Pats Fans welcome

[frankbmd]

I have no skin in the game, but my question is.

Has a team with the lead in the waning moments of a game (not necessarily a Super Bowl) ever kicked a first down field goal?

After the Jones catch, there were two issues for the Falcons, the score and the clock.

A first down field goal (with a 95% chance of success) would have given them an eleven point lead and probably the victory.

Instead they run time off the clock, but instead of running forward, they run backward. Whoops no field goal.

Without momentum in the the fourth quarter, the Falcons should have taken the points that Julio's catch provided.

With a little extra time on the clock, the Pats may have scored a touchdown, a two point conversion and a field goal and the outcome would have been the same. We'll never know, but I doubt that a field goal on first down was even considered.

[Michael B]

A team can kick a field goal on any down during their possession. The same goes for a punt which is called a quick kick. I have seen both in a game. A filed goal is commonly kicked during an early down when the clock is running out and the team needs the points to win or tie.

[TUM301]

Well it appears in spite of the weather here in Mass. the parade is going VERY well. Kraft is excited as ever, the Pats faithful has showed up in droves and Coach Belichick seems unusually delighted in the festivities ! James White is getting much love from the crowd as well as a brand new truck awarded to the S Bowl MVP. Overall, another great day for the community. On a side note, the coverage did mention and honor the Marathon Day victims when the convoy passed the site of the tragedy.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Michael B

A team can kick a field goal on any down during their possession. The same goes for a punt which is called a quick kick. I have seen both in a game. A filed goal is commonly kicked during an early down when the clock is running out and the team needs the points to win or tie.

I know that a field goal can be kicked on any down. I just wondered if a first down field goal had ever been kicked with several minutes on the clock to change a one score game into a two score game in deference to trying to run time off the clock.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I know that a field goal can be kicked on any down. I just wondered if a first down field goal had ever been kicked with several minutes on the clock to change a one score game into a two score game in deference to trying to run time off the clock.

Sure you could, but no one would. At minimum, you'd down it 3 times (making sure center the ball), forcing them to use all timeouts (or bleed 2 min), then kick. That's as conservative as you would ever play it.

Just imagine the blow back if they kicked on first down, allowing the Pats to keep all 3 TO with over 4 min left, then lost? 4 min is still time enough to score twice, and with all timeouts you don't even need a successful onside. Imagine even worse if you kicked, missed and gave them the ball at the spot of the hold, with 4 min and all timeouts... That's just taking like taking a 7-8 yard sack on 4th down.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

Sure you could, but no one would. At minimum, you'd down it 3 times (making sure center the ball), forcing them to use all timeouts (or bleed 2 min), then kick. That's as conservative as you would ever play it.

Just imagine the blow back if they kicked on first down, allowing the Pats to keep all 3 TO with over 4 min left, then lost? 4 min is still time enough to score twice, and with all timeouts you don't even need a successful onside. Imagine even worse if you kicked, missed and gave them the ball at the spot of the hold, with 4 min and all timeouts... That's just taking like taking a 7-8 yard sack on 4th down.

Frank did not get the memo about clock management.

[HRBAKER]

Rigged? Then Kyle Shanahan must have been in on it too.
They were up 28-3 and got a bad case of tight ass.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Rigged? Then Kyle Shanahan must have been in on it too.
They were up 28-3 and got a bad case of tight ass.

I actually thought he attempted to play it pretty aggressively, going up top on 3rd and 1 (lead to sack fumble) in the 4th, and then throwing on 2nd and 11 from the 22 during the last drive, at which point a run, run, and FG would likely have sealed it. These ended up being their undoing, but lots of easy hindsight now. You always see people criticized for going the other way and playing it too safe, going 3 and out on no gain runs, and giving the ball right back. (Or kicking FGs on first down )

Apparently Ryan's primary target was wide open for a sure TD on that sack fumble too. Had Freeman been able to just chip and delay the rusher a split second, Ryan has time.

I will say as a Niner fan, I'm really looking forward to Shanahan next year. It'll be a few year process but am hoping our dipsh*t owner has learned his many lessons and will just let Shanahan and Lynch do their jobs.

[pokerplyr80]

I find the assumption that this game was rigged in favor of the Patriots ridiculous. You really think Goodell wanted to hand the Lombardi Trophy to Kraft, or the MVP trophy to Brady? He has been avoiding them for the last two years. If anything he would have wanted it rigged for the Falcons. And the call on the Falcons extra point was the worst call of the game. He was not lined up illegally and the refs blew that one. The league admitted as much. The holding calls on 3rd down were blatant. Blame the Falcons for those. And by the way the Pats didn't even score on that drive.

I am a Packers fan and don't have a dog in this fight. But the Patriots earned this one. Time for Falcons fans to quit complaining and move on. Unless you want to complain about your own play calling and situational awareness.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Frank did not get the memo about clock management.

Neither did the Falcons.

[Prof_Plum]

Got a rule question - and I thought I knew about all rules.
It was near the end of the 3rd quarter with Atl having to punt. They let the play clock run out, hoping to get a 5 yd penalty to get a better punting angle. This left 3-4 sec on the game clock after the 'delay of game'. Next there may have been a commercial break. When coming back to the game, it's now the 4thQ and I'm pretty sure the announcers said the refs started the game clock and Atl let it run out.

I've never heard of the game clock being restarted following a delay of game. Maybe it happens all the time and I've never noticed. But if the game clock restarts after a delay of game this suggests the penalized team really never has to run a play and could just let the game clock run out - which is ridiculous.