The Los Angeles Rams turned the primary group in historical past to surrender three profitable two-point conversions within the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation, however it could have been the usually aggressive Sean McVay’s indecision to kick further factors that value his group the win. When Matthew Stafford threw a 1-yard landing to Puka Nacua early within the fourth quarter to prolong the lead to 29-14, I puzzled to myself, “Why wouldn’t you go for 2 here?”
If the Rams kick the additional level, it’s a two-possession sport.
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If the Rams miss the additional level, it’s a two-possession sport.
If the Rams go for two and fail, it’s a two-possession sport.
Everything apart from a transformed two-pointer has the identical final result: They had been all two-possession sport outcomes. It would both be 30-14 or 29-14. In the fashionable NFL, with groups engaged on their two-point performs a lot extra typically than they did up to now, it makes little distinction to be up 15 or 16.
But if the Rams went for two there and transformed, then abruptly it turns into a three-possession sport. The Rams ought to have gone for two and tried to make it a 17-point lead, that means that even when the Seahawks scored two touchdowns in two minutes, L.A. would have nonetheless been forward. And that’s not the one time that McVay ought to have gone for two earlier than Seattle did.
The new regular in time beyond regulation is for the group that wins the coin toss to kick moderately than obtain, which is what groups did for principally all the historical past of time beyond regulation. Remember that one time a group received the coin toss and kicked off and misplaced? Strategy adjustments with the foundations.
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Because groups get a possession even when the opposite group scores a landing (except that group makes use of all 10 minutes), all people needs to get the ball second in order that they already know what number of factors they want to win. Seattle was all the time going to go for 2 in time beyond regulation in the event that they had been down 37-36 and you realize who ought to know this?
Sean McVay.
McVay stated that he by no means even thought-about letting the Rams-49ers sport finish in a tie on Thursday earlier this season, a decision that could cause L.A. to now fall behind San Francisco in the standings. So when the Rams scored a landing on their possession in time beyond regulation, they need to have gone for two.
An further level solely implies that the Seahawks might lose by 1, nevertheless it additionally ensures that the Rams might lose by 1 and so they received’t be those answerable for the play. Wouldn’t you moderately go for 2 than defend a group going for 2? If it’s for the win, don’t you need the ball and resolve the win for your self?
That’s not what McVay did although. The Rams kicked the additional level and Seattle drove down the sector with ease — as you would possibly anticipate after 65 minutes of soccer — scoring a landing after which having the choice to tie or go for the win. Like McVay, Mike Macdonald by no means thought-about letting the sport finish in a tie. The Seahawks went for two, scored it, and received.
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Whereas if the Rams had gone for two and made it, then the Seahawks would wish to convert two factors simply to tie it. Not to win it. Then the Rams would have one other possession and will simply kick a area aim to win.
It wasn’t simply two level conversion performs that value the Rams the win, there was much more to this sport than that, however when the foundations enable a group to come again from 16 factors with assist from these conversions, you’ve to know as a coach how one can make these guidelines work in your favor as a substitute.
McVay didn’t do this on Thursday. Maybe extra coaches will take discover and notice that the distinction between 16 factors and 17 factors is much higher than the distinction between 15 factors and 16 factors.