MM explains his thought process of going for 2

droopdog7

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Found this:

2-point-conversion-chart.jpg


So by the chart, going for 2 was the "right" call...
I’m super hoping people actually understand the chart, but I know many will not. We were down nine and went for two as the chart suggests. The fact that it was a super obvious then as it is now.
 

LACowboysFan1

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You don’t really need a chart for this one but yes, he went by the chart. You’re going to need a two point conversion at some point. Just a matter of when to take the shot.

At least if you go by the chart then the coach could say "Hey, I used the chart, I did what I was supposed to do"

:thumbup:
 

Diehardblues

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You don’t really need a chart for this one but yes, he went by the chart. You’re going to need a two point conversion at some point. Just a matter of when to take the shot.
I’m not a good googler. Can anyone find a stat or any data which states more teams go for 2 down 15 in similar situations in 4th qtr?
 

BaybeeJay

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Whether you are successful at the 2-point conversion is independent of when you attempt. You'd rather know as early as possible what the outcome of this event will be for future decision-making.

It is as if there is a group of people on here who would rather lose at the end of the game than win improbably.
 
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droopdog7

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I’m not a good googler. Can anyone find a stat or any data which states more teams go for 2 down 15 in similar situations in 4th qtr?
I suspect that stat would be hard to come by. But for gods sake people just need to use their thinking skills. No stats needed.
 

Uncle_Hank

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Choose one option from each scenario:

SCENARIO 1 - (Successful)
a. Cowboys go for 2 early and Succeed
b. Cowboys go for 2 late and Succeed.

SCENARIO 2 - (Unsuccessful)
a. Cowboys go for 2 early and Fail.
b. Cowboys go for 2 late and Fail.

In Scenario 1 the game goes to OT.

In Scenario 2 option A gives you a very, very small chance, option B gives you zero Chance.

I really can't figure out why this is so hard for people to understand. The people who are arguing to "extend the game" want 2B, even though it's the scenario where you are most likely to lose. You either don't give yourself enough time on the clock to try to recover the ball, or you score really quickly and give the opposing team another shot at scoring. It's idiotic.
 

LACowboysFan1

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Myself, I'd rather try for the extra point, better odds of making it vs a 2 pt conversion. Meaning you're only one score down, I would just prefer only having to score once rather that twice.

But that's just me...
 

BaybeeJay

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I really can't figure out why this is so hard for people to understand. The people who are arguing to "extend the game" want 2B, even though it's the scenario where you are most likely to lose. You either don't give yourself enough time on the clock to try to recover the ball, or you score really quickly and give the opposing team another shot at scoring. It's idiotic.

These people would be relatively fine with 2b because it makes sense to them, and they had the most hope in the end. I really think they would prefer losing with 2b over winning with 2a.
 

BaybeeJay

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Myself, I'd rather try for the extra point, better odds of making it vs a 2 pt conversion. Meaning you're only one score down, I would just prefer only having to score once rather that twice.

But that's just me...

Right, you like how it feels to be down 1 score, even if gives you a worse chance of winning. . .
 

Uncle_Hank

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These people would be relatively fine with 2b because it makes sense to them, and they had the most hope in the end. I really think they would prefer losing with 2b over winning with 2a.

Yeah, I think you might be right. It's more exciting to the fans to maintain hope until the very last second. But I'd much rather try to win the game, even if it means ruining the last five minutes of what was going to be a loss anyway.
 

droopdog7

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Now that this debate is settled (whether the non believers know or not, it is settled), I want to thank MM and that Atl coach for two other 2-point decisions that have gotten less attention.

Thanks Atl coach for going to 2 in the first half like an idiot. I guess he’s aggressive guy and it’s come back to bite his arse two weeks in a row now.

And thanks to MM for NOT going for two earlier in the game. We were down 16 and went in for a TD (I want to say very early in the 4th). My son yelled to go for two so we’d be down eight but in my mind, I thought it was just a little too early for that. Perhaps it was the end of the third, can’t remember.

Anyway, MM went for one which again was the right call. The chart comes into play closer to the end of the game.
 

droopdog7

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Yeah, I think you might be right. It's more exciting to the fans to maintain hope until the very last second. But I'd much rather try to win the game, even if it means ruining the last five minutes of what was going to be a loss anyway.
There is definitely some psychological shenanigans messing with their critical thinking skills, that much is clear.
 

LACowboysFan1

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Right, you like how it feels to be down 1 score, even if gives you a worse chance of winning. . .

If you go down 2 scores, which is what happened with a failed 2 pt converson, then as we saw you have to attempt an onside kick, which has been successful only about 10% of the time. Make the extra point and you only have to stop Atlanta once, and you don't need the onside kick, as you'd have time to score a td, though of course you would still have to get the 2 pts after that score.

Really either way it's desperation time, it worked out so I'm not sure what all the debate is about, doesn't really matter....
 

LACowboysFan1

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Now that this debate is settled (whether the non believers know or not, it is settled), I want to thank MM and that Atl coach for two other 2-point decisions that have gotten less attention.

Thanks Atl coach for going to 2 in the first half like an idiot. I guess he’s aggressive guy and it’s come back to bite his arse two weeks in a row now.

And thanks to MM for NOT going for two earlier in the game. We were down 16 and went in for a TD (I want to say very early in the 4th). My son yelled to go for two so we’d be down eight but in my mind, I thought it was just a little too early for that. Perhaps it was the end of the third, can’t remember.

Anyway, MM went for one which again was the right call. The chart comes into play closer to the end of the game.

Anytime you win it's the right call :grin:
 

droopdog7

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If you go down 2 scores, which is what happened with a failed 2 pt converson, then as we saw you have to attempt an onside kick, which has been successful only about 10% of the time. Make the extra point and you only have to stop Atlanta once, and you don't need the onside kick, as you'd have time to score a td, though of course you would still have to get the 2 pts after that score.

Really either way it's desperation time, it worked out so I'm not sure what all the debate is about, doesn't really matter....
And if you miss it after the second TD, you still have to go for the onside kick. Only you have much less time to plan for it.
 

BaybeeJay

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If you go down 2 scores, which is what happened with a failed 2 pt converson, then as we saw you have to attempt an onside kick, which has been successful only about 10% of the time. Make the extra point and you only have to stop Atlanta once, and you don't need the onside kick, as you'd have time to score a td, though of course you would still have to get the 2 pts after that score.

Really either way it's desperation time, it worked out so I'm not sure what all the debate is about, doesn't really matter....

Assuming the 2-point fails, would you rather have time for an onside kick and FG, or lose?

Assuming the 2-point is successful, would you rather have time for the tying score (and the possibility of winning in regulation), or go to the coin-flip OT (where you would need to score again, and possibly lose without having the ball)?
 

Uncle_Hank

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If you go down 2 scores, which is what happened with a failed 2 pt converson, then as we saw you have to attempt an onside kick, which has been successful only about 10% of the time. Make the extra point and you only have to stop Atlanta once, and you don't need the onside kick, as you'd have time to score a td, though of course you would still have to get the 2 pts after that score.

Really either way it's desperation time, it worked out so I'm not sure what all the debate is about, doesn't really matter....

It really just comes down to clock management. It's not a one score game unless you make the conversion. If you wait until the end, you either burn all the time on the clock and risk it all on the last play, only to find out it was actually a two score game the entire time and you just didn't know it, or you keep enough time "just in case" which means risking giving the ball back to Atlanta with enough time for themselves to score. If you go for two early, it's easier to work the clock in your favor.
 
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