Victory Formation is for Losers

 “You play to win the game..” Herm Edwards said it for a reason…because without him there’s no “Miracle at the Meadowlands.” The November 19, 1978 game where Herm’s Eagles trailed the New York Giants 17-12 with seconds left on the clock..Giants ball.

Run Herm Run!!

  The GMen plan to run out the clock by TAKING A KNEE….or RUNNING THE BALL…Usually it’s one or the other…not BOTH…Giants QB, Joe Pisarcik didn’t realize that...thought about taking a knee and tried handing the ball to FB, Larry Csonka…who fumbled…Edwards picked it up..ran it 26 yards for the winning score…19-17 Eagles..

   Almost 34 years later…Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants..”Miracle at Metlife”? Almost…At least that’s what Bucs head coach, Greg Schiano was hoping for when his team choked away a 34-16, 4^th quarter lead…a 25 point Giants 4^th made it, 41-34 Giants.

  

   With seconds left, the Giants holding the football…Tom Coughlin tells QB, “Elite” Eli   Manning to take a knee and end the game. Schiano tells his squad to bull rush and force a fumble…

To rush or not to rush?

  The Bucs dive at the ball...Manning and the line fall to the turf, but he holds on. Game ends. 

  Instead of a post game handshake at midfield…Tom Coughlin berates rookie head coach, Schiano for sending the defense on Manning. Which begs the question…WHY?

  Maybe he can’t do math…doubtful though...41-34..meaning it was a 7 point or one  possession game…the Bucs could still force overtime..

  Maybe he can’t tell time…Coughlin IS notorious for his “Coughlin time” ie: If a meeting is scheduled for 10am it starts at 9:45am Coughlin time…So maybe he figured the game was actually over...more plausible..still doubtful.

 

  Maybe he figured taking a knee means your team is in “Victory Formation” so game over..nobody blitz..unwritten rule…This is the most likely and most UNACCEPTABLE explanation…There’s a reason the rule is unwritten…not because no one had a pen, or they ran out of space in the rule book……”Just put it on the back page.” “We can’t…we’re all out of room..can’t spare it..” This train of thought is worse than the replacement referees…and they’re abysmal. If it was a two possession game..no reason to rush the quarterback unless Pete Rose is concerned about the point spread.

NOTE to offense..when you see the defense in a three point stance ready to blitz..you may want to block…

((USC TROJANS READ THAT LAST LINE 3 MORE TIMES))

  On the same day….the Arizona Cardinals had dominated the New England Patriots on the road….and with a minute left tried to run out the clock. Instead they fumble..and New England goes down the field and miss a game winning field goal..20-18. Point being, it happens.

 

  This was not classless..this wasn’t “not taking it like a man” the game lasts 60 minutes….HELLO

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