This Weekend in NFL Stupid highlights the dumbest decisions in football throughout the season. This week, we start with a baffling clock management strategy from the Atlanta Falcons.
Let’s never forget the time the Falcons called a timeout to save one second
Atlanta still had a very good chance to beat the Philadelphia Eagles. They trailed Philly by six points and had one timeout left. With 2:08 to play, the Eagles faced a 3rd-and-4 at the Atlanta 33-yard line. The Eagles handed the ball off to Wendell Smallwood, who picked up two yards on a play that took about six seconds.
As soon as the tackle was made, the Falcons used their last timeout… with 2:01 on a clock that was automatically going to stop at the 2:00 mark anyway.
They pissed away one of their timeouts in order to save one second.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 13: Caleb Sturgis #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts and is congratulated by Zach Ertz #86 after he kicked a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during a game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Now, this didn’t really matter in the end. The Eagles made a field goal on the next play to essentially put the game away. But had Philly missed, the Falcons would have taken over at their own 38-yard line, down by six points with 1:57 remaining.
Essentially, if they were working under the assumption that Philly would miss and give them a shot, the Falcons opted for this scenario:
— 1:57 remaining, no timeouts, down by six, ball at the 38-yard line
Rather than this scenario:
— 1:56 remaining, one timeout, down by six, ball at the 38-yard line
Now, nobody would ever opt for the first scenario. But the Falcons weren’t prepared. They weren’t thinking ahead.
Considering how often we hear about coaches working 18-hour days and sleeping in their offices, they sure do make a lot of boneheaded game-management calls.
Other stupid things from Week 10
** This comically late hit from Najee Goode, costing his team 15 yards in a key moment…
** This utterly unnecessary facemask from Sean Davis, costing his team 15 yards in a key moment…
** Philip Rivers
For throwing this pass…
And for failing to see Kiko Alonso on this one…
