Devin Singletary not scoring a TD with 34 seconds left

[Nephilim17]

When I saw it, I thought it was a very smart and selfless play. A lot can happen with 34 seconds left and one timeout for the Phis and Hill and Waddle on the field. A big pass and a PI call can even up the game. 

If only Cam Lewis had Singletary's smarts.

[Perry Turtle]

It was the right play call, but it was made m3 nervous.  Giving up the sure points for a field goal try in weather is a gamble, even with th odds in the Bills favor.

 

In any event, they cut to shots of Tua sitting on the bench, all bundled up during the drive.  It looked like going back into the game was the last thing he wanted to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[North Buffalo]

7 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

I’m not talking about defensive bravado.  Singletary could have scored easily and given them a 7 point lead which should be insurmountable at that point with Miami having no timeouts.

My point was that the strategy shows that they don’t trust their defense.  It was the right strategy if they don’t trust the d.

Actually Miami had 1 timeout

[Rc2catch]

I was yelling for him to go down and not score.. Buffalo has lost too many silly games with the defense on the field, when possible you have your offense dictate the clock going to 0. 
I was all good with the whole ending. Once they crossed the 50 I was praising motor for his technique clutching the ball with both hands and begging to milk the clock down. 

[TheWeatherMan]

2 hours ago, ArtVandalay said:

Regardless of your thoughts whether he should have scored the TD, it was an absolutely bonehead play to go down short of the first. 

I didn’t matter it was second down and Miami was out of TO’s after this play with 30!seconds left.  Think before you type Arty.  

Edited December 18, 2022 by TheWeatherMan

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

2 hours ago, ArtVandalay said:

Regardless of your thoughts whether he should have scored the TD, it was an absolutely bonehead play to go down short of the first. 

it's clear you know next to nothing about the game. 

[Boatdrinks]

2 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

That is exactly my point, they don’t trust the defense.

So it IS about defensive bravado then? Do you trust the defense ? It’s really about percentages and trust that your FG unit can execute one of the simplest plays in football. That choice gives Miami almost no chance. Kicking off and playing defense guarantees Miami a few chances. NFL rules also favor offenses. Why would you choose to be in that situation vs the fastest player in the NFL vs a routine FG? 

[Rochesterfan]

25 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

You understand that a fg -even that short - isn’t a 100%.  Bad snaps, kicker slipping or a fg block can all happen.  Imagine how dumb that looks if any of those things had occurred.  Answering that “they made the kick” misses the point.  
 

If you have a good playoff caliber defense, you should not be afraid of defending with a 7 point lead for 34 seconds - especially when the opponent has no timeouts.  Yes, Miami has some outstanding and fast WRs, but come on…

 

Except they would of had a timeout and 40 seconds - every well coached team does exactly what the Bills did.

 

The poorly coached teams like the Browns run a ball out of bounds to stop the clock and then score the TD and lose the game because those mistakes.

 

A well coached team knows the only way to lose is to potentially give the ball back.  You run it down - kick the field goal and walk off a winner every time.

[K D]

In the moment I thought it was the wrong thing to do. In a normal game then 100% I would agree with it. But in those conditions, to pull off the snap, hold, and kick was definitely not a gimme. It worked out and it kept the Dolphins off the field but I don't think I would have done it that way myself. If you give up a TD to Tua in a blizzard in 34 seconds then you deserve to lose

[pigpen65]

It was brilliant. It was definitely what the team wanted evidenced by the fact they didn't run anymore plays trying to score a TD. And anybody worried about field conditions, it wasn't that bad that it would inhibit a 25 yard kick, evidenced by the fact that it didn't. Singletary did great.

[MRW]

Just now, KDIGGZ said:

In the moment I thought it was the wrong thing to do. In a normal game then 100% I would agree with it. But in those conditions, to pull off the snap, hold, and kick was definitely not a gimme. It worked out and it kept the Dolphins off the field but I don't think I would have done it that way myself. If you give up a TD to Tua in a blizzard in 34 seconds then you deserve to lose

 

Couldn't you also say that if you can't execute a chip shot field goal you deserve to lose? Nothing is guaranteed but barring way worse weather conditions (i.e. extreme wind) a walk-off field goal is absolutely the right call.

[K D]

Just now, MRW said:

 

Couldn't you also say that if you can't execute a chip shot field goal you deserve to lose? Nothing is guaranteed but barring way worse weather conditions (i.e. extreme wind) a walk-off field goal is absolutely the right call.

What's easier to do? Make a FG in a blizzard or stop a team from going 80 yards in 34 seconds? You only get 1 shot at the FG and it has to be the perfect snap, perfect hold, perfect kick. Too many moving parts. You can screw up multiple times in 34 seconds and still not allow a TD

[Rochesterfan]

18 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

I’m not talking about defensive bravado.  Singletary could have scored easily and given them a 7 point lead which should be insurmountable at that point with Miami having no timeouts.

My point was that the strategy shows that they don’t trust their defense.  It was the right strategy if they don’t trust the d.

 

Except Miami still has 1 timeout if Singletary score.

 

If you are going to argue at least get you facts straight.  If Singletary scores - the Dolphins have nearly 40 seconds and 1 timeout to score and Bass still would of needed to make a slightly longer kick to get it to 7 points.

 

If you don’t expect him to make the field goal- then an XP from 10+ yards back would have been harder meaning the Dolphins had time to score and win multiple ways.

 

The strategy shows that McD understands how to win - that is twice his team has gotten down for a last second FG - unlike say Cleveland that scored in that scenario and lost.  
 

You control the action to win or lose - do not give control away at that point ever.

 

 

[MRW]

1 minute ago, KDIGGZ said:

What's easier to do? Make a FG in a blizzard or stop a team from going 80 yards in 34 seconds? You only get 1 shot at the FG and it has to be the perfect snap, perfect hold, perfect kick. Too many moving parts. You can screw up multiple times in 34 seconds and still not allow a TD

 

First, it was not a blizzard. Second, with Hill and Waddle on the other side there is no way I want to give them a shot. One busted coverage or poor tackle and it's off to the races.

[bmur66]

How did this non touchdown affect Vegas?

[pennstate10]

2 hours ago, gtw3 said:

I thought it was a selfless and incredibly situationally aware play. 

 

You can play the "what if" game with any scenario.  What if he scores and then we miss the PAT and then we pooch kick it and there is a music city miracle.  What if we kick it deep for a touchback and our DB slips and falls down and Hill goes for an 75 yarder. The what-ifs can go on and on and on.

Let’s be clear, I doubt this was a thought that just popped into Singletarys head during the run. Given that it was an iffy decision, I’m sure that MCD said don’t score, no matter what. They’re not going to leave that decision to a 3th year RB. 
 

For the record, I thought it was a bad decision. You play to win the game. I saw psu lose a game against bama in exactly this way. Kicker missed from the 5 yd line as time ran out. 
 

and this game had a wintry mix. A gutsy, but unwise call in my opinion. 

[Rochesterfan]

6 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said:

What's easier to do? Make a FG in a blizzard or stop a team from going 80 yards in 34 seconds? You only get 1 shot at the FG and it has to be the perfect snap, perfect hold, perfect kick. Too many moving parts. You can screw up multiple times in 34 seconds and still not allow a TD

 

The FG is much easier and a slightly higher percentage as shown by a 0.5 increase in win percentage by going down.
 

 

The FG was going for a win with no chance to lose in regulation.

 

The TD opens up options to lose.  Miss the XP and the Dolphins can win with 7.

 

Give up a TD and the Dolphins can go for 2 to win.

 

You also still have the OT potential.

 

If you can control the ball on offense to run time out - that is what you should always do.

 

If the Dolphins are doing everything to try and help you score - why would you want to aid them.  They knew the only shot at winning was if Singletary scored - why help them with that?

 

 

[MRW]

4 minutes ago, pennstate10 said:

Let’s be clear, I doubt this was a thought that just popped into Singletarys head during the run. Given that it was an iffy decision, I’m sure that MCD said don’t score, no matter what. They’re not going to leave that decision to a 3th year RB. 
 

For the record, I thought it was a bad decision. You play to win the game. I saw psu lose a game against bama in exactly this way. Kicker missed from the 5 yd line as time ran out. 
 

and this game had a wintry mix. A gutsy, but unwise call in my opinion. 

 

It really comes down to your evaluation of the odds of a catastrophe. The thing that I keep coming back to is that we saw - multiple times - blown coverages and shoddy tackling leading to big plays/TDs for the Dolphins. Giving them the ball with 35-40 seconds left and a timeout is just asking to be beaten (IMO).

[RyanC883]

it’s basically  McD saying he does not not trust his D.  

[SoMAn]

2 hours ago, Jerome007 said:

I too thought he should have scored, I mean it was a TD and only 34 sec to go. I was also surprised by the following Josh kneeldown instead of another run attempt.

It was safe.  It guaranteed Bills retained possession.
 Bass was set up between the hash marks for a chip shot field goal. 
Apparently, the players and coaches (More familiar with the field conditions than you or I) weren’t terribly concerned about the footing or Bass’s ability to hit it solidly.As long as we’re playing ‘what if’, what if they ran it and the ball got ripped out and recovered by Dolphins.