Zeke's (almost) huge mistake that could have lost the game

[tecolote]

It's pretty simple. What scenario would you prefer.

1. Losing by 2 with a chipshot fg, 19 seconds left on the clock and pittsburgh has no timeouts.

2. Winning by 5 with 1:55 left and Pitt has 2 timeouts.

I'll take 1 all the time.

 

[Virginia-Dave]

OMG, I can't even believe this thread. It's like some people on this board are so used to losing and having plenty to ***** about after every game, that they don't know what to do now that the Cowboys have won 8 straight. "Oh no, we keep winning! What am I going to complain about on the message board?!! I have to keep my post count up!" Get a grip people. This season is a gift.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I was yelling at him to go down at the one or half yard line. I didn't want to score with that much time left. I would have kneeled on 1st and 2nd down, run a play on 3rd down for the td, a running play only and if not successful, kicked the fg to take the lead with as little time left as possible. I am aware of the different things that could go wrong with that plan. But when I have the best OL, the best RB and the best Kicker, I take my chances with the outcome there.

 

[Nightman]

The NYG got cute Week 1 in 2015 and we drove the field and won
We got cute against DET and got a penalty running out the clock and let Stafford come back
I've seen Romo win a game with 12 secs left against BUFF with a FG
Last night NE got cute and tried to run the clock down and didn't score and lost
Yesterday NO only needed a PAT to win and it was blocked and returned for a TD
ARI kicked on 3rd down and missed a chip shot and didn't win against SEA

You play to win and don't even think about running out the clock until you get the lead

 

[Jason 82 Witten]

Almost doesn't count

 

[TellerMorrow34]

We won. There was no mistake.

 

[BAT]

Zeke Elliott had a huge day. Zeke Elliott almost made a huge mistake.

The grins are tattooed to our faces, and we're fist-bumping through a rosy Monday morning, but it could have been very, very different. I can see and hear the screams today had Zeke's boo-boo not been band-aided in time.

If the game was managed properly, the biggest play of the game should have been Dak's last completion to Jason Witten.

That first down should have sealed the win. Pittsburgh had one time out, and Dallas had a 1st-and-10 deep in Steelers territory with 1:55 left. Once Zeke got that first down, he should have gone down. Time out Pittsburgh. Take another knee. Whittle it down to 1 minute. Take another knee. Whittle it down to less than 20 seconds. Dan Bailey. 26-24. Ball game with only about 12 seconds left.

Instead, we saw Elliott go off right tackle untouched for a touchdown. The first thing I though was, "uh oh, too much time left." I'm not sure if Pittsburgh let him score or not, but it sure looked easy. It was definitely their only chance at that time. That left more than 1:40 to go with Big Ben against our exhausted, short-handed defense. No Scandrick, Mo, or Church. McFadden on Brown. Great googly-moogly.

Fortunately, Pittsburgh scored too quickly as well, and Dallas had time to come back. The Steelers had no choice, needing a touchdown, but it turned out good that Dallas was easy pickings.

That left time for Zeke to punctuate the day. Fortunately, it was an exclamation point, and not a big fat question mark.

I understand what you are saying, but I like the real story better. This game has to be one of the best regular season games ever played, ranks right up there with the first 2 Superbowls these two teams played against one another. But better.

 

[JBS]

That's what the pats and brady thought last night


And they lost because of it...

Nice try OP

 

[NextGenBoys]

I don't think either one of you are correct on how much time Pittsburgh would be left with had Zeke gone down at the 1. It would be more than 12 seconds and less than 1:20. The clock would have kept running had Zeke taken a knee and Dallas would have gotten a new set of downs.

You're right, I was referring to taking two knees that was suggested, not going down at the 1. Going down at the one yard line makes sense. Taking two knees as suggested does not.

 

[Nav22]

Someone has to decide/define what "chance to win" means. That is subjective.

Like all predictive statistics, it's based on historical precedence.

You won't find any predictive stats that would suggest that the strategy of putting the game on Dan Bailey's leg for a chip-shot is NOT superior to the strategy of taking the guaranteed points and then giving Big Ben the ball with ample time to get into the endzone (which he did, easily).

The odds of screwing up a few kneeldowns or the FG are far less than the odds of the D allowing Ben to score, and I'm pretty sure you realize that too.

 

[Vero_F250]

Others have said it. The Patriots tried this. And they failed miserably. Brady said in his post game they tried to get close but not score. Granted they needed a TD and not a FG but still. You never know. Take the guaranteed points unless you are already winning and taking a knee ends the game.

 

[links18]

That's what the pats and brady thought last night


And they lost because of it...

Nice try OP

Pats needed a TD, we just needed a chip shot FG with the best kicker in the league. Not entirely fair comparison.

 

[remdak]

I recall a certain team with a certain QB with the number 9 who lost a playoff game on a chip-shot field goal attempt from the 1 yd line after a bobbled snap in 2006.

 

[GIFTS86]

You score when you can and have faith the defense stop them.

Exactly my point. The defense should of not giving up that fake spike like that. You play until the whistle blows bottom line. The whole zeke almost made a mistake is ridiculous.

 

[Chuck 54]

Never settle for a FG of any length over crossing the goal line for a TD.

1. 6 > 3
2. FGs, even Dan Bailey FGs, get pulled, pushed, blocked, and mishandled by holders.

Score...period.

 

[mattjames2010]

Like all predictive statistics, it's based on historical precedence.

You won't find any predictive stats that would suggest that the strategy of putting the game on Dan Bailey's leg for a chip-shot is NOT superior to the strategy of taking the guaranteed points and then giving Big Ben the ball with ample time to get into the endzone (which he did, easily).

The odds of screwing up a few kneeldowns or the FG are far less than the odds of the D allowing Ben to score, and I'm pretty sure you realize that too.

It's unreal to me that people are struggling with this here.

The fear of giving the ball back to Big Ben with nearly 2 minutes left was justified...since he scored. Again, we got lucky our D stunk so bad at the end of the game that they drove down the field a little too fast themselves.

 

[mattjames2010]

I recall a certain team with a certain QB with the number 9 who lost a playoff game on a chip-shot field goal attempt from the 1 yd line after a bobbled snap in 2006.

Yes, let's avoid all chip shot field goals now because of some flukey thing that happened 10 years ago...

 

[Redball Express]

These threads are always fun.

We won....but we could've won "better".

Or, we didn't win "right".

Pro football. The ultimate "hindsight is 20/20" game.

True.

But there are a lot of things for Garrett to complain about with our play.

Several 3rd downs failed and should have been better.

Zeke was stopped at least 4 times on 3rd and 1.

We had to overcome 100 yards in penalties.

Beasley was not a factor..should have been moved around more to get him open.

The OL had about 5 holding penalties that killed too many drives..

the defense had way too many off sides and holding penalties or pass interference calls.

So I think there is room for concerns.

Having to score 35 points to win is not going to be happening DTR.

Our defense will never hold up under that sort of pressure.

 

[nalam]

Zeke Elliott had a huge day. Zeke Elliott almost made a huge mistake.


That left time for Zeke to punctuate the day. Fortunately, it was an exclamation point, and not a big fat question mark.

That would have been the old JG mindset , playing not to lose and end up losing . Even though we have super Dan , if the FG is blocked or some other mishap happens ( Dial the Seattle playoff game, Romos placing the ball )

Getting the TD was right , but our D should hold for 1.5 minutes atleast or save a TD . Thats the waekness , surviving without enough pass rush was fine when we had good secondary play , but having 3rd and 4th string DBs in CB and safety positions hurt us yday. Get well Barry C and MO Clai.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Never rely on a kicker unless you have to