MM explains his thought process of going for 2

Hawkeye0202 · Sep 21, 2020

Kudos to one poster here ( not sure who ) for nailing this 100%

DCBoysfan · Sep 21, 2020

That's an interesting take. I thought it was a mistake at the time he did it.

CowboyRoy · Sep 21, 2020

Hawkeye0202 said:
Kudos to one poster here ( not sure who ) for nailing this 100%

Thanks for the explanation MM, but it was still stupid.

For him to try and rationalize it is pathetic.

CowboyRoy · Sep 21, 2020

DCBoysfan said:
That's an interesting take. I thought it was a mistake at the time he did it.

It was a mistake and its still is a mistake.

JD_KaPow · Sep 21, 2020

Hawkeye0202 said:
Kudos to one poster here ( not sure who ) for nailing this 100%

That was me, thanks.

I hate when people say an 8-point deficit is a "one-score game." It's not. There's about a 50% chance it's a one-score game and a 50% chance it's a two-score game: you just don't know which.
Relatedly, a 7-point deficit is about 98% one-score game and 2% two-score game. We all treat that as 100/0, but there's a game or two a year where we remember that it isn't.

JD_KaPow · Sep 21, 2020

CowboyRoy said:
It was a mistake and its still is a mistake.

Except for the fact that it was absolutely the right call, for exactly the reason MM gave.

CanadianCowboysFan · Sep 21, 2020

DCBoysfan said:
That's an interesting take. I thought it was a mistake at the time he did it.

I still do. It is the same thinking that Campo did on US Thanksgiving in 2001 I believe it was when he was down 16 and kicked a XP instead of going for two claiming it was easier to score 3 times than 2 TDs and 2 2pt conversions. I get his thinking but it seems to me it is easier to have to score once in 4 minutes than 2x. We won and that is all that matters, but that does not make the decision any less puzzling.

DogFace · Sep 21, 2020

JD_KaPow said:
That was me, thanks.

I hate when people say an 8-point deficit is a "one-score game." It's not. There's about a 50% chance it's a one-score game and a 50% chance it's a two-score game: you just don't know which.
Relatedly, a 7-point deficit is about 98% one-score game and 2% two-score game. We all treat that as 100/0, but there's a game or two a year where we remember that it isn't.

Yep. You sold me. I didn’t think much about it yesterday because beer.

You explained perfectly and are right.

RustyBourneHorse · Sep 21, 2020

Hawkeye0202 said:
Kudos to one poster here ( not sure who ) for nailing this 100%

I was thinking that was a good time to go for 2 at that point as well. I was thinking we have to go for 2 anyway, so might as well get it out of the way then. I just didn't like the play call.

Dale · Sep 21, 2020

CowboyRoy said:
Thanks for the explanation MM, but it was still stupid.

For him to try and rationalize it is pathetic.

I would disagree. I think this is a classic case of "analytics" clashing with traditional football thinking. The traditional thinking is you wait. Charlie Weiss was on the radio this morning talking about this very thing and how "everyone knows you wait to go for 2!!" McCarthy is listening to the analytics people on this decision.

I didn't mind that decision at all. Doing the fake punt with a run up the middle was a strange one...

JD_KaPow · Sep 21, 2020

CanadianCowboysFan said:
I still do. It is the same thinking that Campo did on US Thanksgiving in 2001 I believe it was when he was down 16 and kicked a XP instead of going for two claiming it was easier to score 3 times than 2 TDs and 2 2pt conversions. I get his thinking but it seems to me it is easier to have to score once in 4 minutes than 2x. We won and that is all that matters, but that does not make the decision any less puzzling.

The Campo move is really dumb. But this one wasn't.

What you have to take into account is that you still have to score twice, down 8, if you miss that 2-pointer at the end. You can't assume you'll make that attempt, any more than you can assume you'll miss the earlier one. You need to attempt one two-pointer: doesn't matter when.

Rajveer · Sep 21, 2020

Either way is fine I guess. However I think there is more of a psychological reasoning behind MM's decision. If you go for two and get it to a 7 point game, then the whole momentum is with you and the opposing team has added pressure to score on the next possession. That can lead to mistakes from their offense. You also deflate their defense next time you face them. If you go for 1 instead of 2, then you have to score again and go for two anyway, which is never a given. The opposing team is not as pressured as scenario above.

DogFace · Sep 21, 2020

CanadianCowboysFan said:
I still do. It is the same thinking that Campo did on US Thanksgiving in 2001 I believe it was when he was down 16 and kicked a XP instead of going for two claiming it was easier to score 3 times than 2 TDs and 2 2pt conversions. I get his thinking but it seems to me it is easier to have to score once in 4 minutes than 2x. We won and that is all that matters, but that does not make the decision any less puzzling.

It is easier, but he wanted to get the two point make or miss over with then gameplan from there. You needed a two one way or the other.

Had he kicked it then got it back and scored a td, but missed the two. There’s likely no time or very little left.
—as @JD_KaPow has said and I agree with him

RustyBourneHorse · Sep 21, 2020

CowboyRoy said:
Thanks for the explanation MM, but it was still stupid.

For him to try and rationalize it is pathetic.

Except, I think McCarthy is right. I think you have to go for 2 when he did. If you make it, great, it's a 7 point game. If not, you still have time to try to get that extra score. We got lucky indeed, but you have to go for 2 at some point. So, going for 2 a bit earlier is right imo. I just would've called a different play. Try and get the ball to CD on that play.

JD_KaPow · Sep 21, 2020

Dale said:
I would disagree. I think this is a classic case of "analytics" clashing with traditional football thinking. The traditional thinking is you wait. Charlie Weiss was on the radio this morning talking about this very thing and how "everyone knows you wait to go for 2!!" McCarthy is listening to the analytics people on this decision.

I didn't mind that decision at all. Doing the fake punt with a run up the middle was a strange one...

Yeah, that was pretty terrible. I loved the first fake punt call: they saw what they wanted and the play was right there. The second one really felt like desperation: they didn't get the look they wanted, but they did it anyway.

CowboyRoy · Sep 21, 2020

JD_KaPow said:
Except for the fact that it was absolutely the right call, for exactly the reason MM gave.

It was stupid call for EXACTLY the reasons he gave. His reasons were dumb. Made no sense. Or maybe they make sense to you. Which is baffling.

Something tells me that you would believe any silly explanation he gave. If he told you he had a dream about going for it, you would say it was a great idea. LOL

Future · Sep 21, 2020

The reason he gave is stupid. Knowing whether it is a one- or two-score game doesn't have to change anything in how you approach the remainder.

johneric8 · Sep 21, 2020

You guys need to quit over analyzing the great Mike Mccarthy's decisions! The guy just installed all new coaches practically, and had zero pre season to evaluate players.
Big Mike will take chances, he isn't like the freckled puppet that played to not lose.. Do not judge the man to harshly until he has at least a season or two under his belt..
The team is going to take it's lumps, but Big Mike will filx what isn't working but it's going to take time. This is honestly really still pre season for our team and with the amount of
injuries we have sustained he was actually done some amazing things with putting young players in powerful positions... Give me man time, he will surprise you.

ItzKelz · Sep 21, 2020

Honestly, I still think it was a mistake. Big Mac explained and I understand his point.....I just do not agree with it. However, I have to admit that it worked out in our favor and just maybe it gave us a sense of urgency that may not have been there if we had went for 1.

TwoCentPlain · Sep 21, 2020

Whatever, just glad this game did not go to OT and the Cowboys ended up losing in OT. People’s heads would have literally exploded.

MM explains his thought process of going for 2

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