(December 11, 2015 at 12:59 am)Tiberius Wrote:(December 11, 2015 at 12:44 am)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: I didn't see the play, but I'm assuming there's pretty much time to just run the one play.
You do that when the playcaller deems that your team's chances are better for scoring and winning the game *now* rather than in overtime, or you have zero confidence in your kicker.
Vast majority of the time you kick the FG, but there are edge cases where you don't.
The clock was stopped at 13 seconds, and they had no timeouts, on the 31 yard line, so whatever happens they had to either throw an incomplete pass, or get the catch to a receiver who can then either easily score a touchdown or get out of bounds in time to stop the clock for the field goal attempt.
I dunno, it just seemed way too risky to me when I was watching the game, and then low and behold Bridgewater holds onto the ball for too long and gets sacked, which would have been enough to doom the Vikings, but he also fumbles the ball and the Cardinals recover.
Play is here: http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/12/teddy-b...cardinals/
Sounds like the coach had more confidence in his O-line and quarterback than his kicker.
From the 31, that's a 48 yard attempt. Blair Walsh is their placekicker? His stats tell me he has accuracy problems. He's about 80% overall, and a 48 yard kick is no gimme. Walsh has missed three attempts inside of 50 yards. Maybe he makes it, maybe he doesn't.
13 seconds is enough time for a pass to the sideline or end zone, with time for another play.
One chance to *maybe* tie the game, or two chances to use your offense to win it - as long as nothing disastrous happens (which it did).
This is kind of a damned if you, damned if you don't situation whenever you get it wrong. It's also one of those tough choices that have to be considered when you don't have confidence in your kicker.
