Lesson Learned

[pantherclaw]

When i saw them letting time just tick

Off the clock, I knew they we screwing themselves out of the NFL Championship.

Couldn't have happen to a better team - LOL

[Carolina Cajun]

if he had scored it wouldn't have even gone down as the greatest play on that drive. The score wouldn't have been anything special, but at least they would have won. No reason not to try running it at least once or twice from the 1 before getting cute.

 

Well, you couldn't run it on second and third down and risk getting stopped both times with only 1 timeout, the game would be over if not gotten on either of those runs.  The options for the play calls were either Pass-Option-Option, Run-Pass-Option, or heaven forbid pass-pass-pass.  I don't think the last one was even an option, so you can really see their line of thinking.

[Johnny Rockets]

I know that I'm in the minority, like definitely, 100% sure, but after rethinking this, the decision to throw wasn't necessarily the worst call in the world.  If you honestly have 3 downs and 1 timeout, presumably, 1 play will be a run, 1 will be a pass, and the last will be either or (presumably the 4th down call where time on the clock has zero affect on them one way or another).  If you play aggressive passing on first down and fail, you have both 3rd and 4th down with the patriots guessing because realistically, both options are available for both plays.  The biggest problem to me was was Russel Wilson staring down his reciever on the play.  As much as people say the Seahawks lost the game, honestly, you have to give credit to the Patriots defense for stepping up with the game on the line.

 

 

100% agree - in hindsight it wasn't the right call but it certainly wasn't the worst call in the world based on exactly what you said. Props to Butler for great awareness and coming up huge when it mattered the most. Helluva play. 

[panthers55]

It was stupid because it didn't work.  If it had, then Seattle and Wilson would have been geniuses. 

[Jeremy Igo]

It was stupid because it didn't work. If it had, then Seattle and Wilson would have been geniuses.

The problem with this default stance people take in defense of the play is they assume the passing play has the same amount of risk as a run play. It doesn't. There is much more risk throwing the ball especially on the one yard line where the playing field is so small.

It was only second down. They had three tries to get it in and should have chosen the least risky means of doing it. QB sneak or Marshawn off tackle.

The play call was high risk, unnecessary, and dumb. As a result, they paid the price.

[Proudiddy]

Hindsight and all, but I still don't understand why they called the play they did with the read being what it was, if you are going to pass it there...

Even without knowing the result there, my natural inclination would be to run a hook/flat route combination to the outside. That way, you're not throwing into all that trash in the middle and have more space to make a play or throw it away.

Carroll said himself that they were in their goalline package so that's why they took the shot... If they're in their goal line package, why are you throwing into all those bodies in the middle?

[SCPantherFan]

What's even worse, after the interception the Seattle defense had the chance to try to get a safety and the ball back but lacked the discipline to not go offsides. Yes it was a long shot by they still had a chance and completely blew it.

[panthers55]

The problem with this default stance people take in defense of the play is they assume the passing play has the same amount of risk as a run play. It doesn't. There is much more risk throwing the ball especially on the one yard line where the playing field is so small.

It was only second down. They had three tries to get it in and should have chosen the least risky means of doing it. QB sneak or Marshawn off tackle.

The play call was high risk, unnecessary, and dumb. As a result, they paid the price.

You make a valid point.  I don't know I would thrown it into the middle of field at that juncture.  I would have looked for a pass on the outside where either the receiver could get the ball or nobody would have. 

As for the quarterback sneak I don't think Wilson is stout enough to create space like that, I think I would sent him on a boot leg around the end which they really didn't stop all day.

 

I would have done the traditional Lynch over the tackle. You know the kind of play Shula would have called in that situation.

 

Maybe Wilson thought his string of magical plays would continue. After all is anyone more lucky than he is most times.

[Jeremy Igo]

You make a valid point. I don't know I would thrown it into the middle of field at that juncture. I would have looked for a pass on the outside where either the receiver could get the ball or nobody would have.

As for the quarterback sneak I don't think Wilson is stout enough to create space like that, I think I would sent him on a boot leg around the end which they really didn't stop all day.

I would have done the traditional Lynch over the tackle. You know the kind of play Shula would have called in that situation.

Maybe Wilson thought his string of magical plays would continue. After all is anyone more lucky than he is most times.

A pass in the corner of the end zone to 13 where only he could reach it I could understand a bit more.

[PantherFan4Ever]

Throwing in that situation was dumb.  Throwing into the middle of the field in that situation was dumber.  Pass should have gone to the outside if they wanted the ball in the air.

[Spaceballs83]

Simple. Seahawks got cocky and wanted RW to throw the game winning TD. They are their own worst enemy.

[Snake]

Fact is SEA takes Risks all the time. Most of them have worked out but this time they had to pay the Piper.

[mav1234]

Passing isn't the problem, it is the type of pass... high risk there

[UKPanther94]

If they were going to throw it, why not run a play like we did at the goal-line against Arizona where Cam dropped back and lobbed it to a wiiiide open Tolbert for an easy score?