This Lions Vikings game is pretty entertaining.

I like that Van Winkle guy. Sounds like a real Viking.

Vikings went for it on 4th down TWICE and failed, instead of kicking field goals.
They woulda had a 15-10 lead in the second half which woulda made it a different game.
Why teams can't learn their lesson on this is beyond me. SO many games are lost because teams pass up a FG only to fail on 4th down.

The Steelers fucked up yesterday, went for it on 4th down IN THEIR OWN TERRITORY, failed, and gave the Bengals a free-ass FG right before the half. WHY??!!! That ended up being the difference in the 19-17 game.

The Jets today, up 15-6, were on Miami's 25 yd line. Easy FG oppty. Passed it up to go for it on 4th down. They made it. great. Then they got to the 4 or 5 yard line, 4th and goal, and ended up kicking a FG anyway. So what was gained by going for it on 4th down earlier? Nothing!
Even if u convert a 4th down, doesn't mean u will proceed to score a TD. But if u fail, u get nothing out of the fucking drive.

What pisses me off more than anything is the broadcasters are not even calling out this constant stupidity! They just think the fans wont notice or will forget the terrible decision-making.

the culture of "going for it" on 4th down earlier and earlier in the game in situations that don't require it is a head-scratching trend, especially now that FG's from inside 50 are becoming nearly automatic. Same with going for 2 early in the game when you don't need it. I can't even count the number of times I have seen coaches go for 2 in the first half of games, fail, and end up unnecessarily having to chase that extra point the rest of the game by going for it over and over to try to keep it a one-score game, then being praised by announcers for converting one later in the game even though they never would should have had to go for it late in the game in the first place. A lot of these new coaches think they are re-inventing the game of football, and Brian Daboll is one of the worst offenders.

Obviously coaches sometimes make the wrong decision in the heat of the moment (MLF loves to use his “gut” to explain failed decisions), but recency bias also makes it seem like the wrong choice to go for it because you remember the failures more than the successes. As an example, yesterday (coincidentally as I was reading your previous post) Detroit went for it on 4th down inside the ten when the game was still close and immediately scored a TD. A fg at that point would have been seen as a victory for the Vikings. Instead it changed the trajectory of the game.

This article is now 2 years old but explains how the data breaks down the statistically optimal choice in given situations. As noted, there are still variables to factor in beyond hard stats in borderline decisions (such as the strength of your O vs the D), but the basic premise remains the same.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33059528/nfl-game-management-cheat-sheet-punt-go-kick-field-goal-fourth-downs-plus-2-point-conversion-recommendations

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Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.- JD Vance
When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus. - Turkish Proverb

I agree that the failures stick out like a sore thumb and the successes are forgotten 5 minutes later. The NBA got this way simply because '3 is better than 2'

4 is better than 3.

The 2pt conversion success rate this year was also remarkably low. Though, it seems like a lot of teams that weren't very good loved trying to go for 2.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Its a gut feel and I get that " settling" for 3 instead of trying that 4th down seems like a failure but anytime you can put points on the board you should.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Final updates:

Mac Jones played his heart out, kept coming back and tied the game late, but lost in OT to Flacco.

Mason Rudolph did NOT start this game, but he played and led the team to 2 FG's.

Here come the KC saving penalties as soon as Houston starts moving the ball

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