PLAYOFF GAME #2

[shoes22]

It was very relevant because the Browns never got the ball back!

And listen to yourself. In the first line of your post you you say the defense was not capable of stopping KC, but in the second line you say you have to believe your defense can stop them.

HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?

Did you only read half my post?

I’m saying the game ultimately proved we weren’t capable of stopping them. But before that, you have to assume that your defense can stop them with the extra field position, because if not, you’re not stopping them in the other scenario either.

 

[Modest Mouse]

Stefanski says he “didn’t see the replay” on the Higgins hit but that he’ll let the “League handle it.” This strikes me as a pretty bad answer. It’s a failure to stand up for your guy and a failure to pressure the NFL to implement review on plays like that.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Is everyone taking the 15% from the Model of Moz? Because honestly I’m honoured if so, but the Mode of Moz predicted a 1.3% chance they would throw on 3rd and 14. The damn thing is on the fritz

 

[Rich]

The whole pace of the final drive was too slow and made the decision to punt that much worse.

The Browns took over with 8 minutes left, called a timeout when they couldn't get lined up right, and somehow managed to take 4 full minutes off the clock while only gaining 12 yards.

If you're going to go that slow, then that has to be your last possession. You can't take that much time and then still punt.

Yea this is a good summation.

I thought with their pace and the TO that they burned that they decided this drive was it. They were in 4 down territory the whole way.

 

[Soar]

Stefanski says he “didn’t see the replay” on the Higgins hit but that he’ll let the “League handle it.” This strikes me as a pretty bad answer. It’s a failure to stand up for your guy and a failure to pressure the NFL to implement review on plays like that.

Stefanski has about 2 million things in his head right now, many of which are probably things that will keep him up for many nights this offseason as he considers what he could have done differently to change the outcome.

I don't expect him to be coherently answering questions right now in the most perfect ways.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

The whole pace of the final drive was too slow and made the decision to punt that much worse.

The Browns took over with 8 minutes left, called a timeout when they couldn't get lined up right, and somehow managed to take 4 full minutes off the clock while only gaining 12 yards.

If you're going to go that slow, then that has to be your last possession. You can't take that much time and then still punt.

Yep, great points. Everything we did that drive signaled we would live or die by that drive

....Then we didn’t. And that’s what’s so frustrating. Like, you’re fine with the punt? Ok. Then how are you also fine with the timeout and no urgency on the drive? Because they slow played that drive like it would be our last

 

[Cement]

Offense had no rhythm almost the entire game. Credit to the Chiefs defense.

 

[CBBI]

Did you only read half my post?

I’m saying the game ultimately proved we weren’t capable of stopping them. But before that, you have to assume that your defense can stop them with the extra field position, because if not, you’re not stopping them in the other scenario either.

The Chiefs ran 19 plays with Henne under center and converted 6 first downs. So no, you really can't assume the defense is going stop them after a punt.

At least not to the point where it was worth giving up the opportunity to keep possession of the football by going for it on 4th down.

 

[Modest Mouse]

Stefanski has about 2 million things in his head right now, many of which are probably things that will keep him up for many nights this offseason as he considers what he could have done differently to change the outcome.

I don't expect him to be coherently answering questions right now in the most perfect ways.

He gave a characteristically measured answer to a question everyone knew he’d get postgame. He made a choice between stepping up for his guy or deferring to a League that clearly doesn’t take player safety seriously. I think he made the wrong one.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Stefanski says he “didn’t see the replay” on the Higgins hit but that he’ll let the “League handle it.” This strikes me as a pretty bad answer. It’s a failure to stand up for your guy and a failure to pressure the NFL to implement review on plays like that.

Dude it just doesn’t matter

Time travel fox isn’t walking through that door. Again, we can control what we can control. We can’t control the rule of a touchback. We can’t control the ref being trained to look at the plane and the ball. We CAN control our tempo and urgency. And why we were playing like we needed a touchdown at all costs there will never make sense to me with Mahomes on the other side. I know people will say one in the hand 2 in the bush, but guess what? That’s reality when you’re going against Mahomes. It’s not enough to score, you also have to manage the clock to not have him score

I’m not saying Higgins should’ve kneeled an uncontested touchdown at the 1, but he’s had fumbling issues this year. The risk reward was garbage going for that touchdown there and it backfired bigly

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I wonder how many people saying the Stefanski punt was terrible would be praising it if Myles strips Henne on that sack.

I hate results-dependent analysis.

I think I side slightly with the punt side, but appreciate @CBBI 's points. The difference between a td winning the game and needing a td plus 2 to just tie is a big one as well.

 

[Modest Mouse]

Dude it just doesn’t matter

Time travel fox isn’t walking through that door. Again, we can control what we can control. We can’t control the rule of a touchback. We can’t control the ref being trained to look at the plane and the ball. We CAN control our tempo and urgency. And why we were playing like we needed a touchdown at all costs there will never make sense to me with Mahomes on the other side. I know people will say one in the hand 2 in the bush, but guess what? That’s reality when you’re going against Mahomes. It’s not enough to score, you also have to manage the clock to not have him score

I’m not saying Higgins should’ve kneeled an uncontested touchdown at the 1, but he’s had fumbling issues this year. The risk reward was garbage going for that touchdown there and it backfired bigly

I agree with everything you said and still think Stefanski was presented with an opportunity to say he hopes the League looks at review rules on hits like that in the off-season. For whatever reason, he didn’t. It’s reasonable to say Higgins made a mistake and that the League’s approach needs to be re-evaluated. These aren’t mutually exclusive.

Anyway, good game and go Browns.

 

[Surge]

I wonder how many people saying the Stefanski punt was terrible would be praising it if Myles strips Henne on that sack.

I hate results-dependent analysis.

I think I side slightly with the punt side, but appreciate @CBBI 's points. The difference between a td winning the game and needing a td plus 2 to just tie is a big one as well.

This is where I'm at too.

The fact that good point being made both ways suggests it was no sure call. In the heat of the moment, ill admit I thought we could hold Henne.

Using the timeouts was huge. I honestly think if we get Baker the ball back with 1:20 or so we're scoring.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

I wonder how many people saying the Stefanski punt was terrible would be praising it if Myles strips Henne on that sack.

I hate results-dependent analysis.

I think I side slightly with the punt side, but appreciate @CBBI 's points. The difference between a td winning the game and needing a td plus 2 to just tie is a big one as well.

Yeah agreed that a lot of times results dictate the praise, but I’ve got time stamped evidence I wanted to go for it the entire time. So at the very least I have a free pass to question it forever

 

[Los216]

A punt in that situation with four minutes left isn't cut and dry. It's a question of who the coach trusts more.

Baker just had a golden opportunity, and he couldn't do anything three plays in a row. The third down play specifically was troubling because if he steps up in the pocket, he has great options to run or pass to Hunt.

Then the defense - Henne had just thrown a YOLO pass into the end zone after seeing seeing pressure. If the defense executes on either third down, Browns win the field position battle with time on the clock.

It was a question of trust, and it didn't work out.

Not to mention the defense got stop on first down and a huge sack on 2nd down from Myles Garrett to force KC into a 3rd and long. Aside from a turnover what more could we have asked for going into that 3rd down run?

WE forced KC into a do or die 4th down play and they converted. I feel like people are shitting on the defense for their cumulative performance over the whole season on two plays today. 3rd and 14 and 4th and inches and that's just not fair.

WE have to give KC credit for making plays after our defense forced them into a tough situation.