"I told the guys in the huddle, I said, hey, obviously we need a touchdown but let's don't be in a hurry" (November 15, 2009)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind -
The Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars each won their Week 10 games in the final seconds of regulation. Both teams secured victory using effective time-management, but not in the traditional way.
In the lexicon of professional football, "time-management" most often refers to an offense preserving the clock so they will have enough time remaining to take a lead. But, often times, an offense can get points too quickly and, by virtue of doing so, allow the opposition to come back and score.
In their Week 10 victories, both the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars did something that is rarely, if ever, credited as effective game management. In both of their respective games, each chose to run seconds off of the clock while they were still trailing on the scoreboard.
Read: Jaguars keep playoff hopes alive, defeating Jets
Late in the 4th Quarter the Jaguars trailed (22-21) and faced a 2nd & 6 from the New York Jets 10 yard line when Maurice Jones-Drew broke off tackle for what appeared to be a sure touchdown. With a clear path to the end zone, Jones-Drew instead fell down at the Jets 1-yard line. Needing only a field goal to take the lead, the Jaguars kneeled on the ball 3 times before Josh Scobee kicked the game-winning field goal. Time expired during the kick and the Jaguars won the game, 24-22.
The finish was even more dramatic in Indianapolis. Following one of the most controversial coaching decisions in recent history, the Colts stopped the Patriots on a 4th down & 2 and took over on the New England 29 with 2 minutes left in regulation.
Read: Colts stun Patriots, 35-34
Needing a touchdown to take the lead, but not willing to give the Patriots much remaining time for their next possession, the Colts offense huddled before each play and ran precious seconds off of the clock before finally scoring on a Peyton Manning 1-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne.
The touchdown drive was 4 plays, went 29 yards and took 1:47.
(The Colts touchdown drive on the previous possession was 6 plays, went 79 yards and took only 2 seconds longer.)
Both of these AFC South teams won this week and both did so by using effective, but unconventional, time-management.
In the lexicon of professional football, "time-management" most often refers to an offense preserving the clock so they will have enough time remaining to take a lead. But, often times, an offense can get points too quickly and, by virtue of doing so, allow the opposition to come back and score.
In their Week 10 victories, both the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars did something that is rarely, if ever, credited as effective game management. In both of their respective games, each chose to run seconds off of the clock while they were still trailing on the scoreboard.
Read: Jaguars keep playoff hopes alive, defeating Jets
Late in the 4th Quarter the Jaguars trailed (22-21) and faced a 2nd & 6 from the New York Jets 10 yard line when Maurice Jones-Drew broke off tackle for what appeared to be a sure touchdown. With a clear path to the end zone, Jones-Drew instead fell down at the Jets 1-yard line. Needing only a field goal to take the lead, the Jaguars kneeled on the ball 3 times before Josh Scobee kicked the game-winning field goal. Time expired during the kick and the Jaguars won the game, 24-22.
The finish was even more dramatic in Indianapolis. Following one of the most controversial coaching decisions in recent history, the Colts stopped the Patriots on a 4th down & 2 and took over on the New England 29 with 2 minutes left in regulation.
Read: Colts stun Patriots, 35-34
Needing a touchdown to take the lead, but not willing to give the Patriots much remaining time for their next possession, the Colts offense huddled before each play and ran precious seconds off of the clock before finally scoring on a Peyton Manning 1-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne.
The touchdown drive was 4 plays, went 29 yards and took 1:47.
(The Colts touchdown drive on the previous possession was 6 plays, went 79 yards and took only 2 seconds longer.)
Both of these AFC South teams won this week and both did so by using effective, but unconventional, time-management.
