Teachable Moment: That's why you go for two early

JD_KaPow

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For some reason, people think you should kick the xp when you score a TD to put you down 9 late in the game. Today was the perfect demonstration of why this is wrong.

Down 15, you either need two scores or three scores, depending on whether you convert a 2-pointer or not.

But you don't know how many scores you need until you attempt the 2-pointer. That's why you do it after the first TD.

If the Cowboys had kicked the XP after the first TD, they would have been down 8 and they wouldn't know how many more scores they needed. They likely would have been more methodical on the second TD drive, playing to tie (and not leave the Falcons enough time to win it). Then, if they failed the 2-point conversion, the game is over.

This way, they KNEW they needed two more scores, and they were much more aggressive on the second TD drive, leaving themselves enough time for the third score.

When down 15 late, ALWAYS go for 2 after the FIRST score. Information matters. And there's no benefit--none--to waiting.
 

Jake

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For some reason, people think you should kick the xp when you score a TD to put you down 9 late in the game. Today was the perfect demonstration of why this is wrong.

Down 15, you either need two scores or three scores, depending on whether you convert a 2-pointer or not.

But you don't know how many scores you need until you attempt the 2-pointer. That's why you do it after the first TD.

If the Cowboys had kicked the XP after the first TD, they would have been down 8 and they wouldn't know how many more scores they needed. They likely would have been more methodical on the second TD drive, playing to tie (and not leave the Falcons enough time to win it). Then, if they failed the 2-point conversion, the game is over.

This way, they KNEW they needed two more scores, and they were much more aggressive on the second TD drive, leaving themselves enough time for the third score.

When down 15 late, ALWAYS go for 2 after the FIRST score. Information matters. And there's no benefit--none--to waiting.

Teachable moment: that's why you DON'T go for two early. :facepalm:

The only reason this thread exists is because the Cowboys got lucky on an onside kick.
 

NorthTexan95

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For some reason, people think you should kick the xp when you score a TD to put you down 9 late in the game. Today was the perfect demonstration of why this is wrong.

Down 15, you either need two scores or three scores, depending on whether you convert a 2-pointer or not.

But you don't know how many scores you need until you attempt the 2-pointer. That's why you do it after the first TD.

If the Cowboys had kicked the XP after the first TD, they would have been down 8 and they wouldn't know how many more scores they needed. They likely would have been more methodical on the second TD drive, playing to tie (and not leave the Falcons enough time to win it). Then, if they failed the 2-point conversion, the game is over.

This way, they KNEW they needed two more scores, and they were much more aggressive on the second TD drive, leaving themselves enough time for the third score.

When down 15 late, ALWAYS go for 2 after the FIRST score. Information matters. And there's no benefit--none--to waiting.

Perfectly said.

Going for two the first time gives the team more options.
 

Nav22

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100% right.

Not sure how anyone can disagree.

Your odds of converting the 2-point attempt don’t magically go up by waiting.

If they failed to cut the lead from 9 to 7... why would they have succeeded later in cutting the lead from 2 to 0?

Failing on the 2 early let them know they still needed 2 more scores. Kicking the PAT and cutting the lead to 8 would make them feel like they’re still down 1 score and they would’ve slow-played the rest of the game accordingly.
 

JD_KaPow

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If we had kicked the extra point, we still would have had the chance that we did at the end of the game. You can't count on that though. You play the percentages and the percentages are overwhelmingly in favor of making it a one possession game.
Good lord no. Going for it early is playing the percentages.

The chances of making the two-point conversion are the same early or late. There's no benefit to waiting. None. People who study the percentages of football have been screaming about this for years.
 

Loso86

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For some reason, people think you should kick the xp when you score a TD to put you down 9 late in the game. Today was the perfect demonstration of why this is wrong.

Down 15, you either need two scores or three scores, depending on whether you convert a 2-pointer or not.

But you don't know how many scores you need until you attempt the 2-pointer. That's why you do it after the first TD.

If the Cowboys had kicked the XP after the first TD, they would have been down 8 and they wouldn't know how many more scores they needed. They likely would have been more methodical on the second TD drive, playing to tie (and not leave the Falcons enough time to win it). Then, if they failed the 2-point conversion, the game is over.

This way, they KNEW they needed two more scores, and they were much more aggressive on the second TD drive, leaving themselves enough time for the third score.

When down 15 late, ALWAYS go for 2 after the FIRST score. Information matters. And there's no benefit--none--to waiting.
Ummm is this sarcasm...lol if not your wrong sir you make sure to make it a 1 possession game. You dont hope for luck at the end of the game. You kick the XP and make it a 8 point game
 

Nav22

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If we had kicked the extra point, we still would have had the chance that we did at the end of the game. You can't count on that though. You play the percentages and the percentages are overwhelmingly in favor of making it a one possession game.
We wouldn’t have been in the same rush to score if we were down 8 instead of 9.

There’s zero benefit to procrastinating. Go for 2 early to see what else you need to do for the rest of the game to win.
 

JD_KaPow

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Ummm is this sarcasm...lol if not your wrong sir you make sure to make it a 1 possession game. You dont hope for luck at the end of the game. You kick the XP and make it a 8 point game
Sigh. Why is this so hard to understand? By kicking the xp, you're hoping for luck (making the two-pointer) at the end of the game.

There is no benefit to waiting: you have to try a 2-pointer at some point. It's much better to know the outcome early so you know what you have to do to win.
 

KingintheNorth

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Going for two the first time gives the team more options.
Unless one of those options is adding more time onto the clock, then no, not at all.

Going for the 2 and missing it in that stage of the game eliminates the need or option for 2 later. Going for the much more likely XP keeps the game within 1 scoring drive.

By the way Atlanta also screwed up earlier going for 2. When you have a good sized lead, take the 1 point. You shouldn't even be thinking about a team needing 3 scores to tie you.

You should only go for 2:
  1. When you have to
  2. When you feel you have an overwhelming schematic advantage
  3. Your kicker is hurt

I love analytics, love, love love them. But we are overthinking them. Use them for an edge not as a rule. Coaching football is still about feel. Feel where you are at any point in the game and reduce or eliminate opportunities for mistakes.

It's crazy to me that some of you don't get that today's decision was wrong.

Crazier that a highly paid NFL coach doesn't get that either.
 

TwistedL0g1k

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But you don't know how many scores you need until you attempt the 2-pointer. That's why you do it after the first TD.

Thank You! This is exactly why. The announcers didn't understand it, and criticized it, but the coach understands it!
 
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