I am not understanding how not running the ball blew this game.
- (1:58 - 4th) Two-Minute Warning
- 1st & 10 at LAR 13
(1:58 - 4th) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short left to M.Thomas.
- (1:55 - 4th) Timeout #1 by NO at 01:55.
- 2nd & 10 at LAR 13
(1:55 - 4th) A.Kamara right end to LA 13 for no gain (M.Barron).
- (1:49 - 4th) Timeout #2 by LA at 01:49.
- 3rd & 10 at LAR 13
(1:48 - 4th) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short right to T.Lewis.
- 4th & 10 at LAR 13
(1:41 - 4th) Wil Lutz 31 Yd Field Goal
Second and ten and Kamara gains nothing running the ball.
Third and ten and the pass to Lewis is the non call play. If they run and don't get the first down the Rams call their third TO and stop the clock with about the same amount of time left. The Saints had exactly 48 yds rushing in the game at this point and 16 of it was on one carry by Ingram. Outside of Ingram's run they were averaging 1.6 YPC. Do you really think they were going to get 10 yds. on the third down play? How does running the ball make the blown call a mute point? The Saints would still kick the FG and the Rams would still have about 1:40 left on the game clock.
Its pretty simple...It was the pass on first down that changed the calculus,
if the Saints on first down, the Rams call time out #2
Run on second down, Rams call time out#3
Run on 3rd down cannot stop the clock...that means the Saints run out the entire play clock and kick the same chip shot field goal to take the lead...
The difference is how much time is left on the clock for the Rams to march down the field to attempt to tie or win the game...doing the math at the time I figured about 40 secs with NO time outs...HUGE difference between 1:40 and :40...
It was the throw on first down that made the blown call MOOT...
The Saints shot themselves in the foot EVERY time they got cute in the game, those packages for Taysom Hill were idiotic...they had no issues running or throwing...WHY get cute?