You've just scored a touchdown to make the score 28-27 with no time remaining...?

Question

you trail by one in the Super Bowl (or National Championship Game)

you have an average goal line offense (as far as SB/NC contenders go)
the D is average at stopping goal line offenses.

What would YOU do?

-I realize I threw out most of the important details a real head coach would know....so just try and roll with it....

Answer 1

in the super bowl i would give the ball to my best player or the player that is playing best in that game and give them the ball. only because overtime is sudden death and you may not get another chance to win. and in a national championship i would kick the PAT and go into overtime were each team gets atleast one chance with the ball.

Answer 2

You are talking about 2 totally different leagues with 2 totally different OTs.

NFL-Kick it, coaches get fired for this stuff, you just gained the momentum and are emotionally in control of the game.

College-this one depends here are my 3 scenarios:

1-you are a football powerhouse playing another powerhouse. Kick it for the reason stated above in the NFL Scenario.

2-You are the small program going against the powerhouse. Go fo 2 that big program is going to come out breathing fire because their reputation is on the line you most likely do not want their offense back on the field.

3-you are the powerhouse going against the small program, kick it, and take it to them in OT for reasons stated above.

There is of course a lot more to consider in during the game, but this is my from the cuff answer.

Answer 3

Tell you what I'd do. If I were the coach.

First I would have all my players get the freakin Gatorade and dump it right on my head!!! Then we would all go around giving each other pats on the butt and going freaking nuts.

This would give the other team a complex. They would start feeling like they were inferior to us. They would probably call a timeout........oh yea no time remaining.

All right.........Now we will take the field in the Power I or Maryland formation. Give it to our halfback who then makes a little pass dunk over the line to our tight end and then we when the game! At this point we get more Gatorade and pour it on my head some more. We will not have to worry about celebration penalty because the game is over! YES SIR!!!!!

Answer 4

I pull my running back aside, and tell him, "son, were going for this one. This is probably going to be the most important moment of your life. Get the job done. I believe in you, the team believes in you, the fans believe in you. This is your moment, not thiers. This is your day, not thiers. You are here to win this game."

Then I run the HB Smash up the gut, and theres no way they stop my guy. Not after that pep talk.


But come on, we need to know how we've done the whole game. Are my guys exhausted? Has the D had our number all day? Is my running back having a good game? Hows my kicker been? Whats the QB think? Is winning it in overtime realistic? Id probably kick the PAT, but stilI Id have to think about it.

Answer 5

The feel of the game.

Have I been struggling to gain the short yards all game, I kick.
Opposite: Have I been dominating short yards, I power I down the throat.
Did I just come back from a 28-0 deficit to score 4 TDs in the 4th Qtr, I kick it and win in OT.
Opposite: was I winning 21-0 and went down 28-21, I line up power I, fake up middle and run naked boot leg left and pass to my TE running with me in the back of endzone.

Answer 6

If the average my team has had against similar defenses is 50% or more and things are constant at this point of time, it makes no sense to kick it.

If their defense is exhausted and mine isn't, I might kick it.

If my defense is exhausted and their's not - Go for it.

If they lost a valuable running back or QB earlier in the game, kick it. If I did, also kick it.

All things held constant and a rate of 50% or more 2 point conversions, you should go for it.

I think they are probably not forced to go for it typically for political reasons. A guy who kicks and loses in overtime won't be second guessed by the press or fans, a guy who goes for it and loses in regulation will. Plus, the owners collectively only stand to gain from more exciting games that go into overtime for the promise of more lucrative commercials, so the marginal effect for the league would hurt everyone, even if it helped one or another team in the short run.

Answer 7

Kick it and hope the flip goes your way...it's not worth risking a super bowl on one play as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather take my chances with my defense stopping their offense or my offense being able to get in field goal range.

Answer 8

In a season game I would most likely just go for it but at Superbowl I wouldn't risk it unless I had a great qb or hb who I know will get the ball in the end zone otherwise I just go for the kick and try to win it in OT.

Answer 9

I would just QB sneak it, screw a trick play or anything like that, too much time to get sacked or for the o-line to fall apart. If you're going to go for a 2 pointer in a game THAT IMPORTANT I say take no chances and just snap the ball and dive forward... it's the only logical way to do it if you're going for the win.

Answer 10

Theres only one play for this.... the annexation of puerto rico haha.... I think theres just too many factors to really answer this. It probably would come down to does the offense have a play ready for the situation? If they do, I would go for it. If they don't, kick it and hope to win the coin toss.