Could we have still won the game WITHOUT the benefit of the extra 15yrds at the end of the game (with 7 seconds and no timeouts remaining)? Probably not, but maybe. Without the penalty, we'd have been at the 46 yrd line, 7 seconds, no time out. Morninweg would have 3 options: 1- hail mary 2- pass interference in FG range 3- 7-10 yard quick out taking 5-6 seconds or less. I'd go with option 3. A quick out to move from the 46 yard line to around the 39-40 yard line with 1-2 seconds left. Then give a 55-56 yard FG a try. Of course the odds of winning go from 50% with the help of the penalty to around 15-20%, but it would be far from a 'guaranteed loss'.
Could we? Sure. Any of the items listed could have happened including what did. We also would have won if Geno did not fumble giving the Bucs an easy touchdown. A lot of different things could have happened. I would rather win ugly than lose pretty anyday.
That Geno scramble got us in field goal range with the clock stopped. I think we run another play, and pick up yards and with 2 seconds left take a 50 yard FG.
Hail mary or some crazy multiple lateral play were probably the only legit options so very low probability.
It is possible if not probable. It would have been very easy to complete a 10 yard out in 5 seconds if they would leave someone open. But the same could be said if we did not lose 15 wasted seconds calling late timeouts we would have had a lot more time. But more impressive to me than speculation was how fast the offense lined up after the Winslow completion the play before the Geno run. We gained 25 yards on the play, lined up and spiked the ball all in 14 total seconds. Beginning the play with 29 seconds and then ending the spike play with 15 seconds. That was an impressive play by everyone on the offense getting lined up that fast. Some credit should go to MM there as well. That execution was literally a game saver.
Winning this game was great, but avoiding a similar ending next time is the lesson to take away for Geno. They are up 15-14 with 2 plus mins to go. 2 first downs and the game is over. Likely 1 first down and the game is all but over. So, great that we won, but, Geno & Marty need to work on the plays to end the game with a knee, instead of a foot. We are set up to win Rex style, low scoring games where we put it on our D to make the plays to win late. Only, time & time again we've seen that story end with a Loss, unable to get off the field on 3rd down when the game was on the line. Let's stop watching the same movie over & over again, and work on getting the key first downs when we need them in the last 3 minutes of a game. We've seen enough of the brutal 3 and outs late in games when trying to nurse a lead. I hope Geno lets us turn the corner on a new offense.
Probably not, no...but I will take it. If it was a bad call that would be one thing but it was a legit call.
No but it wasn't a gift. No difference between that hit OB and Landry missing that crucial tackle on the Bucs' previous possession. Players need to make plays while the clock is ticking. If you make too many bad plays you lose.
Eh, best chance is a quick pass to the sideline setting up a 55-yard or so kick by Folk. Plausible, but not very likely.
If Geno didn't fumble at 5 yard line, would Bucs come anywhere near winning? NO. But that happened. Just like that stupid 15 yard penalty. THAT ALSO HAPPENED. So get over it. It's all over now.
Could we have won the Super Bowl if Tomlinson scores at the goal line in the AFC championship game a few years ago?
As OP I'm not saying we would have still won the game handily. I'm just saying it's not fair for reporters to paint our victory as a miracle win thanks to a gift. Saying game over....zero chance of winning after giving up the previous bucs fg. With 30 seconds left and not time outs As it turns out, Geno actually drove us pretty fricken close all on his own to the 46 yr line. Still a bir far for a winning kick, but we did have 7 seconds left and a dam good kicker. The longer outs (15-20 yards) would have been heavily covered, but the short out was being given to us. So we take it and trot Folk for a 55 yarder. Nicks kick from 48 was long enough and would have had the distance even from 55. Would he have made it? we'll never know, but it would have been sitting out there for him on a silver plater for the win. I just tossed and coin. It was heads! He made it! Win still wion the game all by ourselves. There......I feel much better.
one penalty out of the bunch. Could we have won without Folk's FG? Could we have won without the Bucs committing penalty after penalty in the first? Could we have won without Winslow's TD? Landry's pick? Geno's fumble? Geno's pick? Meh, there's always a few plays that shape up a game, it's not like it's the only thing. Who cares. Jets 1-0, Giants 0-1... but you know they will still spend the next week insulting the Jets. Yeah they're going 3-13!!! :rofl: Plenty of games are cost by stupid late penalties. It happens, but regardless I know exactly how the media will spin it, ignoring all other games with similar circumstances.
