I'm glad he scored. They were behind at the time and points are not automatically awarded for short field goals.

I don't think so.. I think he thought to stop, but decided he'd rather score.

He didn't fall into the endzone, he was totally still for a moment, squating.

Bradshaw at Marshall University: tries to score touchdown, cannot score touchdown.
Bradshaw at New York Giants: tries to not score touchdowns, cannot help but score touchdown.

You can't explain that!

NYG Off. Coord. on final drive: We have this game in the bag unless we turn it over. Let's give it to the guy who has already fumbled twice exclusively now!

If only they had a power back available for such a situation....

You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

Holmgren tried it against the broncos in 97 with the same result.

ASSDOWN!

jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

It was only logical. Try for a TD with 1 minute left, or try for a FG with whatever seconds the Giants leave you on the clock after the FG.

They should have let him score much earlier. Same result, but save a few seconds and more importantly save a timeout for the Brady drive.

but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

#1 I've seen it done before successfully

#2 If he was so smart, they would have let them score the play before and preserved another timeout.

The "let them score" strategy is now 0 for 2 in the Super Bowl.

Dang, my internet is as slow as Gronkowski running routes last night.

/too soon?

watching mike and mike, they said the opening odds at the MGM to win next years superb owl are the patsies at 5:1 with the steelers and iggles coming in 2 and 3.

/the iggles? Really?

Clearly he should have laid down in a fetal ball around the 1. However, this probably would have been interpreted as "giving himself up" by the refs and they would have had to take another snap or two, not to mention that the FG wasn't a given.

Igor Jakovsky: watching mike and mike, they said the opening odds at the MGM to win next years superb owl are the patsies at 5:1 with the steelers and iggles coming in 2 and 3.

/the iggles? Really?

Public teams. Dallas and 49ers are probably both heavily favored too

/too lazy to look it up, fools

Igor Jakovsky: watching mike and mike, they said the opening odds at the MGM to win next years superb owl are the patsies at 5:1 with the steelers and iggles coming in 2 and 3.

/the iggles? Really?

Yeah I don't get that. How can the Packers not be higher? I mean their defense sucks, but 15-1 is pretty farking good.

If I was a gambler, I would never, ever put money on the "good odds" team at this point.

You will never convince me that, with less than a minute to play in the Superb Owl and Billy Cundiff fresh in everyone's mind, the correct move was to not score a touchdown.

Magorn: jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

*ahem*
I'm quite certain this has happened before and in a Superbowl, no less. My vague memory says it was the Packers-Broncos SB where Elway got his first ring, but I don't recall which team did it.

Looks like you're correct. From Wiki:

Both teams' defenses tightened up, and the clubs exchanged punts twice. With Green Bay pinned at their own 10-yard line, Hentrich then kicked the ball 39 yards to the Packers 49-yard line with 3:27 left in the game. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Packers linebacker Darius Holland committed a 15-yard facemask penalty while tackling Davis on a 2-yard run, moving the ball to the 32-yard line. Two plays later, Elway completed a 23-yard pass to fullback Howard Griffith. A holding penalty pushed the Broncos back to the 18-yard line, but then Davis rushed 17 yards to the 1-yard line and the Broncos called a timeout. This left the Broncos facing second and goal with 1:47 left on the clock. The Packers had two timeouts remaining.

Packers coach Mike Holmgren told his team to let the Broncos score to maximize the time the Packers would have on the clock for a potentially game-tying drive. He admitted later that he had thought that it was first and goal rather than second and goal, crucial to clock management decision making on the play.[4] Davis did score his third rushing touchdown on second and goal, leaving 1:45 on the clock. The Broncos now had a one touchdown lead, at 31-24.

I didn't remember that part of the game. Why on Earth would the Bronco's call a time out in that situation?

John Nash: The "let them score" strategy is now 0 for 2 in the Super Bowl.

It might be 0 for 2 but I'd have to guess it's a better bet than getting the ball back with 18 seconds, no time outs and needing to go 60 yards for a long field goal.

I also agree with the OP that you score the TD (dance on the one if you must but make sure you get the points)

jayhawk88: You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

There was the time the Patriots purposely snapped the ball out of their own end zone to give up a safety on purpose... it was in 2003 against Denver, I think. That worked out for them.

This past season a local high school team had the chance to take a knee twice and win the game by one point. Instead, they scored to go up 8 with about a minute to go. The other team scored, made a two-point conversion and then won in OT.

They fired the coach after the season.

Cat Food Sandwiches: I'm glad he scored. They were behind at the time and points are not automatically awarded for short field goals.

This.
I say take the points too....No FG is guaranteed...(see Romo vs Seahawks)

Lost Thought 00: They should have let him score much earlier. Same result, but save a few seconds and more importantly save a timeout for the Brady drive.

Still no cure for the Justin Tuck sack...

..or butterfingers.

MugzyBrown: but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

#1 I've seen it done before successfully

#2 If he was so smart, they would have let them score the play before and preserved another timeout.

this

Yeah the game was alright, but did anyone see that lady rapper give America the finger? That is what America is talking about! (I didn't even know it happened until CNN showed it to me 8 times while I was eating my cereal this morning).

#2 If he was so smart, they would have let them score the play before and preserved another timeout.

this

That was Andy Reid, 4th & 1 - call time out - punt / close play - call time out - challenge - lose another timeout, level clock management skills by the genius.

litespeed74: Cat Food Sandwiches: I'm glad he scored. They were behind at the time and points are not automatically awarded for short field goals.

This.
I say take the points too....No FG is guaranteed...(see Romo vs Seahawks)

Amen to that. Being a Seahawks fan, I've seen that play ∞ many times, and I still can't believe that Romo blew the hold. He caught the snap cleanly, but lost it on the way from the catch to putting the ball point-down on the ground. And STILL he recovered it and would've scored a game-winning TD had Jordan Babineaux not somehow chased him from behind at the 2 (he was tasked with the left-side end-rush to attempt the block, and it was 4th and Goal so the tackle caused a turnover on downs).

mainstreet62: Add me to the list of people glad that Bradshaw punched it in for 6, though I understand the sentiment behind kneeling.

Kneeling and taking the field goal attempt would have left about 15 seconds on the clock and a timeout for Brady. He wouldn't be going for the end zone, he'd be going for the 35 yard line for a 52 yard field goal attempt.

Luckily, Belichick had to be an idiot and burn a timeout on a challenge. That was a stupid call. Any competent person upstairs would have relayed it in time that both of Manningham's feet were inbounds.

If I recall correctly, weren't the Giants rushing to the line-of-scrimmage immediately after the Manningham catch precisely in order to prevent the Patriots from challenging? That really cut down on the amount of time that Belichick would've had to get info from his upstairs people, and it took several seconds for NBC to air the good slow-motion reverse angle replays that showed that Manningham (certainly, but barely) was in-bounds for the catch...

On top of that, the Pats had 3 timeouts at that time and that catch was such a game-breaker late in a 1-score game that in those circumstances (4th quarter, 3 TOs left, questionable in real-time catch) that ANY coach in the NFL would've challenged in that situation.

machoprogrammer: Igor Jakovsky: watching mike and mike, they said the opening odds at the MGM to win next years superb owl are the patsies at 5:1 with the steelers and iggles coming in 2 and 3.

/the iggles? Really?

Yeah I don't get that. How can the Packers not be higher? I mean their defense sucks, but 15-1 is pretty farking good.

If I was a gambler, I would never, ever put money on the "good odds" team at this point.


The betting odds, especially at this point, aren't really based on the best team...it's about making sure there are enough people are betting on each team so that the bookie doesn't loose money. It's more about perception.

So.....What are the perceptions right now....about next year?

They are (more or less) that the NFC is a toss up between 5-6 teams..while the AFC has 2-3 legit teams.

That's all

jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history.

It just goes to show how feared the Patriots' passing attack is that the Giants didn't want to take that chance.

If you're up against a team with a weak offense and strong defense, sure, score every time you can. Against a team with a strong offense, 60 seconds of game time can be a long time. The Giants could've lost the game.

svenge: litespeed74: Cat Food Sandwiches: I'm glad he scored. They were behind at the time and points are not automatically awarded for short field goals.

This.
I say take the points too....No FG is guaranteed...(see Romo vs Seahawks)

Amen to that. Being a Seahawks fan, I've seen that play ∞ many times, and I still can't believe that Romo blew the hold. He caught the snap cleanly, but lost it on the way from the catch to putting the ball point-down on the ground. And STILL he recovered it and would've scored a game-winning TD had Jordan Babineaux not somehow chased him from behind at the 2 (he was tasked with the left-side end-rush to attempt the block, and it was 4th and Goal so the tackle caused a turnover on downs).

Dude..you don't need to remind me about that play...hahha. I jumped outside into about 3 feet of snow and did snow angels when Romo fumbled the snap. Great wildcard game. big play babs had some huge plays in that game.

Best In The World: "Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death." - R.D. Laing

I think homie boy had extistential crisis. He was like "yayaya I could just end this right hurrr right now but how many chances do u get 2 score a SB TD?" & it's like when U get caught in a moment time freezes. So in his dome he's like that cat in the Friskies commercial rowing a gondola down a river a treats while his eyes are zoned out like saucers. The he flew over Walter Payton's gravfe and he like "that ninja was tha bess & he ain't neva got him no SB TD" & then he saw himself in the womb holding a fillopian tube like an organic football. Dreaming. Thesxe are my dreams he says. & then BAM back 2 reality & he's like awe shiat this is it. So he decided, I will mizake this look like I tried 2 stop but then I'll just fall in & be like WHATEVES. That's what happened & u kno this, man!

"k.d. lang: A wound is just a highway to a new and enlightened kind of confidence. Damage is one of the things in emotional aesthetics that makes something great. Like all he scars on a tree or a banged up coffee cup or whatever. Everything you go through is marking your soul." - K.D. Lang

mainstreet62: svenge: mainstreet62: Add me to the list of people glad that Bradshaw punched it in for 6, though I understand the sentiment behind kneeling.

Kneeling and taking the field goal attempt would have left about 15 seconds on the clock and a timeout for Brady. He wouldn't be going for the end zone, he'd be going for the 35 yard line for a 52 yard field goal attempt.

Luckily, Belichick had to be an idiot and burn a timeout on a challenge. That was a stupid call. Any competent person upstairs would have relayed it in time that both of Manningham's feet were inbounds.

If I recall correctly, weren't the Giants rushing to the line-of-scrimmage immediately after the Manningham catch precisely in order to prevent the Patriots from challenging? That really cut down on the amount of time that Belichick would've had to get info from his upstairs people, and it took several seconds for NBC to air the good slow-motion reverse angle replays that showed that Manningham (certainly, but barely) was in-bounds for the catch...

On top of that, the Pats had 3 timeouts at that time and that catch was such a game-breaker late in a 1-score game that in those circumstances (4th quarter, 3 TOs left, questionable in real-time catch) that ANY coach in the NFL would've challenged in that situation.

You're right, the Giants were rushing the line, and they forced the Patriots to make a mistake, which is 100% the right thing to do.

I can't find a picture with a good angle, but Belichick was right in front of Manningham on that catch. Literally 2-3 yards away. He saw it with his own eyes.

I think it's just another case where hindsight is 20-20. Belichick pays attention, no timeout would have had to have been wasted.

Belicick was right there, but still I disagree with your premise. It was very difficult to see in real-time if he only had 1 foot in when he caught that. The ref got it right, but he had a better view (downrange and looking straight down the sideline) than the coach, who was perpendicular to the catch. You can't expect any coach or guy in the designated team area (i.e. a couple yards back of the sideline) to accurately assess that particular play as it happened. You're letting the clarity provided from the slow-motion reverse angle color your judgment in this case.

qorkfiend: You will never convince me that, with less than a minute to play in the Superb Owl and Billy Cundiff fresh in everyone's mind, the correct move was to not score a touchdown.

this. In that situation I don't see how you don't take the lead every single f-ing time.
1 time out left, 1 min on the clock. Brady is great but he's not a god and they weren't connecting for any deep plays the whole game.

/Thanks for farking up, Ahmad.
//Go fark yourself Belibrady

Lost Thought 00: They should have let him score much earlier. Same result, but save a few seconds and more importantly save a timeout for the Brady drive.

jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

I love these farking arguments. Here's a thought: The Patriots Were Ahead, How About Your Farking Defensive Line Hold Them And Keep Them From Scoring So You Don't Have To Worry About Driving Down The Field For Another Touchdown?


"Just let them score." Christ, they had them backed up at their own 8 yard line. "Just let them score." Guess what, the Giants won and it wasn't because the Patriots let them.

Ok.... That strategy was totally bizarre to me..... I'm old school.... Take the points and trust in your defense.
If he would have fallen down on the 1 inch "line" and nobody on the Pats would have touched him..... How long would it take for the referees to blow the play "dead?"

I played football in high school (an onion ago +), it is the only sport I actually watch on TV (although I follow baseball, basketball and hockey standings in the news/Internet. But...... I have no idea..... when would that play be blown "dead" if nobody on the Pats wanted to touch him?

Pretty good game overall.... There's an embarrassing photo of me sleeping through the second quarter though..... Damn....the second quarter was a real snoozer

Congrats Giants fans.... (and Pats fans too for making it further than my team). GO LIONS in 2013..... 2014..... maybe 2015

The Evil Home Brewer: If he would have fallen down on the 1 inch "line" and nobody on the Pats would have touched him..... How long would it take for the referees to blow the play "dead?"

The play would have been blown dead almost immediatly. That's the rule.

walkerhound: Lost Thought 00: They should have let him score much earlier. Same result, but save a few seconds and more importantly save a timeout for the Brady drive.

jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

I love these farking arguments. Here's a thought: The Patriots Were Ahead, How About Your Farking Defensive Line Hold Them And Keep Them From Scoring So You Don't Have To Worry About Driving Down The Field For Another Touchdown?


"Just let them score." Christ, they had them backed up at their own 8 yard line. "Just let them score." Guess what, the Giants won and it wasn't because the Patriots let them.

[i.chzbgr.com image 500x324]

Letting them score was probably the right call at that point. I don't get the "they should have let them score earlier to save a timeout" but once they were in chip shot field goal range, it was probably the right call for Belisuck. Paradoxically, I think the Giants scoring there was the best for the Giants as well instead of having to rely on a kick as time expires.

walkerhound: Lost Thought 00: They should have let him score much earlier. Same result, but save a few seconds and more importantly save a timeout for the Brady drive.

jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

I love these farking arguments. Here's a thought: The Patriots Were Ahead, How About Your Farking Defensive Line Hold Them And Keep Them From Scoring So You Don't Have To Worry About Driving Down The Field For Another Touchdown?


"Just let them score." Christ, they had them backed up at their own 8 yard line. "Just let them score." Guess what, the Giants won and it wasn't because the Patriots let them.

[i.chzbgr.com image 500x324]

So in other words the correct strategy for the Patriots at that point would have been to construct the world's second time machine, go back in time and stop the Giants drive earlier. What a brilliant tactic!

walkerhound: Lost Thought 00: They should have let him score much earlier. Same result, but save a few seconds and more importantly save a timeout for the Brady drive.

jayhawk88: You know I'm not even a Patriots fan, but after they parted the seas for that TD, I was really hoping Brady would drive them for a TD, just because it would have been the most epic end to a Superbowl in history. "Just let them score" is something that has been said in many a bar conversation, but to actually try the strategy, and in the biggest game of the year no less...You have to at least give the Hoodie credit for having the stones to try it.

I love these farking arguments. Here's a thought: The Patriots Were Ahead, How About Your Farking Defensive Line Hold Them And Keep Them From Scoring So You Don't Have To Worry About Driving Down The Field For Another Touchdown?


"Just let them score." Christ, they had them backed up at their own 8 yard line. "Just let them score." Guess what, the Giants won and it wasn't because the Patriots let them.

[i.chzbgr.com image 500x324]

Letting the Giants score the TD @ 0:57 was the right move.

Scenario 1: If the Pats had held the Giants to a field goal (assuming no incompletions or runs out-of-bounds) then Tom Brady would've had 15-20 seconds to go from the their 20 (assuming a touchback) to the Giants' 35 (in all, 45 yards) to kick a 52-yd field goal... all with ZERO TIMEOUTS.

Scenario 2: Let Bradshaw score on 2nd and Goal, leaving 57 seconds left to go 80 yards for a TD, with ONE TIMEOUT.

I'd say the odds of success for #1 are about 2%, while #2 is about 15%. Still long odds, but certainly better than the it could've been.

JusticeandIndependence: ModernPrimitive01: Yeah the game was alright, but did anyone see that lady rapper give America the finger? That is what America is talking about! (I didn't even know it happened until CNN showed it to me 8 times while I was eating my cereal this morning).

No one in the room I was in even knew it happened. 18 sets of eyes missed it too.

You watched that crap? LOL.

I was too busy playing wife in the kitchen, i.e. making myself a sammich.