Ravens Coach Explains Decision to go for Late Touchdown Against the Chiefs
by Joel Thorman on Sep 14, 2009 10:55 AM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign
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PrintFor those that threw the towel in early and missed the end of the Kansas City Chiefs 38-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, let me lay out the scenario.
- Score: 31-24 Ravens
- Time: 36 seconds
- Situation: 4th and goal from the one yard line
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh decided to go for the touchdown instead of icing it with a field goal. Now, when the decision came down, I heard several cries from Chiefs fans that this was running up the score. No way, in my mind. That didn't even enter my mind until I saw someone mention it in the game thread.
The Ravens had a couple of options: Go for the touchdown or kick the field goal. They chose the touchdown. This, in my opinion, was the best decision from the Ravens perspective.
The Chiefs had already blocked a punt so if they got in there again, the ball would be flopping around in the middle of the field with the possibility of a Chiefs player (not a lineman) picking it up and returning it for a touchdown.
The Ravens went for it. If they didn't get it, one of two things would have likely happened.
- They're simply stopped and the Chiefs get the ball back with 36 seconds and 99 yards to go
- They fumble it and probably one of the Chiefs linemen recovers and they still have 95+ yards to go with 36 seconds remaining
Head coach John Harbaugh explained his decision to go for it.
"I’ve seen it before," Harbaugh said, "when you go for that field goal there, more things can happen on a kicking play than any other kind of play.
"We’re fourth and 6 inches; I think we have a better chance of making the touchdown than we do of something bad happening on the field goal."
Exactly. If the play didn't work out, whatever the decision, the field goal had a better chance of hurting them.
Ryan, over at KC Chiefs Blog, agrees with this sentiment.
"Watching the game I didn’t think there should even be a discussion." Ryan wrote this morning. "Of course the Ravens would go for it on 4th down. The Chiefs defense had to make a stop and then Brodie Croyle would be forced to try and go 99 yards in less than 30 seconds.
"Why would Harbaugh give the Kansas City special teams another chance to make a big play?"
It was definitely the right decision and one that hurt the Chiefs.
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Always be covering...
Aint got a beach and I see no mountains, landlocked loungin' in the City of Fountains.
Agree...
I have no hard feelings toward the Ravens. They fought hard and won the game. Anyone upset about them “running the score up” must have bet the 13.5 point spread. I would have dont exactly what Harbaugh did in that situation.
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 14, 2009 11:01 AM CDT reply actions
Yep
They were classy about it. They were trying to run out the clock. We had time outs. They ran it straight up the middle every play. The sad part is we couldn’t stop them even when we knew they were just goign to run up the middle.
D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.
That was actually the worst part of the game for me to watch.
D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.
by Patrick Allen on Sep 14, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
I dont think they had a choice, even taking a knee would have stopped the clock and the ball turned over on downs. Then we should contemplate what would have happened? Possibly an injury that we really don’t need?
The game was what it was, and for the most part I enjoyed it because it was the Chiefs and I still believe in these men. I will personally take 15 more games just like this, because we had a chance in this one and we will fight on for more chances at victory.
Winning begins with Attitude - 2009 Chiefs 12-4
it's about finishing games
the Ravens are a team that knows how to do that
the Chiefs are not…yet
* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
their job is to score
our job is to stop them. people who complain about the score being ran up have no clue. at what point do you want the opposing team to just start taking knees because they’re winning. if we could stop someone, there would be no concern about running up the score.
Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day.
Harry S. Truman
Fans argument was that Chiefs used up all timeouts
Chiefs used their final timeout with like 1:20 on the clock. The Ravens still had the ball and it was 3rd down. They could have kneeled twice and the game would have been over.
I’m not saying it was right or wrong to score the TD at the end, but to me it seems like someone may have wanted to cover that 13 point spread.
by cameltoeuchdowns on Sep 14, 2009 11:40 AM CDT reply actions
Um...wrong
It was 3rd down no? Clock stopped on 3rd down with 1:20 left.
If you kneel it is 4th down. 40 seconds off the play clock. It’s 4th and you have to run a play.
If you kneel the clock stops and your opponet gets the ball back…down by 7.
This would be monumentally stupid.
D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.
by Patrick Allen on Sep 14, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
That's what got me.
I was so pissed, I didn’t put two and two together and realize it would stop the clock and go over on downs if the knelt on fourth.
*My opinions are subject to change.
You can't kneel it twice on 3rd down with 1:20 left....
It was 4th down with 35 seconds left….if they kneel it like you say then it’s turn over on downs…clock is stopped, Chiefs ball….think about it.
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 14, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Yep
They ran the play that gave them the highest percentage of winning, which was to hold on to the ball and run.
If they try to kick the FG and it get’s blocked or muffed and the CHiefs pick it up and run down and tie the game to force OT the Ravens are morons.
If they kneel to show “class” with 40 seconds left and give the ball back to their opponet and their opponet airs it out and a CB falls down and they score and tie the game, the Ravens are morons.
If they run the ball up the middle 4 times and score, they win and the Chiefs suck lose for not being able to stop them.
D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.
by Patrick Allen on Sep 14, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Watching how the Denver game ended...
and you will see why you don’t leave anything up to chance.
totally agree
prepare for the worst, they did, they knew worst case they are stuffed and its on the ONE.
I had HOPED they would kick it since we all know it wouldve given us hope, and we had ZERO chance stopping that short yardage run ala madden 09)not 10)
by the way, bob gretz is losing his website with the comments over there
its really too bad, just glad we can boot the spammers
Watch the personal attacks.
That’s not going to fly very long, especially after yesterday’s game threads.
Personal attacks are bad I agree...
Unless they are directed toward Rin Tin Tin
Daddy-o says nobody likes that guy.
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 14, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions
There is little doubt Rin Tin Tin is either Gretz himself, or Rufus Dawes, who may, in fact also have always been Gretz, even though Bob always denied it. All were irrationally loyal to Carl and Herm, facts be damned. When Pioli came in, and fired Herm, he also fired Dawes and Gretz a few months later from the Mothership. Gretz’s own writings on the website took a decidedly anti Pioli/Haley turn, and Rin, who writes very much in the style of Dawes, was allowed to take over, perhaps veting his rage at Haley and Pioli. Rin is the evil Gretz, allowing his true feelings to come out, without the byline Bob Gretz.
Good explanation.....But
I think they just wanted to cover the spead.
Think about it!
the Chiefs wanted to cover the spread too?
cmon, shoulda been stopped.
Sackoff (McIntosh,Goff) like Brangelina.
I agree
I was surprised to see all of that fans hating on Bal for that. And I mean hating hard. “Baltimore are scumbags and so are their fans”, yada yada. LOL jeez.
On 4th and inches they can’t punt… They can’t turn it over on downs and give us a chance to throw a hailmary to tie it up… A field goal inches from the goal line presents all kinds of variable issues that are not there during an extra point or further. It made sense to me.
We should have stopped them plain and simple.
Sackoff (McIntosh,Goff) like Brangelina.
Talking of coaches explaining things
Has Haley talked about why he went for it on 4th and 18 on his own 10yd line?
Blame my wife!
Waiting until August!
Because we were down by 7 with very little time left?
If we punt it and they get 1 1st down the game is over.
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 14, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions
But it doesn't even give the D a chance
Given getting the first down at that stage was really unlikely (I might be convinced if it was 4th and 1or 2. You can argue what ifs with Brodie dropping the ball but realistically 18 yds wasn’t on the cards), the best the D can realistically do is hold them to a field goal and we are two scores down. In the opponents half there is at least a chance to stop them getting a score and maybe getting the ball back.
I just might have been happier losing by 7 than 14. But to me it reeked of a bad call from Haley.
Blame my wife!
Waiting until August!
From a Ravens fan
With as much smack as Steelers trolls are talking on the Ravens message boards, just wait until between week 10 and 11 and you’ll understand, about how the Ravens should have never allowed the Chiefs to score 24 points, I will be one of the biggest Chiefs supporters on November 22.
The Chiefs are not a bad team and could have very easily won this game. I too was shocked that the Ravens went for the TD with time winding down, but with the explaination that Harbaugh gave after the game, it did make sense. For anyone to think that the Chiefs are a team to walk right over, hasn’t had their team play them yet.
Agreed
I think KC is not the worst team in the league, they are well coached, and will fight.
However
Baltimore made the correct call being that close to the goal line punching it in….we all saw how well the inside game worked on 3rd and short throught the entire contest. It was NOT running up the score, it was securing a victory, if he misses that field goal KC even gets it moved out from the 1, to the 8….so…yeah good call imo.
JUST GOT BEAT
I am a chiefs fan … but i am also a fan of Defense and the ravens D did there job ours didnt ours didnt stop them if they want to score and can why wouldnt they …… seeing all these people cry about this is more embarrasing then the chiefs loosing … ya they lost move on suck it up learn from it and Fing get ready for the next week and win it …. and im sure they can ….. CUZ if they loose to the raiders next week then they really suck and deserve the first pick next draft
but this is a add on
IF they can learn from this and move on i could see em winning maybe 6 games or alil more
by redmedicone on Sep 14, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I dont think they tried to run the score up to embarrass the Chiefs at all....
but that logic makes no sense at all. It is way more likely that thr runner would be stuffed on the goaline then the Chiefs D blocking the punt. Which one do you see happen more in the NFL. They were running the score up, It wasnt to hurt the chiefs though. Some anyalyst made comments about their offense and they were just trying to stick up for their team. Besides this isnt high school football, who cares. this is the pros, you wont see any chiefs player crying about it. But They did try to run the score up, he is a young coach, he relates to his players and he went to bat for them.
Not Quite
It is way more likely that thr runner would be stuffed on the goaline then the Chiefs D blocking the punt. Which one do you see happen more in the NFL.
If they get stuffed, the Chiefs still have to go 99 yards and score with under forty seconds. If they kick and it is blocked, the Chiefs could scoop it up and score the game tying touchdown, with enough time to try for an onside kick. They were not running the score up, they made the lowest risk play, while trying to win the game.
Personally
I didn’t think they went for the td to run up the score or any of that, what went through my mind was the Chiefs D had not stopped the run the entire second half, why wouldn’t they have gone for the td when it was a half yard. I like to think if the situation was reversed, Haley would have made the same call.
Good effort by D anyway...
While I hated to see the point spread covered, (taking a knee on each down or a field goal on 4th would have probably been sufficient to seal the victory), Baltimore was handed the opportunity by Haley’s choice to go against the odds on their last possession. At least Haley didn’t give up even in the face of a high probability of not converting on what… 4th and 18, in really bad field position. Herm wouldn’t have had the balls to try, he would have just laid down and conceited the game by punting. KC has had their D on the field more in the last two years than probably any other team in the league, even Detroit I’m guessing. No matter how good a D is, you can’t have them on the field 2¼ – 2½ hrs out of a 3 hr. game and expect them to make a goal line stand at the end of the game. Blame the numerous three and outs from the offense during most of the game.
we all play each other again. nobody runs up the score in the NFL. there is no reward in that. in crazy college football running up the score proves a valuable strategy for bowl placement.
if a team did run up the score in the NFL it would be fine by me. i pay a lot of money for my tickets and the last thing I want to pay for is a guy taking 3 straight knees. if we’re beat we’re beat. let a team get under our skin. it’s like getting beaned in baseball. it’s like getting thrown out as a coach. it all can be used as motivation or retaliation. jets-pats maybe. sox-yanks probably. chiefs-ravens…not a chance.
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