Should Bradshaw have scored?

[JohnnyMags]

I’ve been hearing a lot of discussion on the radio concerning Bradshaw scoring with a minute left in the game. To me I don’t see how you can take the position the Giants didn’t want to score the TD.

In-spite of what the players or coaches may say about wanting him to stop at the one if the intent is to use up the clock and try for the FG then just take a knee. A knee is no risk, handing off when the intent is to not score only gives the opponent the chance to get the ball out and win via fumble.

 

[BigCat]

I agree to much can go wrong with the fg attempt block,bad snap, wide right. I want the lead and the D on the field shutting Brady down again.

 

[rfb]

yes....i agree with both statements<><>:toast::toast:

 

[Maris9]

Tough call. I used to think the smart move there was to go down, but I don't know anymore. BigCats points make a lot of sense to me.
And can you imagine going down and having something go wrong? Almost better to lose it the other way, making the opponent drive down and take it.

Probably depends a little on the quality of your defense though and the quality of the other teams offense. It's crazy how that hail mary had a very decent chance of being caught there at the end.

 

[sdf]

agree with OP. Knee is the smart move. Running the ball eats up a few more seconds but has a bigger downside.
Knee...timeout
Knee...let clock run.
Brady would have had 25 seconds and no timeouts to score a FG. Very unlikely to happen.

at least Belichick was smart enough to tell his defense to let the Giants score.....although they should have done it on first down, not 2nd.

 

[BigCat]

agree with OP. Knee is the smart move. Running the ball eats up a few more seconds but has a bigger downside.
Knee...timeout
Knee...let clock run.
Brady would have had 25 seconds and no timeouts to score a FG. Very unlikely to happen.

at least Belichick was smart enough to tell his defense to let the Giants score.....although they should have done it on first down, not 2nd.

I understand what you are saying but my feeling is I do not want the field kicker to cost me the game. Yes he would make that kick almost every time. I like my chances with a minute to go and make Brady drive 80 yards for a touchdown with 1 time out. With that being said that last throw in the end zone had by heart pounding way to hard.

 

[EatTheChalk]

POV from a house full of Giants-backers (some due to bets, some simply fans or family of fans). The bettors all seemed more in favor of downing the ball to set up the kick and taking time away from Brady. At the time, I was somewhat disappointed and concerned that he didn't down the ball. The fans were all cautious about letting the game ride on a FG kick. We were all very happy that it didn't matter. In retrospect, you like that a football game ended with the ball carrier doing what he's supposed to do...find his way to the endzone

-etc

 

[GFX]

It's a case of maybe doing what is best to win makes for bad football. I've never liked the idea of letting a team score a TD...it works and may have been the best scenario for the Pats but it always feels cheap to me.

Additionally, a Super Bowl team's defense would like to be able to say for the rest of their lives that THEY stopped them. Not that the coach had so little faith in them that he downed the ball instead of scoring a TD and letting the D do the job.

I take the points and make my defense play, even if it costs me the game.

 

[GilRenard]

Absolutely the right decision. I'd rather leave the game up to the defense than a snapper/holder/kicker in the most pressure packed situation of the year (see Cundiff, Billy). If the kick would have not given them more than a field goal lead, I would have disagreed, but this way, the Patriots had to drive the entire field.

I agree with the decision to let him score as well, if that makes any sense.

 

[GFX]

No doubt after the game has been won, the Giants feel better their defense went out there and held them (mostly!) versus taking perhaps the intelligent but seemingly "wussy" way of kneeling down. It's the SB, and winning is everything but right after that comes pride and performance. TC and Co. can hold their heads high that they all did their jobs.