On Sunday, the Ravens and Cowboys provided stark examples of how to handle, and how not to handle, the final seconds of a close game in light of current kickoff rules.
The Steelers and Browns apparently learned nothing from it.
After the Browns failed to run down the clock until the final seconds before what became the game-winning field goal, 10 seconds remained.
Like the Cowboys in Rio, the Browns punted in the end zone, giving the Steelers the ball in the 35th. (A cutaway from Browns coach Todd Monken seemed to reveal his dismay.) That opened the door for the Steelers, who had a timeout on hand, to try to gain just enough yards to allow a field goal that would have forced overtime.
From the television copy, it appeared that the Browns were playing the same type of outside leverage that the Cowboys deployed when the Ravens, who had just seven seconds to work with, gained 27 yards and kicked the field goal. This gave the Steelers a chance to complete a pass in the middle of the field.
But the Steelers didn’t call a play that would have required a quick throw for a moderate gain and a shot at the field goal.
Instead, quarterback Aaron Rodgers rolled to his right, looking to unblock a long throw. The pass, which was coming down just inside the Cleveland 20, was intercepted. Game over.
Why not try a gain of 20 to 30 meters? Quick decision, quick throw. If it works, take a break and try the basket. If not, let Rodgers try to connect another Thursday evening miracle.
Coach Mike McCarthy (or Rodgers himself) inexplicably opted for middle ground, with a long throw that, had it connected, might have allowed a timeout and a short field goal.
The decision made no sense. The Steelers could have made two shots – a shorter attempt to put them within field goal range for overtime and, if that failed (without an interception), a Hail Mary to win it.
Moving the touchback spot from 30 to 35 in 2025 has significantly changed the strategies available for the final 10-15 seconds of a game. The Browns repeated the Cowboys’ mistake by conceding at the 35, and the Steelers failed to seize the very real chance of using the final 10 seconds to gain enough ground to send them to overtime.
Gn sports
