A Few Historical Plays, Interpreted A Bit Incorrectly

[Red Dragon]

• "If Jackie Smith catches that dropped TD pass in Super Bowl XIII, we would have beaten the Steelers." No, had Smith caught the TD pass, Dallas would have tied the game 21-21. It would have led to a tie game, not a lead.

• "If Romo didn't bobble the snap, we would have beaten the Seahawks." No, if the snap, hold and kick had gone perfectly, Dallas would have led 23-21 with about one minute remaining. There is a very good chance that the Seahawks offense would have marched the ball downfield to kick a game-winning field goal. Roy Williams was still our starting strong safety. And even if the snap had been bobbled, Dallas still had an excellent chance to get a safety that would have won the game 22-21, or at least stuffed Seattle and gotten the ball back within field goal range. If Romo had bobbled the snap with six seconds remaining, then sure, he lost the game. But we're talking 1 minute remaining.

• "'The Catch' lost the Cowboys the 1981 NFC title game." Only in the sense that it gave the Niners the game's final lead. The Cowboys still had 52(?) seconds remaining and if it weren't for a one-handed tackle by a Niners defender, Drew Pearson would have scored on a touchdown or put Dallas in field goal range. There was still plenty of time left in the game, and White was still moving the ball very effectively downfield.

• "The refs' failure to call pass interference on Deion Sanders cost the Cowboys the 1994 NFC title game." Dallas was still trailing by 10 points at the time. Even if the PI penalty were called and the Cowboys scored a TD later, Dallas would still trail by 3. Also, the Cowboys still had a good chance to convert a 3rd-and-10 after the pass interference non-call (this was probably two-down territory) and could have scored a field goal if nothing else.

 

[DallasEast]

• "If Jackie Smith catches that dropped TD pass in Super Bowl XIII, we would have beaten the Steelers." No, had Smith caught the TD pass, Dallas would have tied the game 21-21. It would have led to a tie game, not a lead.

• If could have very likely changed the momentum of the game totally in Dallas' favor.
  
  That play still gives me nightmares to this day. Luckily, they only come to me once or twice a year now.

 

[Red Dragon]

If could have very likely changed the momentum of the game totally in Dallas' favor.

That play still gives me nightmares to this day. Luckily, they only come to me once or twice a year now.

How could a tie game change the momentum totally in Dallas' favor? It's one thing to take a 28-21 lead, but another thing to come back from a 14-21 deficit to tie it 21-21?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

• "If Jackie Smith catches that dropped TD pass in Super Bowl XIII, we would have beaten the Steelers." No, had Smith caught the TD pass, Dallas would have tied the game 21-21. It would have led to a tie game, not a lead.

• "If Romo didn't bobble the snap, we would have beaten the Seahawks." No, if the snap, hold and kick had gone perfectly, Dallas would have led 23-21 with about one minute remaining. There is a very good chance that the Seahawks offense would have marched the ball downfield to kick a game-winning field goal. Roy Williams was still our starting strong safety. And even if the snap had been bobbled, Dallas still had an excellent chance to get a safety that would have won the game 22-21, or at least stuffed Seattle and gotten the ball back within field goal range. If Romo had bobbled the snap with six seconds remaining, then sure, he lost the game. But we're talking 1 minute remaining.

• "'The Catch' lost the Cowboys the 1981 NFC title game." Only in the sense that it gave the Niners the game's final lead. The Cowboys still had 52(?) seconds remaining and if it weren't for a one-handed tackle by a Niners defender, Drew Pearson would have scored on a touchdown or put Dallas in field goal range. There was still plenty of time left in the game, and White was still moving the ball very effectively downfield.

• "The refs' failure to call pass interference on Deion Sanders cost the Cowboys the 1994 NFC title game." Dallas was still trailing by 10 points at the time. Even if the PI penalty were called and the Cowboys scored a TD later, Dallas would still trail by 3. Also, the Cowboys still had a good chance to convert a 3rd-and-10 after the pass interference non-call (this was probably two-down territory) and could have scored a field goal if nothing else.

If I recall correctly the play after the no-call was not 3rd and 10. Switzer got a 15 yard penalty for bumping a ref, or getting in his face, to argue the no call.

The 3rd down play was 3rd and 25 and I believe on that play Alvin Harper caught one of, if not his only, pass of the game for like 10 yards.


I agree with you in principle on this concept. You are correct about the fact that there is no assurance that had these things happened then Dallas would have won.

I have always believed strongly, however, that had that PI been called and given Dallas first and goal inside the 10 yard line with over 6 minutes left that they definately would have won.

I do believe they'd have punched that in and got to within 3 and I do believe that would have mentally broken the 49ers to have given up that 21 point lead like that.


Just a belief on my part, of course, but it's a strong belief none the less.

 

[DallasEast]

How could a tie game change the momentum totally in Dallas' favor? It's one thing to take a 28-21 lead, but another thing to come back from a 14-21 deficit to tie it 21-21?

Momentum is not something which can easily be defined in words, but I will take a stab at it.

The Steelers trailed Dallas 14-7, but scored the next fourteen uncontested points before the half. Both teams' defenses dominated the third quarter until the Dallas drive in which Smith dropped the sure touchdown that would have tied the game. IF the Doomsday defense had fed off the success of that failed scoring drive and short-circuited one or both of Pittsburgh's next two scoring drives in the fourth quarter, the momentum would have changed in Dallas' favor.

 

[ShiningStar]

How could a tie game change the momentum totally in Dallas' favor? It's one thing to take a 28-21 lead, but another thing to come back from a 14-21 deficit to tie it 21-21?

a chance can sometimes lead to something greater, but first u need the chance, were these ur words trying to dictate how others should not see something?

 

[CoCo]

• "If Jackie Smith catches that dropped TD pass in Super Bowl XIII, we would have beaten the Steelers." No, had Smith caught the TD pass, Dallas would have tied the game 21-21. It would have led to a tie game, not a lead.

• "If Romo didn't bobble the snap, we would have beaten the Seahawks." No, if the snap, hold and kick had gone perfectly, Dallas would have led 23-21 with about one minute remaining. There is a very good chance that the Seahawks offense would have marched the ball downfield to kick a game-winning field goal. Roy Williams was still our starting strong safety. And even if the snap had been bobbled, Dallas still had an excellent chance to get a safety that would have won the game 22-21, or at least stuffed Seattle and gotten the ball back within field goal range. If Romo had bobbled the snap with six seconds remaining, then sure, he lost the game. But we're talking 1 minute remaining.

• "'The Catch' lost the Cowboys the 1981 NFC title game." Only in the sense that it gave the Niners the game's final lead. The Cowboys still had 52(?) seconds remaining and if it weren't for a one-handed tackle by a Niners defender, Drew Pearson would have scored on a touchdown or put Dallas in field goal range. There was still plenty of time left in the game, and White was still moving the ball very effectively downfield.

• "The refs' failure to call pass interference on Deion Sanders cost the Cowboys the 1994 NFC title game." Dallas was still trailing by 10 points at the time. Even if the PI penalty were called and the Cowboys scored a TD later, Dallas would still trail by 3. Also, the Cowboys still had a good chance to convert a 3rd-and-10 after the pass interference non-call (this was probably two-down territory) and could have scored a field goal if nothing else.

Yup. I read ya.

The almost of that bobbled snap was when Romo scrambled. Absolutely the most painful aspect of that play to me was the game-saving tackle from Babineaux. Incredible how Romo almost pulled that out of the fire. Amazing play by Babineaux.

No comment on Gramatica -

 

[sonnyboy]

• "If Jackie Smith catches that dropped TD pass in Super Bowl XIII, we would have beaten the Steelers." No, had Smith caught the TD pass, Dallas would have tied the game 21-21. It would have led to a tie game, not a lead.

• "If Romo didn't bobble the snap, we would have beaten the Seahawks." No, if the snap, hold and kick had gone perfectly, Dallas would have led 23-21 with about one minute remaining. There is a very good chance that the Seahawks offense would have marched the ball downfield to kick a game-winning field goal. Roy Williams was still our starting strong safety. And even if the snap had been bobbled, Dallas still had an excellent chance to get a safety that would have won the game 22-21, or at least stuffed Seattle and gotten the ball back within field goal range. If Romo had bobbled the snap with six seconds remaining, then sure, he lost the game. But we're talking 1 minute remaining.

• "'The Catch' lost the Cowboys the 1981 NFC title game." Only in the sense that it gave the Niners the game's final lead. The Cowboys still had 52(?) seconds remaining and if it weren't for a one-handed tackle by a Niners defender, Drew Pearson would have scored on a touchdown or put Dallas in field goal range. There was still plenty of time left in the game, and White was still moving the ball very effectively downfield.

• "The refs' failure to call pass interference on Deion Sanders cost the Cowboys the 1994 NFC title game." Dallas was still trailing by 10 points at the time. Even if the PI penalty were called and the Cowboys scored a TD later, Dallas would still trail by 3. Also, the Cowboys still had a good chance to convert a 3rd-and-10 after the pass interference non-call (this was probably two-down territory) and could have scored a field goal if nothing else.

But it was a huge play in the game and the rest of the game probably plays out differently. That drop, the terrible PI call and the KO muff by Randy..... LUCK was certainly a lady for the Steelers in SB13.

I also had no confidence in our defense in that 4th quarter against Seattle had we taken the 2 point lead. My issue with that game has always been the replay officials stepping in to over turn the 1st down call on Witten's reception. I'VE YET TO SEE A REPLAY THAT OFFERED REASONABLE, LET ALONE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE REQUIRED TO OVERTURN A JUDGMENT CALL LIKE THAT. COMPLETE BS!
That 1st down call stands, we likely score a TD and leave little to no time for a Seattle comeback.

For me "The Catch" has always been "The Fumble".


I dissagree on the Deon PI. I know we win that game if the right call is made. Back then we were as automatic as any team in football from the 1 yardline. Scoring a TD after that call is a given in my mind.

Then it all comes down to how the last 5 mins play out. No doubt in my mind that Young folds like a cheap suit against us in that spot.
We would've had the ball down 3 points with a chance to take the lead.

 

[CoCo]

But it was a huge play in the game and the rest of the game probably plays out differently. That drop, the terrible PI call and the KO muff by Randy..... LUCK was certainly a lady for the Steelers in SB13.

I also had no confidence in our defense in that 4th quarter against Seattle had we taken the 2 point lead. My issue with that game has always been the replay officials stepping in to over turn the 1st down call on Witten's reception. I'VE YET TO SEE A REPLAY THAT OFFERED REASONABLE, LET ALONE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE REQUIRED TO OVERTURN A JUDGMENT CALL LIKE THAT. COMPLETE BS!
That 1st down call stands, we likely score a TD and leave little to no time for a Seattle comeback.

For me "The Catch" has always been "The Fumble".


I dissagree on the Deon PI. I know we win that game if the right call is made. Back then we were as automatic as any team in football from the 1 yardline. Scoring a TD after that call is a given in my mind.

Then it all comes down to how the last 5 mins play out. No doubt in my mind that Young folds like a cheap suit against us in that spot.
We would've had the ball down 3 points with a chance to take the lead.

Re: Witten's first down. I think they spotted that ball correctly after the review. It was a mis-spot as originally placed. I get the "conclusive evidence" thing, but in the end the correct spot resulted IMO. Painful though it was...

Re: Deion's PI - I don't think that was in teh end zone so we wouldn't have been at the 1. But do I think we'd have scored? Probably so.

 

[burmafrd]

Jackie Smith dropping that TD had an effect beyond the scoreboard; hard to quantify but it did. And when Roger brought us back late in the 4th it would have been a tie game; maybe the first OT SB. IT was a huge play - anyone saying otherwise does not know football

 

[Red Dragon]

Yup. I read ya.

The almost of that bobbled snap was when Romo scrambled. Absolutely the most painful aspect of that play to me was the game-saving tackle from Babineaux. Incredible how Romo almost pulled that out of the fire. Amazing play by Babineaux.

No comment on Gramatica -

If Gramatica had even just simply stood in Babineaux's way - not even blocking, just simply standing in the path as an obstacle - Romo would have probably gained the first down or touchdown.


Arrrggggh!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rocboy22]

I thought maybe one was gonna be the romo to austin miss from last year in the giants game. Glad it wasnt. But, i do think all of the plays listed here would probably have changed the outcome of the game if they went our way..i see the point of the op, but still...man...i think we would have won

 

[treykin32]

"If Romo didn't bobble the snap, we would have beaten the Seahawks." No, if the snap, hold and kick had gone perfectly, Dallas would have led 23-21 with about one minute remaining. There is a very good chance that the Seahawks offense would have marched the ball downfield to kick a game-winning field goal. Roy Williams was still our starting strong safety. And even if the snap had been bobbled, Dallas still had an excellent chance to get a safety that would have won the game 22-21, or at least stuffed Seattle and gotten the ball back within field goal range. If Romo had bobbled the snap with six seconds remaining, then sure, he lost the game. But we're talking 1 minute remaining.

Actually if Terry Glenn had held onto the ball & scored a TD instead of fumbling the ball out of bounds, we would went up by more than 10 points with about 5 minutes left in that game! Smh...

 

[Picksix]

If Gramatica had even just simply stood in Babineaux's way - not even blocking, just simply standing in the path as an obstacle - Romo would have probably gained the first down or touchdown.


Arrrggggh!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FOTeWUjHIo

Not quite the way it happened. Grammatica's momentum on his approach took him past Romo. He then had to jump to keep the guy diving in from the other side from taking his knees out. Babineaux was running by Grammatica, and he lunged to try to block him, and didn't get enough of him. It kills me how there are people who still want to give a 5 foot 6 kicker a load of grief for not throwing a good enough block.

Bottom line:

1. Romo never should have bobbled the snap, but beyond that...

2. The ball never should have been respotted, and it should have been first and goal at the one.

 

[sonnyboy]

Re: Witten's first down. I think they spotted that ball correctly after the review. It was a mis-spot as originally placed. I get the "conclusive evidence" thing, but in the end the correct spot resulted IMO. Painful though it was...

Re: Deion's PI - I don't think that was in teh end zone so we wouldn't have been at the 1. But do I think we'd have scored? Probably so.

I agree it was a generous spot, but I've seen this playout in other situations where the opposing coach calls for the replay and no good angle exists and the call stands.

If I recall, that play was within two mins and not challanged by the Seahawks. The replay call came from the booth which rubs me the wrong way even more.

 

[sonnyboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FOTeWUjHIo

Not quite the way it happened. Grammatica's momentum on his approach took him past Romo. He then had to jump to keep the guy diving in from the other side from taking his knees out. Babineaux was running by Grammatica, and he lunged to try to block him, and didn't get enough of him. It kills me how there are people who still want to give a 5 foot 6 kicker a load of grief for not throwing a good enough block.

Bottom line:

1. Romo never should have bobbled the snap, but beyond that...

2. The ball never should have been respotted, and it should have been first and goal at the one.[/quote]


This.

But I'm surprised no one has mentioned the shine on that ball. I've yet to see a replay of a football play with a ball that shinned like that one.