PATS vs RAVENS (1.10.10) AFC Wild Card

[Roy Hobbs]

Terrible spot.  There's no way Flacco was a yard short.

[Fafnir]

Terrible spot.  There's no way Flacco was a yard short.

Good challenge, this should result in a first down.

Even if it doesn't they should go for it.

[Fafnir]

Pats need a huge stand now.

[Roy Hobbs]

Question:  even if that hadn't been a first down, why wouldn't it have been considered a successful challenge?  Clearly, the original spot was wrong.

I'm assuming that's a rule?  If you challenge the spot, it's only a successful challenge if the play results in a first down?

[Roy Hobbs]

That's the game.

[Fafnir]

Question:  even if that hadn't been a first down, why wouldn't it have been considered a successful challenge?  Clearly, the original spot was wrong.

I'm assuming that's a rule?  If you challenge the spot, it's only a successful challenge if the play results in a first down?

No, because Bellichek and several other coaches abused that. They'd challenge spots and they'd almost always succeed as the ball usually gets moved some. It gave them extra time outs in essence.

So now you have to challenge whether or not its a first down, or something else on the play for it to be "successful".

[Aeacus]

Question:  even if that hadn't been a first down, why wouldn't it have been considered a successful challenge?  Clearly, the original spot was wrong.

I'm assuming that's a rule?  If you challenge the spot, it's only a successful challenge if the play results in a first down?

Yep they changed it a season or two ago. Since you got an extra challenge if you won the first two, they decided you shouldn't always win a spot challenge (Since they almost always move the ball at least a little and that used to be considered a successful challenge).  Now to be successful it needs to result in a first down.

[Fafnir]

Question:  even if that hadn't been a first down, why wouldn't it have been considered a successful challenge?  Clearly, the original spot was wrong.

I'm assuming that's a rule?  If you challenge the spot, it's only a successful challenge if the play results in a first down?

Yep they changed it a season or two ago. Since you got an extra challenge if you won the first two, they decided you shouldn't always win a spot challenge (Since they almost always move the ball at least a little and that used to be considered a successful challenge).  Now to be successful it needs to result in a first down.

Which results in a weird situation sometimes. A coach will challenge an awful spot knowing he's going to lose just to get the yards back.

[Aeacus]

Not sure I like that challenge.  I'd rather have it in my pocket in case something weird happens that gave the Pats a score on an incorrect call. The 2pt try wasn't that important

[Fafnir]

Not sure I like that challenge.  I'd rather have it in my pocket in case something weird happens that gave the Pats a score on an incorrect call. The 2pt try wasn't that important

Yes and no, I can see his thinking if his coaches told them they'd win. Either way its not going to matter.

[celticinorlando]

unfortunately for the Pats...the game was decided in that first quarter...never seen brady or the pats come out so flat like that before

[nickagneta]

Aiken might be unconscious.

[Roy Hobbs]

It was all for naught, but that was one heck of an effort by Edelman.

[mahonedog88]

There's so much to be mad about in this game.

But instead of repeating what everyone is going to say...I'm thinkin I'll try and bring something up that maybe many people havent thought of.

This team, obviously, is COMPLETELY different without Wes Welker.  There's been all this talk about how the defense needs to improve, they need some playmakers.  Well the same can be said about the offense.  Now with there being a good chance that Welker won't be ready for next season, let alone ever be the same player again, I think it's time the Pats take a serious look at either making trade for a legit receiver or look to draft an instant playmaking receiver.

Brandon Marshall anyone?

[Aeacus]

That was pass interference.  Nothing going right for the pats in this game.  Time for a lot of running plays from the Ravens.