Quote:
Originally Posted by youtalkfunny
Had to watch at a bar with no sound. What happened with that measurement that Rex challenged? It looked to me like they stretched out the chains, planted the stick, and we were an inch or two from a first down, bringing up an interesting 4th-and-inches at midfield. Guy on the next barstool (who was a total idiot, btw**) also thought it was short. While we debated punt vs go for it, the Pats lined up for a 1st and ten play, and Rex threw the flag.
As an aside, I thought we got a generous spot on that play, too. But never in my life have I ever seen a team given a first down when we all saw the measurement look well short. Deceiving camera angle?
** = This guy acheived Idiot status when he fretted over the Vikings' decision to kick a FG on 3rd down with :06 remaining in the half, forcing them to kick off with :02 remaining.
HIM: They should've ran one more play! They should've ran one more play! Now they have to risk allowing a TD return! Now they have to risk allowing a TD return!
ME: Calm down, you're worried about nothing. What percentage of kickoffs are run back all the way, one out of 1000?
HIM: I'd say 10-15%.
I couldn't convince him how silly that was until I finally googled it (actual answer: about 1 in 200 over the past three years). So I realize that offering him up as a witness to corroborate my view of the measurement is incredibly mitigated. Nor did I even mention the other flaw in his "one more play" stance: Vikes were out of time outs, and "one more play" could have been a disastrous "no points right before halftime".
Kickoff angle is stupid, but kicking with six seconds left on third down is stupidly conservative as well. Just run a one read fade pattern if you are that worried about the clock running out. Pick numbers for chances of a TD vs. chances of ending the half inbounds vs. chances of a successful field goal and it becomes pretty clear that kicking is burning points.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurn, son of Mogh
They showed the First Down signal given after the challenge. The ref waited a long time before giving it and the announcers missed the signal.
FWIW, I thought they were short on the measurement AND got a generous spot as well.
Was a terrible challenge though, that spot is never getting moved back a foot.