Interesting decision by Belichick in 1994
Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2024 4:39 pm
Browns @ Colts from the RCA Dome. Week 4 of the 1994 season
Browns lead Indy 21-14 and are trying to put the game away. On a 3rd and 7 from the Colts 27, Testaverde hands to Byner who goes for 2 yards. Colts are out of time outs and Cleveland lets the clock bleed down to 49 seconds and take a time out. It would be a 42 yard field goal attempt for Stover to make it a 2 possession game with 40 something seconds to go. It would ice the game completely. The kick would be indoors, on astroturf (Stover would go on to lead the league in field goal percentage in 1994 (26/28 and 8/8 from 40-49)
Belichick decides to not even try the field goal and opts to send out Tupa to punt. Tupa does his job and pins the Colts on their 4 yard line
It seems like the Colts make a nice play to at least set up a hailmary as Harbaugh hits Faulk who goes out of bounds at midfield with 1 second to go. However a flag was thrown and and pushes the Colts back inside the red zone and they go out with a whimper. Cleveland wins 21-14.
To me that was far too makeable a field goal to pass up, especially indoors and on astroturf. If it was say...50 yards or more then ok punt it and make them come down a long field with no time outs.
Even if he misses it the Colts would still have to go 68 yards in 45 seconds with no timeouts. If it is blocked, chances are the block would not be returned for a TD, that's a rare oddball occurrence and the absolute worst case scenario. Blocked kicks were not something that happened all that often either. This was early in the 1994 season but in 1993 there were 22 blocked field goals all year. Stover didn't have one blocked in 1993 or 1994. This can't be something you fear so much that you pass up the opportunity to try a makeable field goal to ice the game.
There are perils with punting it too. The snap could sail over his head, he could mishandle the ball, not get it off in time and get engulfed by a defender. It could also get blocked, or it could just land into the endzone where you gain little from it and regret not at least trying the 42 yarder.
What's your take? Try the field goal or punt?
I'm trying the field goal. Seems like the odds of making it are too good, and if he does the game is over. Even with a great punt you are still giving the Colts the ball back in a one possession game without even attempting a knockout blow. I'm taking the chance that he misses it and my D has to stop them from their own 32 yard line...that's the most likely bad outcome. The odds of him making it are probably over 80%. Too good to pass up
Browns lead Indy 21-14 and are trying to put the game away. On a 3rd and 7 from the Colts 27, Testaverde hands to Byner who goes for 2 yards. Colts are out of time outs and Cleveland lets the clock bleed down to 49 seconds and take a time out. It would be a 42 yard field goal attempt for Stover to make it a 2 possession game with 40 something seconds to go. It would ice the game completely. The kick would be indoors, on astroturf (Stover would go on to lead the league in field goal percentage in 1994 (26/28 and 8/8 from 40-49)
Belichick decides to not even try the field goal and opts to send out Tupa to punt. Tupa does his job and pins the Colts on their 4 yard line
It seems like the Colts make a nice play to at least set up a hailmary as Harbaugh hits Faulk who goes out of bounds at midfield with 1 second to go. However a flag was thrown and and pushes the Colts back inside the red zone and they go out with a whimper. Cleveland wins 21-14.
To me that was far too makeable a field goal to pass up, especially indoors and on astroturf. If it was say...50 yards or more then ok punt it and make them come down a long field with no time outs.
Even if he misses it the Colts would still have to go 68 yards in 45 seconds with no timeouts. If it is blocked, chances are the block would not be returned for a TD, that's a rare oddball occurrence and the absolute worst case scenario. Blocked kicks were not something that happened all that often either. This was early in the 1994 season but in 1993 there were 22 blocked field goals all year. Stover didn't have one blocked in 1993 or 1994. This can't be something you fear so much that you pass up the opportunity to try a makeable field goal to ice the game.
There are perils with punting it too. The snap could sail over his head, he could mishandle the ball, not get it off in time and get engulfed by a defender. It could also get blocked, or it could just land into the endzone where you gain little from it and regret not at least trying the 42 yarder.
What's your take? Try the field goal or punt?
I'm trying the field goal. Seems like the odds of making it are too good, and if he does the game is over. Even with a great punt you are still giving the Colts the ball back in a one possession game without even attempting a knockout blow. I'm taking the chance that he misses it and my D has to stop them from their own 32 yard line...that's the most likely bad outcome. The odds of him making it are probably over 80%. Too good to pass up