Game Thread: Game 5 Titans @ Cardinals

[Callidus]

8 minutes ago, OILERMAN said:

 

You need two TDs and a 2 pointer regardless of how good or bad your offense is, that changes absolutely nothing

Ofc it can. If your offense sucks and you have the option of a near gurantee that your next score will be a potential tie vs a potential 7 point game that if you do not get it required you to score twice makes it much more daunting. 

 

You are puting the choices in a bubble, there are always more varibles that effect real life. This is football, not chess. 

[Callidus]

8 minutes ago, OILERMAN said:

 

This had 0 to do with it either way

Maybe for you, but i gurantee it is for some people. People do it after most calls that end poorly. 

[begooode]

from James Foster, aka no flags
 

 

[titanruss]

 

It was stupid not to go for 2 there. There's no variables. It's basic math... and it allows you to speed up or take your time later on, depending on the earlier result. 

 

I was screaming at the TV yelling to fire that retarded pussy for not knowing basic coaching shit. 

 

[TF_Titan]

14 hours ago, TerryBoats said:

Why would they go for 2 down 21-12? Chances for successful XP are much higher and keeps it a 1 score game.  Callahan sucks but it was the right call.

 

It's only a one score game if you assume they're going to successfully convert the two points on the next TD...which you've already admitted was a way lower probability than an extra point. If they don't convert the two points it was always a two score game...they just didn't know it yet. You're better off knowing it with more time left on the clock so you can call the game accordingly. You're going to call the game differently if you know you need two scores instead of one. Going for two early was the correct call 

 

Having said that the decision was nowhere near as bad as others he's made and I wasn't too upset with it at the time.

[Mercalius]

IMO the only reason to never go for two on the first score is if it’s potentially flukey or felt like maybe the offense didn’t earn it.  Momentum is a thing.  So stalling for the 2 point try on a drive that theoretically ties the game, after the offense is amped up and the defense rattled, CAN make sense.  
 

But that is a very rare scenario.  And you should almost always go for 2 early to have better information for the rest of the game.  I hated the random 4th and ten at midfield near halftime and I hated the immediate 1 finger after we went up to 12.  It’s not inexcusable, but compiled with everything else that’s gone wrong, it was certainly frustrating and I immediately thought WTF is this guy doing.  

Edited October 8, 2025 by Mercalius

[NashvilleNinja]

 

 

[Mercalius]

8 minutes ago, NashvilleNinja said:

 

 

I hadn’t seen that angle until now but on the replays I watched from the shared angle it looked like it definitely had a chance to be a TD.  I know Ridley has deservedly gotten criticized this year, but he played his ass off this game.  Even went all in when it was a fumble and did his best to get the ball.  Luckily he didn’t lol.  

[NashvilleNinja]

Just now, Mercalius said:

I hadn’t seen that angle until now but on the replays I watched from the shared angle it looked like it definitely had a chance to be a TD.  I know Ridley has deservedly gotten criticized this year, but he played his ass off this game.  Even went all in when it was a fumble and did his best to get the ball.  Luckily he didn’t lol.  

 

Starting off slowly really does seem to be a thing with him. I don't get it, but if this is him waking up then by all means... wake all the way tf up.

[TF_Titan]

BTW...Slye's missed extra point turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If he makes it they're down by 8 and their mindset is to get a TD and the two point conversion to send the game into overtime. Aside from the lower chances of making the conversion (and Ward and the offense have struggled passing in the red zone), who knows what happens in overtime. They could have easily tied it up and still lost.

 

But by missing the extra point it forced them into a two score mindset and took overtime off the table, and I think with the momentum of the game that probably worked in their favor. You could argue Slye ended up saving Callahan from himself.

[bizzyeddie]

15 hours ago, OILERMAN said:

https://www.footballperspective.com/trailing-by-15-in-the-middle-of-the-4th-quarter-teams-are-foolish-to-not-go-for-2-after-touchdowns/

 

Trailing by 15 in the middle of the 4th quarter, teams are foolish to not go for 2 after touchdowns

 

Knowledge is power. You need to get a two-point conversion at some point, and knowing whether you’re going to convert is important information. There is no reasonable reason not to go for 2 after your first touchdown. Yes, missing out on the two-point conversion earlier could be demoralizing. But what would you call missing out on a two-point conversion with 5 seconds left when trailing by 2?

 

There is a reason why coaches fail to go for 2 in this situation, and why smart fans also think it’s correct to take the safe points. It’s because they’re focused on keeping their hope alive as long as possible. As my friend Brian Burke once wrote, “coaches do not coach to maximize their team’s chances of winning. My theory is coaches are delaying elimination until the latest point in the game—that is, trying to “stay in the game” for as long as possible.”

 

If you’re going to miss it, going for it earlier significantly improves your odds of pulling off a miraculous comeback, precisely because you’re got almost no chance if you miss it late. If you are going to miss your two-point attempt, you’re in much worse shape finding that out with 1 minute left than with 7 minutes left. Knowledge is power, and coaches that pull a McCarthy are playing with a weaker hand.

it wasn't the middle of the 4th

if it were 7mins left then you absolutely should go for 2

 

there was over 10 mins left in game...it makes a difference.

[bizzyeddie]

15 hours ago, OILERMAN said:

https://www.footballperspective.com/trailing-by-15-in-the-middle-of-the-4th-quarter-teams-are-foolish-to-not-go-for-2-after-touchdowns/

 

Trailing by 15 in the middle of the 4th quarter, teams are foolish to not go for 2 after touchdowns

 

Knowledge is power. You need to get a two-point conversion at some point, and knowing whether you’re going to convert is important information. There is no reasonable reason not to go for 2 after your first touchdown. Yes, missing out on the two-point conversion earlier could be demoralizing. But what would you call missing out on a two-point conversion with 5 seconds left when trailing by 2?

 

There is a reason why coaches fail to go for 2 in this situation, and why smart fans also think it’s correct to take the safe points. It’s because they’re focused on keeping their hope alive as long as possible. As my friend Brian Burke once wrote, “coaches do not coach to maximize their team’s chances of winning. My theory is coaches are delaying elimination until the latest point in the game—that is, trying to “stay in the game” for as long as possible.”

 

If you’re going to miss it, going for it earlier significantly improves your odds of pulling off a miraculous comeback, precisely because you’re got almost no chance if you miss it late. If you are going to miss your two-point attempt, you’re in much worse shape finding that out with 1 minute left than with 7 minutes left. Knowledge is power, and coaches that pull a McCarthy are playing with a weaker hand.

it wasn't the middle of the 4th

if it were 7mins left then you absolutely should go for 2

 

there was over 10 mins left in game...it makes a difference.

[TerryBoats]

9 hours ago, TF_Titan said:

 

It's only a one score game if you assume they're going to successfully convert the two points on the next TD...which you've already admitted was a way lower probability than an extra point. If they don't convert the two points it was always a two score game...they just didn't know it yet. You're better off knowing it with more time left on the clock so you can call the game accordingly. You're going to call the game differently if you know you need two scores instead of one. Going for two early was the correct call 

 

Having said that the decision was nowhere near as bad as others he's made and I wasn't too upset with it at the time.

I guess I can understand that.  On the other hand, momentum is a real advantage and making it a 1 score game keeps that running hot.  

Edited October 8, 2025 by TerryBoats

[bizzyeddie]

9 hours ago, TF_Titan said:

 

It's only a one score game if you assume they're going to successfully convert the two points on the next TD...which you've already admitted was a way lower probability than an extra point. If they don't convert the two points it was always a two score game...they just didn't know it yet. You're better off knowing it with more time left on the clock so you can call the game accordingly. You're going to call the game differently if you know you need two scores instead of one. Going for two early was the correct call 

 

Having said that the decision was nowhere near as bad as others he's made and I wasn't too upset with it at the time.

ignoring the fact that the opposing team gains the same information and can use it to their advantage just as easily is what IMO makes it meaningless.

 

if you decide to go for it you better get or your fucked...it's really that simple.  Callahan needs to feel confident he has a play to convert...if not...kick it

[TF_Titan]

24 minutes ago, bizzyeddie said:

if you decide to go for it you better get or your fucked...it's really that simple.  Callahan needs to feel confident he has a play to convert...if not...kick it

 

But they didn't convert and they weren't fucked.

 

Missing the extra point was exactly the same as missing the two point conversion. There was still enough time on the clock to get two scores, and by knowing they needed two scores instead of one it allowed them plan accordingly and (for instance) be more aggressive on offense.

 

And if Callahan is not confident he has a play to convert the two points why would he be any more confident they would convert it later?