Hindsight is 20/20. Just stop. Running the ball was the right decision.

[bark]

My goddness I'm a Garrett supporter but I was shocked they did anything but kneel on the ball and punt on 4 th down. Seemed so logical

 

[coult44]

When you have four downs, are leading 27-24, have the ball on your opponents' 31-yard line with less than two minutes, the OBVIOUS strategy is to run the ball.


Consider:

• Ball on 31-yard line. WELL within field goal range already.
• An incompletion stops the clock, and then everyone is calling for the OC and HC to be fired for not "running the ball to drain the clock."
  
• MANY of Romo's passes had fallen incomplete on the day. Very good chance that if he throws a pass, it falls incomplete.
• If the Cowboys don't commit that stupid penalty, then Detroit gets the ball back with just 20, not 50, seconds left.
• An interception would be a MONUMENTAL disaster at this moment, when Dallas was already well within FG range. It would make the criticism of Romo's interception against the Broncos seem mild by comparison.

This is pure "hindsight whining." Every fan who is complaining right now about the Cowboys' failure to pick up a first down through three consecutive runs, would be complaining five times as loudly had the Cowboys tried a passing play that fell incomplete....Ten times as loudly if it were intercepted.

Obviously you are a child or red homer and no absolutely nothing!!!! You kneel on the Freekin ball when the other team has 2 timeouts. At the very least you kneel on third down. You don't put your team in the position to even make a penalty!!!!!

 

[Red Dragon]

Kneeling takes the penalty out of the equation. Stop sticking up for ineptness.

Kneeling also takes away any chance of getting a first down. At least with running the ball, you get an opportunity to pick up a first down - which, if obtained, would have 100% sealed the win for Dallas.


The benefits of running outweighed the benefits of kneeling.

 

[gbrittain]

When you have four downs, are leading 27-24, have the ball on your opponents' 31-yard line with less than two minutes, the OBVIOUS strategy is to run the ball.


Consider:

• Ball on 31-yard line. WELL within field goal range already.
• An incompletion stops the clock, and then everyone is calling for the OC and HC to be fired for not "running the ball to drain the clock."
  
• MANY of Romo's passes had fallen incomplete on the day. Very good chance that if he throws a pass, it falls incomplete.
• If the Cowboys don't commit that stupid penalty, then Detroit gets the ball back with just 20, not 50, seconds left.
• An interception would be a MONUMENTAL disaster at this moment, when Dallas was already well within FG range. It would make the criticism of Romo's interception against the Broncos seem mild by comparison.

This is pure "hindsight whining." Every fan who is complaining right now about the Cowboys' failure to pick up a first down through three consecutive runs, would be complaining five times as loudly had the Cowboys tried a passing play that fell incomplete....Ten times as loudly if it were intercepted.

Knowing the strength of the Detroit's defense is their line, I could not figure out why they just did not kneel it. Bobbled hand off, fumble, holding call and etcetera. Kneel it three straight times and the game is practically over. Either run your offense and try to get a first down or take all the risk out of the equation by kneeling. Running the ball there was crazy in my mind and I was saying this before they even ran the ball so I am not playing hindsight 20/20 here.

 

[Red Dragon]

You don't put your team in the position to even make a penalty!!!!!

If your team is so inept that it can't be relied upon to even get through three running plays without committing a crucial penalty, then you have problems far bigger than mere playcalling itself.

 

[Miller]

Kneeling three straight times would have given the Cowboys a 52-yard field goal attempt, or somewhere around that distance. Running the ball three straight times, at least in theory, would have moved the ball closer towards a better field goal distance - which it did, Dallas had a 44-yard try.

A 52-yarder isn't something you can take for granted at all, regardless of how good the kicker.

If they were on the 31 you add 17 and that is a 48 yarder..close to 50 if you account kneel downs. Better than the chance for a fumble or penalty. Smarter

 

[Red Dragon]

My goddness I'm a Garrett supporter but I was shocked they did anything but kneel on the ball and punt on 4 th down. Seemed so logical

A 3-point lead vs. a 6-point lead is huge.

One requires your opponent to score only a field goal. The other requires your opponent to score a touchdown.


Sure, the Lions went 80 yards, but I think every coach would prefer a 6-point lead over a 3-point lead.

 

[Wizarus]

wrong, we ran the ball on first and second, and had an in-completion on third.

Thanks for correcting me. So it was more or less the same thing as the last drive.

Honestly, I was against running one first, and especially second. This team has proven that it can gain any yards without Murray on the ground. I can at least respect kneeling since guaranteeing 20 seconds left on the clock is much less workable then over a minute. I would have preferred playing for the first down in both possessions.

 

[Red Dragon]

If they were on the 31 you add 17 and that is a 48 yarder..close to 50 if you account kneel downs. Better than the chance for a fumble or penalty. Smarter

They had the ball on the 31.

First down, kneel, lose one yard, the ball is on the 32.

Second down, kneel, lose one yard. the ball is now on the 33.

Third down, kneel, lose one yard, the ball is now at the 34.


Add 17-18 yards to that and it's a 51-yard or 52-yard attempt.

 

[Staubacher]

good thread. i'm in total agreement.

We essentially had two huge player errors to end the game.

Obviously the holding was an epic failure, and was the only l reason the lions had the chance to win it.

But even earlier, on the previous possession we ran it the first two times, Romo shouldn't of thrown the ball away to avoid the sack on third. the loss of yards didn't matter, the clock did. it was a stupid move of his as the Lions would of used another time out at that point.

He would have been sacked back at the 10. The Lions would have gotten the ball back almost already in Fg range.

Garrett screwed up by not calling one of his two timeouts with 26 seconds left and Detroit at the 1/2 yard line.

 

[Stinger_Splash]

Kneeling would have been stupid. You would have gave Detroit great field position and they could have tied the game easily or just win the game with 45 seconds left. I hate Garrett but making them go 80 yards with no timeouts was the right decision. Well, the Defense is so inept that they gave up an 80 yard touchdown drive in 50 seconds. This is on them.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

When you have four downs, are leading 27-24, have the ball on your opponents' 31-yard line with less than two minutes, the OBVIOUS strategy is to run the ball.


Consider:

• Ball on 31-yard line. WELL within field goal range already.
• An incompletion stops the clock, and then everyone is calling for the OC and HC to be fired for not "running the ball to drain the clock."
  
• MANY of Romo's passes had fallen incomplete on the day. Very good chance that if he throws a pass, it falls incomplete.
• If the Cowboys don't commit that stupid penalty, then Detroit gets the ball back with just 20, not 50, seconds left.
• An interception would be a MONUMENTAL disaster at this moment, when Dallas was already well within FG range. It would make the criticism of Romo's interception against the Broncos seem mild by comparison.

This is pure "hindsight whining." Every fan who is complaining right now about the Cowboys' failure to pick up a first down through three consecutive runs, would be complaining five times as loudly had the Cowboys tried a passing play that fell incomplete....Ten times as loudly if it were intercepted.

you kneel it 3 times and punt the football . They get it back with 25 seconds and no timeouts . Easy win.

 

[Wizarus]

A 3-point lead vs. a 6-point lead is huge.

One requires your opponent to score only a field goal. The other requires your opponent to score a touchdown.


Sure, the Lions went 80 yards, but I think every coach would prefer a 6-point lead over a 3-point lead.

The problem is that Dallas didn't gain any yards on the ground at all, and was terrible all game running the ball. So to have some false hope that Dallas could get a first on the ground is illogical IMO.

 

[bark]

A 3-point lead vs. a 6-point lead is huge.

One requires your opponent to score only a field goal. The other requires your opponent to score a touchdown.


Sure, the Lions went 80 yards, but I think every coach would prefer a 6-point lead over a 3-point lead.

The point margin didn't matter as much as the time. And that's not even to mention a blocked fg.. There were very few ways to screw this up but we found a way

 

[Eric_Boyer]

He would have been sacked back at the 10.

Romo could of moved back up into the pocket prior to going down. He ran further backwards to try to rescue a broken play, and that was a bad decision.

 

[Miller]

They had the ball on the 31.

First down, kneel, lose one yard, the ball is on the 32.

Second down, kneel, lose one yard. the ball is now on the 33.

Third down, kneel, lose one yard, the ball is now at the 34.


Add 17-18 yards to that and it's a 51-yard or 52-yard attempt.

It's 17 yard everytime. Fact. They aren't automatically going to count it as a 1 yard loss. If you take into account the last series, any run can lose you even more yards. Again, kneeling was the best play. Hands down. There are no excuses.

 

[Brooksey]

Kneeling three straight times would have given the Cowboys a 52-yard field goal attempt, or somewhere around that distance. Running the ball three straight times, at least in theory, would have moved the ball closer towards a better field goal distance - which it did, Dallas had a 44-yard try.

A 52-yarder isn't something you can take for granted at all, regardless of how good the kicker.

Kneel it on 3rd down and punt it inside the 10 yd line. Take your chances on Defense with 25 seconds from inside the 10 with no time-outs. Worst that could have happened was an over time game.

 

[Red Dragon]

The problem is that Dallas didn't gain any yards on the ground at all, and was terrible all game running the ball. So to have some false hope that Dallas could get a first on the ground is illogical IMO.

To get 10 yards on three running plays, you only need to average about three yards and a half per play.

It's reasonable for a coach to expect that of his players.


Furthermore, running the ball isn't just for the sake of picking up a first down. You also get a closer FG try if you have to try an FG.

 

[coult44]

If your team is so inept that it can't be relied upon to even get through three running plays without committing a crucial penalty, then you have problems far bigger than mere playcalling itself.

A hold can be called every play. You don't put your team in that position...

 

[DallasJ7]

They had the ball on the 31.

First down, kneel, lose one yard, the ball is on the 32.

Second down, kneel, lose one yard. the ball is now on the 33.

Third down, kneel, lose one yard, the ball is now at the 34.


Add 17-18 yards to that and it's a 51-yard or 52-yard attempt.

If you punt it to the 10 yard line and there's 25 seconds on the clock, they need a miracle to even have a chance at a FG.