The thought crossed my mind. Once Iowa was in good FG position, 1st and 10, with just over 2:20 left, and their kicker was perfect 4/4. Worst case scenario in that situation is they make Brohm burn all 3 timeouts, then get a first down and inside the 5 and take three knees to end the game. Next worst scenario is they make Brohm burn all 3 timeouts, come up short of the first down, then kick the FG to go up two scores.
What happened was Iowa scoring on that 1st and 10 play with about 3 or 4 missed tackles, putting them up two scores but preserving all 3 Purdue timeouts with 2:16 left on the clock.
To be clear, I don't think this is what happened. The tackling on that drive was just THAT BAD. But in hindsight it might have been the right call. Just for fun, which of these scenarios would you rather be in?
(A) Your opponent has the ball, up by 6. 1st and 10 at your 14 yard line. You have three timeouts and there's 2:20 left in the game. (This was the situation just prior to Iowa's final TD)
(B) You are receiving a kickoff, down by 13. You have three timeouts and there's 2:16 left in the game. (What actually happened next)
(C) Your opponent has the ball, up by 6. 2nd and 3 at the 7. You have two timeouts and there's 2:16 left in the game. (What happens if Mosley tackles Sargent instead of getting run over and/or Mackey tackles instead of watching the fly by)
(D) Your opponent has the ball, up by 6, 1st and goal. You have one timeout and there's 2:00 left in the game. (Likely outcome after scenario C).
(E) You are receiving a kickoff, down by 9. You have no timeouts and there's under 2:00 left in the game. (Best case scenario after scenario C).
E seems slightly better than A or B. But no timeouts and you still have to recover the onside kick. Either way the win probability was in the fractions of a percent, but the TD was not the worst thing in the world whether it was intentional or not.
What happened was Iowa scoring on that 1st and 10 play with about 3 or 4 missed tackles, putting them up two scores but preserving all 3 Purdue timeouts with 2:16 left on the clock.
To be clear, I don't think this is what happened. The tackling on that drive was just THAT BAD. But in hindsight it might have been the right call. Just for fun, which of these scenarios would you rather be in?
(A) Your opponent has the ball, up by 6. 1st and 10 at your 14 yard line. You have three timeouts and there's 2:20 left in the game. (This was the situation just prior to Iowa's final TD)
(B) You are receiving a kickoff, down by 13. You have three timeouts and there's 2:16 left in the game. (What actually happened next)
(C) Your opponent has the ball, up by 6. 2nd and 3 at the 7. You have two timeouts and there's 2:16 left in the game. (What happens if Mosley tackles Sargent instead of getting run over and/or Mackey tackles instead of watching the fly by)
(D) Your opponent has the ball, up by 6, 1st and goal. You have one timeout and there's 2:00 left in the game. (Likely outcome after scenario C).
(E) You are receiving a kickoff, down by 9. You have no timeouts and there's under 2:00 left in the game. (Best case scenario after scenario C).
E seems slightly better than A or B. But no timeouts and you still have to recover the onside kick. Either way the win probability was in the fractions of a percent, but the TD was not the worst thing in the world whether it was intentional or not.
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