bonehead decision of the year...maybe (i mean a huge maybe) with a 7 pt lead but absolutely not with a 6 pt lead
I think that he knew Peyton would drive it down and win the game and bc he's such a prick, would rather be the reason the Colts pulled it out than let Peyton get the glory. Probably not true, but its possible.
Maybe because he just saw the Colts go 158 yards for 2 tds on its last two drives (overlooking the interception in the middle), using less than 4 minutes and only 11 plays to do it. Get the first down, and the game is over. Not saying it was the right decision, but it can be seen as a rational one.
It was the right call. Manning WAS going to score a TD, no matter how many yards it was. That's not in dispute. You do whatever you have to to keep the ball out of his hands. That's what Bill tried to do. It failed, punting would have just made it a longer scoring drive. Manning is unconscious as a QB right now.
I hate the Pats, but watching the PC, you gotta respect Brady. .. respects his coach... he's aggressive... believes in our offense to get 2 yards... Anyway, I like a no excuses kinda guy. Great game.
Bill's way of 'throwing' the game. He wants the Colts to have the pressure of being undefeated as long as possible, preferably until the AFC Championship back in Indy against the Pats if Belicheck has his way.
i agree, colinsworth kept saying during replays "bobbling it, bobbling it, still bobbling, now he caught it" when the only replay they were showing didnt even show the damn ball! finally they showed a different angle and he only bobbled it when it first hit his hands, he then had it against his chest pretty quickly, and imo, he had the first down.
that was Belichek turning to his Defense and saying, "you guy's can't stop Peyton and I know it.. Therefore, I am going to gamble with the offense." If I was on Belichek's offense, I would be pretty upset that the coach has NO confidence in you.
Lets see: Option 1. Going for it. % they make the 1st down, 60%. If they get it, they win 95%. (At worst after 3 runs and a punt there what 50 some seconds left and no TOs?). 40% chance they don't get the 1st down. If they don't get it, odds Colts get the winning TD with 4 downs and plenty of time, 28 yards to go, say 75%. Option 2 punt. Now if they punt the ball, say the Colts have 70-80 yards. A little over 2 minutes left, with a two minute warning + another time out--relatively plenty of time. And 4 downs to advance the ball per series and vs a tired defense. I'd say the Colts have a 50/50 chance for a TD all factors considered--and if they get it further likely there is less time left than giving the TD up in option 1. In the above decisions I errored on the side of of supporting the punt in my assumptions (e.g., I think the chance Brady and Pats make 2 yards is really greater than 60%). Still, this decision is still correct if you make even stronger assumptions, e.g., only 50% chance of converting the TD or think the Colts have a worse chance than above for advancing 70 yards (say 40%). You know, just as Carrol made the RIGHT decision this was the right decision, they just didn't break the way for the coaches. But at least Brady, unlike Leinart, stuck up for his coach. Gruden agreed BTW. Leech would have done it too. Smart football men not afraid to be calculating and bold.
Another yard and people would be gushing with admiration about his gutsy decision to go for it. Yes, gushing.
People are so dogmatic about this decision. Does anyone really believe that the Colts would not have still scored?
