04/23/24
January 11, 2015
Patriots Edge Ravens as Belichick Displays Some Trick Mojo: The New England Patriots won a 35-31 AFC Divisional Round classic over the Baltimore Ravens, taking the lead with 5:13 left on a Tom Brady to Brandon LaFell touchdown. That score makes Brady the all-time leader in playoff passing TDs with 46, passing Joe Montana. Patriots coach Bill Belichick reached into his bag of tricks with the Patriots down by 14 in the third, lining up six receivers, having one tell the refs he's ineligible and snapping before the Ravens could figure out who to cover. "It was clearly deception," said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who took a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty to call attention to it.
News reports around New England say something like this:
Freak high winds were reported south of Boston this evening. The strongest gusts were felt in the vicinity of Foxborough. An unconfirmed report says that the freak wind was caused by a massive exhalation of breath as Duron Harmon intercepted a Joe Flacco pass to all but seal a New England Patriots' playoff win. State Police are investigating.
posted by Howard_T at 10:04 PM on January 10, 2015
Is it really possible that no one has tried that I'm-not-eligible quick snap ruse before? I love me some sneaky Belichick coaching, but I wonder whether that one will survive the off-season. A defense has to be able to know who is declared ineligible with enough time to react to that announcement to the zebras.
A great game by the Patriots. Those two 14-point leads had to look pretty ferocious against a team and a quarterback that has been stealing their lunch money in the playoffs.
I was surprised that Belichick left enough time at the end for the Ravens to have a punt return and hail mary chance to win. Three simple handoffs could have eaten up at least enough time to give Baltimore only a punt return.
posted by rcade at 09:48 AM on January 11, 2015
I distinguish between rivalry games and nemesis games. Ravens - Patriots is a nemesis game. I was sure the Pats were gonna be toast again.
If they end up making it to the Super Bowl and find themselves facing the Seahawks, Brady's career will have come full circle. He'd be given about the same chance in hell of beating Seattle than he was given of beating the Rams in 2002.
I did not drive up Rt 93 to see if there were any ill-advised "Ray Lewis Retirement Party" type billboards this year. I hope/think that people know better about the kind of stuff by now.
John Harbaugh has to be careful. He's going to end up on an edition of Bad Lip Reading like his brother did.
The multiple ineligible ruse may end up being one of those inspired strategies that can only be used one time. Like the U-47 venturing into Scapa Flow. Or the drafting of Larry Bird.
Visit historic Boston, home of legend-driven professional sports rules changes and exceptions. But please, dear God, not the 2024 Olympics.
posted by beaverboard at 10:28 AM on January 11, 2015
I was surprised that Belichick left enough time at the end...
I'm surprised that Belichick decided to let his punter actually kick the ball. I was looking for the punter to retreat into the end zone, try to run around for a few seconds, and then throw the ball out of the end zone for a safety. Result of that would have been a 2-point NE lead and a free kick from the 20 with about 10 seconds left. By the time the free kick is executed, Baltimore is at its 40 or so with less than 10 seconds and no time outs available. Thus, unless they can get 1 or 2 plays totaling 25 yards and stopping the clock after doing so, they won't have time for the field goal try.
Had Patriots tried 3 running plays, the possibility of a catastrophic fumble is there. A deliberate safety, or the actual play of a punt after the 3 kneel downs, seems to be the safer option.
The "ineligible receiver" ruse is completely within the rules and should remain so. The referee clearly announces who is ineligible prior to the snap, and there is enough time for a defense to determine coverage based on this. Motion plays, unbalanced lines, tackle eligible plays are all designed to make coverage more difficult. Having a running back or a tight end on the line of scrimmage and having him declared ineligible should not be such a difficult thing to understand for a defense. Of course it's designed to create confusion. Coach your players better.
posted by Howard_T at 04:36 PM on January 11, 2015
I agree with Howard; three short run plays, even if for a loss when snapped right as the play clock ran out and moved around behind the line of scrimmage before taking a knee might burn a few seconds off the clock... but at risk they get fumbled or something else goes wrong and puts Baltimore in possession on the Patriots side of the field. I was also asking why not intentionally take a safety; if the punter can burn 5 seconds running around before a knew, then hooray!
However, at the end of the day, this seems both against the spirit of the sport, and more importantly not worth the risk. The safety gives them 2 points, you're still punting- and now you have a 2 point lead and 10 seconds left. A good punt return could easily put them in long FG range, and you dont have that 4 point buffer anymore!
What they did was burn as much time as possible off the clock with knees, then a good punt puts them back well into their own territory with time for like 1, maybe 2 plays. If they can hail Mary (and they almost did!) then you tip your helmet. But you're dedefense ought to be able to prevent a two-play TD with 10 seconds left to get to the AFC Championship game.
While the Patriots haven't won a Superbowl in 10 years, they are consistently elite, every year (5 straight byes). When in doubt, trust in Belichick. :)
posted by hincandenza at 05:45 PM on January 11, 2015
Analysis of Belichick's eligibility plays.
posted by kokaku at 07:42 PM on January 11, 2015
However, at the end of the day, this seems both against the spirit of the sport, and more importantly not worth the risk.
Conceding a safety in the waning seconds is done all the time. How is that against the spirit of the sport?
posted by rcade at 08:13 PM on January 11, 2015
Analysis of Belichick's eligibility plays.
Maybe because I'm a Pats' fan, but Matt Chatham's articles have quickly become must-read stuff for me. They strike a good balance between Peter King fluff about tactics and way-too-wonky stuff from defrocked positional coaches still fighting The Big One from an armchair. The most notable discussion point during the game in our house was, "She's starting to understand language so you need to find a different way to express that." I was really confident in the Pats' chances, right up until the game started and the Ravens stomped all over them. The game didn't even feel like a win, but I take a lot of solace in the Tears of a Harbaugh. Indy knocking Manning out yesterday was a perfect dessert. It's a weird feeling: I can't see how the Pats lose to Indy and I can't really see how they beat Seattle.
One other thing: I have to agree with Peter King that the NFL needs to stop using the best graded officials by position and take the best squads instead to avoid all the confusing conferences we've seen this post-season. And I was amazed at how Indy's DBs were allowed to play physical in Denver's last real drive-- some of that stuff would have gotten a player ejected in the Pats/ Ravens game.
posted by yerfatma at 10:33 AM on January 12, 2015
Jesus, that Ravens/Patriots game was insane. I think I'm still hyperventilating...