Originally posted by tjd808185:
You got to pick up that first down though the 11 points is much easier acquired. Already in field goal range and a 91% kicker on the year. Once the kick is good that that puts you at 97%. The game is in the bag. There's way too much fear of Tom being shown here. He's great but he can't recover an onside kick himself. The big fear is missing the kick and giving Tom a chance on a 70 yard field. You can go wrong any way you play it but I think you got to trust the other 2 units.
At time and score of second down and 11 the play is getting a first down, especially when the opponent still has 2 timeouts. The most value asset to both teams at that time is the clock.
The question at that point is what do you have more faith in....passing or running. Of course it's passing, they were an historic passing offense from an effeciency stand point. The odds of taking a sack there was way lower than the odds of get a negative to zero gain.
The above is the philosophic mindset that is the DNA of a team. At any point, Quinn could've have told Kyle to eat it and settle for the FG. However, I'm think Quinn knew they couldn't stop NE and the best chance to be champions was to go for the first down, eat clock, burn TO's and if you settle for a FG after a first down you are now at an 11 point with under 2 minutes. Atlanta's s**tty defense could've probably held that led.
Again, Kyle has a part in the loss....he just shouldn't be getting scapegoated by the QB he helped win an MVP and the HC who his offense carried to a SB.