Playing not to lose VS. Playing to win...

[AZCardsWin]

costed the Cardinals a chance at winning the game last night. 3rd & 10. Make it and you win the game. Period. Dont make it and it still falls on your defense to win the game. Cards played it safe by running and then punted it away and lost.

They need to start playing to WIN and NOT TO LOSE. It seems every coaching staff over the past 20 years refuses to try to win a game at the end and gets scared to make the call that will win it.

Go Cards/ America!
Tim

 

[nashman]

To be fair the D stopped them all night long and should have been able to not let them drive 85 for the TD. Although we did need to be more aggressive with the play calling when we had the ball. So I agree and disagree with you, but definately we need to start playing to win!

 

[justAndy]

As I posted in another thread - the Prevent Defense at the end prevented a Cardinals win - AGAIN.

 

[Renz]

I was really disappointed in that drive. Whis seemed to be saying, "Let's go three-and-out and hope that the defense can stop them."

Why not go for the jugular and throw on second or third down? Maybe even throw in a run by Shipp or Boldin?

Calling Edge-Edge-Edge-Punt-Choke is what really cost us the game.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

As I posted in another thread - the Prevent Defense at the end prevented a Cardinals win - AGAIN.

I only remember one blitz in the final drive. Guess what happened on the play? An incomplete pass.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I was really disappointed in that drive. Whis seemed to be saying, "Let's go three-and-out and hope that the defense can stop them."

Why not go for the jugular and throw on second or third down? Maybe even throw in a run by Shipp or Boldin?

Calling Edge-Edge-Edge-Punt-Choke is what really cost us the game.

I absolutely agree with that. Even if you don't, you give yourself more time to work with if you don't get the 1st. I don't mind the run on 1st or 2nd, but not on 3rd too.

 

[chicards11]

I absolutely agree with that. Even if you don't, you give yourself more time to work with if you don't get the 1st. I don't mind the run on 1st or 2nd, but not on 3rd too.

The ONE thing that worked for us on offense last night----the run game-- is the one thing that ended up letting us down. If we smash the ball...we win the game.

There are a lot of "if" and "buts"......when it comes right down to it, the cards run game let them down on that last drive. We run the ball/run the clock.....we win the damn game

still pretty upset over this one.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The ONE thing that worked for us on offense last night----the run game-- is the one thing that ended up letting us down. If we smash the ball...we win the game.

There are a lot of "if" and "buts"......when it comes right down to it, the cards run game let them down on that last drive. We run the ball/run the clock.....we win the damn game

still pretty upset over this one.

Very true, but the times when the defense knows you are going to run, is the time where the play action pass works the best.

 

[john h]

costed the Cardinals a chance at winning the game last night. 3rd & 10. Make it and you win the game. Period. Dont make it and it still falls on your defense to win the game. Cards played it safe by running and then punted it away and lost.

They need to start playing to WIN and NOT TO LOSE. It seems every coaching staff over the past 20 years refuses to try to win a game at the end and gets scared to make the call that will win it.

Go Cards/ America!
Tim

I agree with you on that. Not only did we not try to make a first down I think we went into a prevent mode and prevent the big big play which often allows teams to march down the field uncontested in a short time. All teams seem to do this and as often as not it does not work. We should have stayed with the defense that got us to that point. Yes this is 20/20 but I did not like the 3rd down call before we made it and I certainly did not like that loose defense.

Another call during the game that confounded me was a play where we had two yards for a first down. We give the ball to our weakest running back who did not gain an inch. Our two big backs who can get you yards were just looking.

I thought our defense overall looked better than I expected. Leinhart looked sort of lost to me and not as good as last year. I have no idea what happened to the offense on all those penalties. That has got to be corrected. SF and the Cards looked evenly matched and neither looked very good. We finally ran the ball for the first time in a few years which should pay off down the road. Our wide receivers were almost a non factor and Leinhart failed to see a couple who were open including Fitz who it appeared to me could have easily scored.

I really do not know what to think of this game or what kind of team we have at this point.

 

[john h]

To be fair the D stopped them all night long and should have been able to not let them drive 85 for the TD. Although we did need to be more aggressive with the play calling when we had the ball. So I agree and disagree with you, but definately we need to start playing to win!

Were we not in the dreaded "prevent" defense on the last drive?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Buffalo lost a game by the exact opposite strategy on Sunday.

Ultimately the onus falls on the defense, which had numerous opportunities to make plays and just didn't succeed.

 

[Renz]

Very true, but the times when the defense knows you are going to run, is the time where the play action pass works the best.

If we had gone play action on first or second down there would have to have been someone open. We only needed those 10 yards and we win.

 

[Renz]

Buffalo lost a game by the exact opposite strategy on Sunday.

Ultimately the onus falls on the defense, which had numerous opportunities to make plays and just didn't succeed.

Personally, I would rather lose being agressive and going for the win than lose playing timid at the end.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Personally, I would rather lose being agressive and going for the win than lose playing timid at the end.

Yep. The shy, timid Cards have lost more times than not.

 

[Hollywood]

And the bottom line is if you go for the first down and don't get it you are still in the same boat. 4th and whatever, punt. But if you DO get the first down the game is over. What have you really got to lose in trying?