation

You can talk about it in the huddle, but in the Super Bowl, in a tight game, with everything on the line, it's easier said than done.

Looks like Bradshaw tried to stop, was possibly hoping a Patriot would hit him, but eventually gave in to a law of physics (specifically the one about momentum).

[Renew Deal]

8. Wasn't there another game where a team let the other team score?

I think it was the Giants in 2000 vs. the Ravens.

[fishwax]

9. The Packers let Terrell Davis score at the end of Super Bowl 32

Broncos had the ball near the goal line and the game was tied, so Holmgren let them score to make sure they'd get the ball back with time on the clock.

[trumad]

12. 50 seconds in

[fishwax]

19. nice video

Yep, that's what I was remembering--the Packers line just gave up the middle of the field like the Pats did last night (though a bit closer to the goal line).

[TBF]

13. And it worked out the same way - Packers lost. nt

[fishwax]

20. true, but they were going to lose either way

The Packers weren't exactly bargaining from a position of strength at that point. Best-case scenario if they don't let Denver score is that Jason Elam (the best kicker in the game at the time) misses an 18-yarder and they go to overtime.

[bigwillq]

14. I'm glad he scored.

For one, a FG, even at 20 yards, is never guaranteed. So many things could go wrong.
Plus, the TD forced the Pats to have to score a TD to win.

[rocktivity]

16. I can't stand it when players celebrate and show off BEFORE they cross the goal line

because, just as you say, "so many things could go wrong." I thought THAT'S what Bradshaw was doing, and I was all set to start cursing him out and fantasizing about fining him a billion dollars!


rocktivity

[Auggie]

17. Both Coughlin and Manning were yelling at Bradshaw NOT to score

"The drive ended with Ahmad Bradshaw scoring on a 6-yard run with his quarterback and coach screaming for him to stop. They wanted to use as much clock as possible because they knew Brady was capable of bringing the Patriots from behind."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/05/SPIH1N3ERT.DTL#ixzz1lckFVp56

I thought it was a bizarre play too

[Renew Deal]

21. Maurice Jones-Drew Takes Knee On 1-Yard Line

And Westbrook:

[hughee99]

22. Can you imagine scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the last minute of a SB

and being a "goat" for it? If the Pats had marched down the field and scored, people would be yelling at Bradshaw for scoring, when they only had to run down the clock and kick a chip shot.