Mike Smith blunder to elect to punt (2 Viewers)

[thefifthwall]

C/mon Man
You got Matty Ice. Supposedly the best at just that situation and you punt to Drew Brees.
No way I punt

 

[stevend]

You're in your house. You never lose.

And you're punting on 4th down and giving the ball back to the best QB in the NFL?

Fa realz playa?

It was absolutely the right call because you know the Saints can't run the ball. Seriously, how close were they to a Jimmy Graham fumble?

 

[scedotal]

It was obviously the wrong call based on results. I thought it was a bad decision at the time. It made me happy. Matt Millen thinks it was a good call. He's the expert.

 

[lades]

One of the keys in winning is, if you are behind, to prolong the point where the game is lost. You never know what is going to happen as long as you are in the game... and if they had gone for it and not made the 4th and 6, the game would have effectively been over.

 

[dd]

I was delighted when he did punt because I've seen this team make drives with 4th down conversions late in the fourth.

 

[DeuceMcAllisterFan]

Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[demented]

Hindsight is 20/20.

Apparently not if you're Ed Hoculi. He probably defend those calls tomorrow.

 

[Saint Kamara]

One of the keys in winning is, if you are behind, to prolong the point where the game is lost. You never know what is going to happen as long as you are in the game... and if they had gone for it and not made the 4th and 6, the game would have effectively been over.

No, you're completely wrong.

If you stop the Saints on 3 downs there, you make us try a long FG or punt deep inside your territory.

Even if we make the FG, you're down 6.

 

[TheBigKhunha]

The logical call.
Plenty of time to make a stop and get the ball back.
Atlanta defense had our number most of the night.

 

[jamsieboy86]

Right call imo, he still had two time outs and the two minute warning.

 

[PennStateSaint]

Really? Really? What evidential support do you have for this? The Falcon's defensive stand that lead to a comeback?

ahh the hindsight arguement.

 

[schemmy]

smart, high percentage call.

Can you give me the percentages?

I don't think it's the right call. If you make it you vastly increase your chances of getting a good look at a tie or a win since you'll be around midfield. If you fail, the Saints get the ball at the ATL 45 or so.

Here's the thing: you gotta stop them from getting a first down anyway. If you punt, if you go for it and miss - once New Orleans has the ball, a first down either ends the game or pretty much screws your chances.

But letting them take over from the 45 doesn't hurt you as much as you think. If you stop them, they're either attempting a long field goal and risking good field position, or they're punting to you and you're getting the ball ~20-30 yards farther back than if you punted it in the first place. That's really what this is about - you're trading about 30 yards of field position for the chance of extending your drive.

 

[REBEL_SOUL]

They were screwed either way.

 

[schemmy]

The logical call.
Plenty of time to make a stop and get the ball back.
Atlanta defense had our number most of the night.

But they can get a stop and get the ball back from midfield, too. The difference is probably 20-30 yards unless you really get pinned deep. But Morestead had some bad punts tonight.

 

[Football fan]

It was a good call if it was anyother team, but not against the Saints , i knew they were going to dink and donk us at the end we have been stoping the big plays all day so the field underneath was open brees took advantage of that..PROPS to him he is a great QB....

PS that spot on the ball was a pretty bad call. Thomas was atleast a yard away from the first down...but good team get good breaks. great game...