You make the call

[JimboDaMan]

Lot of attention this week devoted to Trotter’s stunningly stupid penalty that kept the G-men alive at the end of the half, resulting in a TD and eventually the difference in a tough loss.

Lets reverse a few seconds. On the play following the 2-minute warning, the Giants gain about 9 yards on 3rd-and-19. 4th and 10, Gmen to punt, 1:53 or so left on the clock. But wait…there’s a flag…holding against NY. Spurrier accepts the penalty. Is this a good call?

Obviously he has no way of knowing just how bad a turn things will take. But you never give the other guy a second chance, and why let them burn up more time if you don’t have to? Even before the festivities with Trotter, I was screaming “What do you have to gain by this? Take the damn ball!” Yeah, OK, taking the penalty cost NY about 20 precious yards. But at that point of the game, possession and control of the clock trump real estate every time.

I haven’t heard any discussion of this, but to me it’s a no-brainer. Decline the penalty, take the ball. What do you think?

[Riggo-toni]

I thought the penalty was on 2nd down, leaving them w/ a choice between 3 & 10 or 2 & 29?????

[JimboDaMan]

The play sequence:

1-10 at NYG 35 Tiki Barber (NYG) rushed left side for 1 yard.

2-9 at NYG 44 Kerry Collins (NYG) pass left side complete to Tiki Barber (NYG) for 1 yard.

3-8 at NYG 45 Giants fumble by Tiki Barber (NYG), recovered by Tiki Barber (NYG), advanced for no gain.

3-19 at NYG 34 2 minute warning.

3-19 at NYG 34 10 yard penalty on Giants.

3-29 at NYG 24 5 yard penalty on Washington.

3-24 at NYG 29 Tiki Barber (NYG) rushed right side for 15 yards.

4-9 at NYG 44 11 yard penalty on Washington.

Following Tiki's fumble its 3rd and 19 at the 2-minute warning. The results of the next play aren't shown, because it was nullified by the penalty. But the gain was 9 or 10 yards, leaving a 4th down if we so chose.

[Brave]

That penalty WAS on 2nd down. It was a difference between 3rd and 10 or 2nd and 20. With a couple of timeouts left it is understandable to play the real estate game there.

Obviously had it been 3rd down you would take the ball there.

[GrapeApe]

I'm pretty sure that was on 2nd down. I would have blown a gasket if that was on 3rd down and they took the penalty.

[JimboDaMan]

Looks to me like ESPN says it was 3rd down. Anybody with a replay?

[Nighthawk]

Only an idiot would have taken the penalty if it came on third down. Belive me, the media would have jumped all over it if it had happened that way.

[Darth Tater]

JimboDaMan,

You need to add about 10-11 yards to that gain. That 10 yard penalty on the Giants was after a screen that did get a first down. Shockey was called for offensive interference for pushing Bauman(?) while the ball was in the air. What was funny to me about that interference was that it had no bearing on the outcome of the play, but then, so did the holding on Samuels on the TD pass.

[Mania]

Prior to the Patriots penalty it was 2nd and 29. The Giants gained 6 yards making it 3rd and 23. On 3rd down the G-men gained 11 yards + the unsportsmanlike penalty on Trotter made it a first down.

Go Skins

[Mania]

I mean Redskins penalty vs Giants (duh!) I'm thinking way ahead of the game!

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I could have sworn that the play on which the Giants got the penalty would have been a first down. Didn't Mitchell get the ball and gain a first down that was nullified by the penalty?

[JimboDaMan]

Originally posted by OPM

JimboDaMan,

You need to add about 10-11 yards to that gain. That 10 yard penalty on the Giants was after a screen that did get a first down. Shockey was called for offensive interference for pushing Bauman(?) while the ball was in the air. What was funny to me about that interference was that it had no bearing on the outcome of the play, but then, so did the holding on Samuels on the TD pass.

That would make more sense. Once I saw the flag I stopped following the ball and tried to watch the penalty area. If we gave up first down yardage on that play maybe we DID deserve to lose.:shoothead

[MarkPSkins]

It would have been 3-10 or 2-29, I remeber saying at the time, " hmmmm....maybe we should take 3-10" One because we get the ball back with more time and two, 3-10 is still tough to convert.