Brilliant or Boneheaded?

[BillsCarnage]

I call it luck what happened but there is a chance and it might not be so slight considering a coach like Belichick is pretty dang good... maybe he knew they where going to pass the ball on that play by their formation and Carroll's weird tendencies and ego and did not want to call a timeout to allow him to change his mind, he saw a opportunity much better than Lynch running for a touchdown

On the radio (Cowherd) they mentioned that the Pats practiced defending that specific play during the week....

 

[Mitch]

It's not borderline - in the refs eyes - when both players are going for the ball. As long as the defender is facing the ball he has every right for it as the WR does.

Well said.

Did it cross any else's mind that the Seahawks got cute there had Wilson throw the ball because the coaches wanted to ensure that Russell Wilson win the MVP?

He might have won it anyway---but Lynch was especially key on that last drive with the wheel route catch for 31 yards and then the run down to the 1 yard line, putting him over 100 yards for the game and if he scores there it's his 2nd TD of the game---and beyond Lynch, all three of the Seahawks' TDs were set up by big plays to Chris Matthews (4/109/27.4/1 TD), and several of the pundits were saying after the game that Matthews was in their consideration for MVP.

if Wilson throws his 3rd TD to now his 3rd different WR (Matthews & Baldwin + Lockette), Wilson becomes pretty much a lock over over Lynch and Matthews.

Think of it from a PR standpoint---what player would they ideally want to accept the award in front of the national media?

I know it sounds kind of crazy, but I think that Pete Carroll is arrogant enough to want to tilt the scales toward Wilson.

 

[TRW]

Well said.

Did it cross any else's mind that the Seahawks got cute there had Wilson throw the ball because the coaches wanted to ensure that Russell Wilson win the MVP?

He might have won it anyway---but Lynch was especially key on that last drive with the wheel route catch for 31 yards and then the run down to the 1 yard line, putting him over 100 yards for the game and if he scores there it's his 2nd TD of the game---and beyond Lynch, all three of the Seahawks' TDs were set up by big plays to Chris Matthews (4/109/27.4/1 TD), and several of the pundits were saying after the game that Matthews was in their consideration for MVP.

if Wilson throws his 3rd TD to now his 3rd different WR (Matthews & Baldwin + Lockette), Wilson becomes pretty much a lock over over Lynch and Matthews.

Think of it from a PR standpoint---what player would they ideally want to accept the award in front of the national media?

I know it sounds kind of crazy, but I think that Pete Carroll is arrogant enough to want to tilt the scales toward Wilson.

Oh the jaded age we live in! But, it's not out of the realm of possibility there was a degree of that thinking in there. I would hope not but when $$$ are in the equation it could be.

I think the OC just got too cute and BB caught him with his drawers down.

 

[Southpaw]

It's not borderline - in the refs eyes - when both players are going for the ball. As long as the defender is facing the ball he has every right for it as the WR does.

Yup. Given the height of the pass and location of it, it was a 50/50 ball and the WR pulled back and shortarmed it.

 

[D-Dogg]

They said the pats were running that exact same play in practice, and the scout team scored on Butler with it in the exact same scenario, so when he saw it out there live action, he immediately dialed in and made the play.

Great preparation.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think one thing about the play that isn't getting any traction at all is that they obviously ran a pick play and Seattle should have been penalized for it. Yes, the outcome didn't matter. However, if they did score on that play, the NFL would have had to come out later and say that they missed another crucial call.

He missed the pick.

 

[Russ Smith]

I thought the call was fine. I also did not understand B B failure to call a timeout. The throw sucked. High and tight. Wilson seems to be getting little if any criticism. The rookie made the pick but his failure to stay in the end zone could have been fatal had it not been for the ensuing encroachment and meltdown brawl and the 15 yard penalty against Irvin. That enabled Pats to take a knee twice with yards to spare.

He said he wasn't sure if he caught it in the endzone or out of it and was afraid to take a knee and have it called a safety

 

[TRW]

He said he wasn't sure if he caught it in the endzone or out of it and was afraid to take a knee and have it called a safety

That's what I guessed he was thinking and why he did it. It looked like he did catch it out of the end zone and was knocked back into it. Pretty heads up play to me.

 

[Russ Smith]

Well said.

Did it cross any else's mind that the Seahawks got cute there had Wilson throw the ball because the coaches wanted to ensure that Russell Wilson win the MVP?

He might have won it anyway---but Lynch was especially key on that last drive with the wheel route catch for 31 yards and then the run down to the 1 yard line, putting him over 100 yards for the game and if he scores there it's his 2nd TD of the game---and beyond Lynch, all three of the Seahawks' TDs were set up by big plays to Chris Matthews (4/109/27.4/1 TD), and several of the pundits were saying after the game that Matthews was in their consideration for MVP.

if Wilson throws his 3rd TD to now his 3rd different WR (Matthews & Baldwin + Lockette), Wilson becomes pretty much a lock over over Lynch and Matthews.

Think of it from a PR standpoint---what player would they ideally want to accept the award in front of the national media?

I know it sounds kind of crazy, but I think that Pete Carroll is arrogant enough to want to tilt the scales toward Wilson.

They mentioned that theory on Mike and Mike this morning and both of them laughed and said something about Bigfoot.

 

[don7031]

The Seahawks are preparing to make Russell Wilson the highest paid player in the league.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/2/...tract-extension-highest-paid-super-bowl-winer

It doesn't surprise me at all that the Patriots were prepared to defend against that play. They are a leave no stone unturned organization.

 

[redheat]

I bet Arians would have passed it there too.

 

[Austin Zonie]

I bet Arians would have passed it there too.

Arians doesn't have Lynch.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

I know it sounds kind of crazy, but I think that Pete Carroll is arrogant enough to want to tilt the scales toward Wilson.

Not crazy to me Mitch, That's how the "Fight on!" USC mindset thinks. I thought he threw the ball because he had visions of looking into the camera and saying, "We have so many weapons. I had full confidence in Wilson and our receivers. These guys have shown they know how to come back in any situation. Fight on!" And then he'd have given the "V" sign and given that very special Petey smile that says, "Aren't I awesome?"

Only problem for him was showboating in the Super Bowl is a really bad idea. So, instead of being hoisted up on the shoulders of his players, he's going down in history as being the head coach of the team that called the stupidest play in the history of the NFL.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Only problem for him was showboating in the Super Bowl is a really bad idea. So, instead of being hoisted up on the shoulders of his players, he's going down in history as being the head coach of the team that called the stupidest play in the history of the NFL.

And I'll keep doing the happy dance.

 

[GatorAZ]

I must be the only one in America who thought that was very borderline pass interference?

The dude went through the WR to get the ball. I know that would never be called on a team like the Pats but if that is a Cardinal CB I'm praying right there for no flag.

Until PI calls can be challenged or reviewed DB's should always hit the point of contact a split-second early. It was a great play combined with a bit of luck. No human eye can detect that contact in real time.

 

[BigRedRage]

The Seahawks are preparing to make Russell Wilson the highest paid player in the league.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/2/...tract-extension-highest-paid-super-bowl-winer

It doesn't surprise me at all that the Patriots were prepared to defend against that play. They are a leave no stone unturned organization.

second game in a row he same out playing terrible for the first half but both games he made up for it with some great deep balls.

 

[Hollywood]

second game in a row he same out playing terrible for the first half but both games he made up for it with some great deep balls.

Yeah but he had a slight concussion in the Packers game.

 

[splitsecond]

Mitch this is EXACTLY what I was telling someone yesterday after the game. At the time of the play I was screaming at the TV wondering what the heck Belichick was doing not taking a timeout, thinking that Lynch was about to run it in and there would be no time left for Tom Terrific to get the team in field goal position let alone score a touchdown.

But that is why Belichick is a coach in the NFL and I am not.

He had to have been fairly confident that if he let the Seahawks scramble to get a play off while the clock ran that there was a solid chance they would make the wrong call. The call to throw in a way made sense with only one time out left, but if they wee going to do that it should have been a quick read and if there was nothing WIDE open Wilson should have tossed it out of the end zone. That would have given them two shots at Beast Mode running it in with the single time out left.

My guess is that Belichick, as tireless as he is, has probably watched every tape of Seahawks late drives that exists and has seen the propensity for Bevell to throw in those situations.

Regardless, his demeanor never changed on the sidelines and I don't think he ever even debated calling a time out. What looked boneheaded at the time was absolutely brilliant in hindsight.

 

[GatorAZ]

I thought it was incredibly stupid because they only would've needed a FG to tie. Had it been a 3 pt lead, meaning NE would've needed a TD, then I thought it would've made some sense just playing the odds. I think Belicheck made a mistake and got incredibly lucky.

 

[ajcardfan]

I thought it was incredibly stupid because they only would've needed a FG to tie. Had it been a 3 pt lead, meaning NE would've needed a TD, then I thought it would've made some sense just playing the odds. I think Belicheck made a mistake and got incredibly lucky.

Exactly how I saw it. Belicheck screwed up and then Carroll screwed up and Belicheck got off the hook. Believe me, had Seattle scored a TD and New England got the ball with 10 seconds or so left in the game, it would be Belicheck getting raked over the coals.

 

[conraddobler]

Yup. Given the height of the pass and location of it, it was a 50/50 ball and the WR pulled back and shortarmed it.

I didn't see it that way, in fact at full speed my first reaction was PI.

He went through the guys shoulder to get the ball and the replay confirmed this.

I'm not saying you'd get that call 100% of the time but I am saying a team like the Cardinals would be sweating that call much more than the Patriots would because of history.

 

[conraddobler]

Until PI calls can be challenged or reviewed DB's should always hit the point of contact a split-second early. It was a great play combined with a bit of luck. No human eye can detect that contact in real time.

Just watching live I thought it was PI and after I watch the replay it looked even worse to me.

If you watch that live it's 50 50 if you'd think they bounced off each other... which would be legal or if he goes through the back of the guys shoulder which would not be.

The rule is you have a right to the ball but you don't have a right to go through the back of an offensive player to get to it.

When you watch it he's surging forward which is fine but he can't surge forward through any part of the back of the guy before the ball even gets there which is what he did.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I didn't see it that way, in fact at full speed my first reaction was PI.

He went through the guys shoulder to get the ball and the replay confirmed this.

I'm not saying you'd get that call 100% of the time but I am saying a team like the Cardinals would be sweating that call much more than the Patriots would because of history.

You're allowed to go through the guy as long as you get to him the same time as the ball. You have just as much right as the WR to go for the ball.

 

[Hypothesis]

Just watching live I thought it was PI and after I watch the replay it looked even worse to me.

If you watch that live it's 50 50 if you'd think they bounced off each other... which would be legal or if he goes through the back of the guys shoulder which would not be.

The rule is you have a right to the ball but you don't have a right to go through the back of an offensive player to get to it.

When you watch it he's surging forward which is fine but he can't surge forward through any part of the back of the guy before the ball even gets there which is what he did.

If you watch the slow-mo replay in the following vid @ around the 2:08 mark you'll see Butler's shoulder pad hitting Lockette in the right side of the rib cage...not the back. Both playing the ball. Perfectly legal.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000468053/In-Depth-Game-changing-interception

 

[D-Dogg]

Not PI...textbook play on the ball by the DB.