Devin Singletary not scoring a TD with 34 seconds left

[Rochesterfan]

20 minutes ago, billieve420 said:

Think Singletary misjudged where the first down marker was when deciding to go down. Obviously if he had gotten the 1st they could have milked some more time off the clock while trying to rush for TD.

 

If he had gotten the first down - the next play would have been a kneel down just as it was.  They were not going to run more than 1 play to get to 0:02 seconds with the ball centered.

 

They did not want to risk having anyone dragged into the end zone with time left.

 

 

[skibum]

Bills win, who cares. 

[chongli]

15 minutes ago, phypon said:

It was def the right call.  I'm more surprised about two things.  1. Surprised the Dolphins didn't try to let the Bills score intentionally with more time on the clock.  2. I'm really surprised the Dolphins fans didn't try throwing snowballs all game to cost the Bills a penalty.  As soon as they made the potential penalty announcement, that's all I could thing about; phins fans causing a penalty.

 

That's what they were saying on the Miami forum...throw snowballs! But one sensible poster said they should not penalize the team but instead clear the stadium.

[BillsFooteball]

9 out of 10 times I feel it’s the right move. Last night with those conditions end of the game I would have went in for score. Understand it’s a chip shot but I was concerned. Now that’s over and of course got the win I’m happy to admit it I was wrong 

[chongli]

3 minutes ago, BillsFanSD said:

I trust our FG unit much more than I trust our "don't let them throw deep" defense.  Frankly, I'm amazed anyone feels otherwise.  How can you possibly have watched this defense give up third-and-long over and over again and criticize the offense for not putting the defense back on the field?

 

I agree with your sentiment, but I was initially worried about the conditions. In light of what @PromoTheRobot said about how it was not icy, I now think McD made the right call,

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Wow I'm stunned the number of posters that didn't agree with McD decision making. It was the perfect coaching decision and I dont even like McDermott.  

Getting the first down was meaningless with the time left on the clock. 

If he tries to fall down at the 1 he risks getting pushed into the endzone. 

It was literally perfect execution end of game strategy.  

[chongli]

8 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

Hard to understand why this is even a discussion.

 

that was absolutely 100% correctly executed. You get down, protect the ball, ensure you are positioned to run the clock the rest of the way down to zero, and make it either a 99% chance of a win or a very slight chance of overtime.  no wind and barely any snow with a vet kicker. 
 

any other decision is wrong and the first down is inconsequential in that situation  

 

Yeah good post. I guess I was too worried about the snow and freaking out, lol.

[nkreed]

38 minutes ago, BillsBytheBay said:

I loved watching Spencer Brown put in the extra effort to make sure that the kick spot was perfect, lol

I'm not sure, but I think he was bordering on the edge of a penalty, as he was pulled by another lineman back to the huddle. Then after he went back again! 🤣😂🤣

35 minutes ago, DaggersEOD said:

That said, until I saw the kick split the uprights, I was planning out OT in my head like a good Bills fan 

Wait a minute, you saw it? I have watched the replay tons of times and still can't find the ball! I had no clue until I saw the officials put up their arms.

[What a Tuel]

21 minutes ago, phypon said:

It was def the right call.  I'm more surprised about two things.  1. Surprised the Dolphins didn't try to let the Bills score intentionally with more time on the clock.  2. I'm really surprised the Dolphins fans didn't try throwing snowballs all game to cost the Bills a penalty.  As soon as they made the potential penalty announcement, that's all I could thing about; phins fans causing a penalty.

 

I was sure one of our players were going to get hurt slipping on one of the ice chunks in the endzone. Fans need to stop and think sometimes. 

[Putin]

We won the game it was the right call !! 
There was no reason to sweat the last 35 sec 

[ChicagoRic]

This play was 100% the correct play from a statistical perspective.  Going in for the TD opens the door of the Miami offense to get back on the field with a time out and literally the fastest WR in the game.  Running the clock down to nothing and making a super high percentage FG attempt was the right move bay far.

[What a Tuel]

11 minutes ago, SCBills said:

In watching the way the Dolphins played it, I think it was a semi-give up and just swipe at the ball.  
 

I don’t know that those defenders converging would’ve tried to tackle him short .. I think it would’ve been faux-contact with punches at the ball, allowing him to fall in the end zone if he holds onto the ball. 

 

Yeah I could see that, which is another reason Singletary was probably right not risking contact.

[Charles Romes]

The players on the field have a much better sense of how the field conditions might affect a chip shot field goal than those of us in the stands or watching on TV.  I’m fine with what singletary did. 

[Lieutenant Aldo Raine]

And if Tua hits a crosser to Tyreek that goes the distance and Tyreek taunts our slow DBs for a TD, everyone would go back to bitching about taking the TD.

 

I guess conversely you could argue, if the FG is blocked or missed, should have scored the TD.  
 

My guess is the FG was probably the highest percentage play to coincide with the game clock.

[Beck Water]

1 hour ago, chongli said:

[I am sure this has been mentioned elsewhere (the post game thread is way too long for me to read through), but it might be a topic that deserves its own thread. A lot of people are talking about it, but mods feel free to merge this.]

 

I saw the game but did not listen to the NFL Network call. Apparently, Mark Sanchez was critical of Motor's decision to kneel at the four yard line.

 

I thought he was more critical of Singletary kneeling before he got the 1st down.  On the call, he recognized that Singletary likely would not have scored.

 

It was 2nd down, and the Bills game plan called for Josh to take a knee on the next play after running out some time, so I think Sanchez was mistaken on that point and the 1st down was immaterial.

 

In any case, it was pretty clear that any critique should go to the coaches and not Motor, Motor was doing exactly what he was coached to do.  Don't risk a fumble, don't try for the EZ, Go Down.

[HunTim]

To state the obvious, I like the call, mainly because it worked.

But I must admit it feels counterintuitive and weird to me, not taking the TD.

 

I imagine that it must feel weird to Singletary when executing that play.

[chongli]

1 minute ago, Beck Water said:

 

I thought he was more critical of Singletary kneeling before he got the 1st down.  On the call, he recognized that Singletary likely would not have scored.

 

It was 2nd down, and the Bills game plan called for Josh to take a knee on the next play after running out some time, so I think Sanchez was mistaken on that point and the 1st down was immaterial.

 

In any case, it was pretty clear that any critique should go to the coaches and not Motor, Motor was doing exactly what he was coached to do.  Don't risk a fumble, don't try for the EZ, Go Down.

 

I like your new avatar!

[Beck Water]

21 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

If he had gotten the first down - the next play would have been a kneel down just as it was.  They were not going to run more than 1 play to get to 0:02 seconds with the ball centered.

 

They did not want to risk having anyone dragged into the end zone with time left.

 

LOL Sanchez actually said that the Dolphins might have been better off trying to hold Singletary up and drag him into the endzone, so the Bills would have to kick off and they would still get a chance to score.

[BCAS Baritone]

54 minutes ago, BillsBytheBay said:

I loved watching Spencer Brown put in the extra effort to make sure that the kick spot was perfect, lol

Actually I was a little critical of the swiping they were doing.  The place to focus was the kicker's plant foot and where he was standing before the kick - and while the plant area was clear, he was still standing in snow at the snap.

 

Something they can coach up for future home games.

 

Certainly the effort was highly praiseworthy.

[Sestak4ever]

What Singletary did was 100% the correct move. The fins wish he would have scored. Like the announcers mentioned, the fins should have either let him score or pulled him into the endzone. He put the game in our hands to win and not even leave a ray of hope for the fins.