Your Call: Are trick plays acceptable in a blowout?

What’s more fun than second-guessing NFL coaches? Nothing, that’s what. So let’s do it every week, right here. We start with a question of overtime strategy: keep driving or kick for the win?

The scenario

Detroit was in the process of thoroughly stomping Dallas, 37-9. In the waning seconds of the third quarter, Lions QB Jared Goff threw a pass to his right that was caught by Amon-Ra St. Brown, who promptly lateraled it to right tackle Penei Sewell. Sewell had vacated his spot on the offensive line in order to take the pitch around the Cowboys’ 10-yard line, then charged toward the end zone, continuing the beatdown of an already broken Cowboys team.

So … should Detroit have pulled a trick play when they’d clearly already won the game, or was this poor sportsmanship by the Lions? Your call.

The case for ‘playing the game the right way’

When you’ve humbled your opponent, why dance on their grave? There’s such a thing as sportsmanship, and running goofy plays to get an offensive lineman a garbage touchdown runs far afield of it. Win like gentlemen, lose like gentlemen, treat your opponent with the same respect you’d want from them.

The case for trickeration

The simplest way to keep your opponent from running trick plays on you in a blowout is not to let them blow you out in the first place. There’s no scoreboard reward for sportsmanship; you don’t get extra points for tightening up your playbook. A play executed in October could result in a big gain in January (or February, if the Lions dare to hope). This is football, not golf; take advantage of every opportunity at your disposal, and if feelings get hurt, tough.

The result

The “touchdown” ended up not counting, after all. Sewell’s elbow appeared to hit the ground before he got in for the score, but a flag flew before he even began his dive. Detroit was flagged for an ineligible player downfield, and the entire play was nullified. Three plays later, Detroit opted for a field goal, extending the Lion…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/your-call-are-trick-plays-acceptable-in-a-blowout-200909895.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-14 20:09:09

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