In December 2007, Eagles running back Brian Westbrook wisely tackled himself on the doorstep of the Dallas end zone with Philly leading by four and two minutes to play. Since the Cowboys had no time outs, the Eagles were able to kill the clock without giving the ball to the other team.
Today, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew pulled a similar maneuver. With the Jags trailing by one and the Jets out of time outs, Jones-Drew got the ball at the New York 10 and went down on his own at the one. The Jags then played if safe with first and goal, taking three knees before kicking the game-winning field goal.
If Jones-Drew had scored and if the Jags had failed to convert on the two-point try, the Jets still could have won the game by driving for a touchdown with 1:48 to play.
So kudos for Jones-Drew for doing the unselfish thing.
Of course, fantasy football players who have Jones-Drew on their teams likely don't see the honor in it.
Jones-Drew pulls a Westbrook
Posted by Mike Florio on November 15, 2009 4:09 PM ET
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Latest stories in: Jacksonville Jaguars, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, New York Jets, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Jacksonville Jaguars, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, New York Jets, Top Stories
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plays like these prove to be fantasy football killers lol
That play in 2007 wasn't Westbrook's idea. He heard Jon Runyan yelling at him to go down. He's the one who deserves the credit.
Totally disagree. Westbrook's Eagles had the lead when he stopped short of the goal line. Jones-Drew's Jags did not. Critical difference. All kinds of adversity could happen on the next play, e.g., botched snap, fumble, 10 yard holding penalty, all possibly leading to a blocked FG, etc. When you have a chance to take the lead, you take it. Yeah, it worked out this time but you are totally off base on this one. I guarantee you that most Jag fans did not think it was a good play at the time, fearing the worst.
how dumb would it have been if they lined up for a FG and it got blocked, or had bad snap, or anything else where they don't make it?
the big difference is the eagles were ahead and the jags werent. it was actually a very risky play that worked out for them....
shouldve mentioned that
And, Garrard said during the interview that Maurice needed to swallow his pride and not go into the endzone just like Westbrook did. Planned beforehand.
J-E-T-S SUCK! SUCK! SUCK!
LMAO!
Another Rex Ryan comfort eating night tonight.
Smart?
And say after that the Jets block the FG or the snap is bad or the holder fumbles it or the kick is wide?
He'd be called an idiot!
he screwed me...the hell with being a team player...who cares if the Jags win or lose. my fantasy team is what's important here. i'm going to the playoffs, not the Jags and thier eighteen fans
The real culprit here was Rex Ryan who called the Jets' last time-out prior to the decision to allow MJD an open lane to score. If Ryan would have made the decision to give MJD the open lane a play earlier, then MJD's better option would have been to score.
It's amazing that each franchise doesn't hire an Assistant Coach for Clock Management who could sit upstairs and convey the proper clock management call down to the field with any situation left.
If they hired a full-time coach for clock management, it would probably cost about $150k (including benefits) per season, which considering how much the owners spend is a small price to pay for ensuring your team manages the clock correctly.
It's not "unselfish". It's the play his team needed him to make.
What, so now when a QB takes a knee at the end of the game he's also unselfish because he's giving himself negative rushing yards for the good of the team?
When a QB does a Hail Mary into the endzone at the end of a half and gets picked off, is that also unselfish? What about when a QB can't find anyone open, so he throws the ball away, thus adding an incompletion to his personal stats and QB rating?
Herm Edwards says:
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE fantasy football GAME!!!!!!!
Seriously? When westbrook did it, the eagles were leading the game. When MJD did it the jags were LOSING. What happens if the kick is blocked/missed? Who is the hero then? I say thumbs down on that one. And just for the record, i don't have MJD in my fantasy league.
It isn't the same thing, and it isn't smart. When Westbrook did it, they had the lead. You don't go down at the 1 and put the game into your kickers hands. In that situation, you have to score the guaranteed TD and take the lead... Totally different situation than the Westbrook play.. c'mon, get it right..
This will probably be Florio's only article on the Jags this week, now that they won (and won away) he doesn't have anything to bash them on.
# Bob S. says: November 15, 2009 4:37 PM
Smart?
And say after that the Jets block the FG or the snap is bad or the holder fumbles it or the kick is wide?
He'd be called an idiot!
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Gotta respectively disagree there Bob S
I think Del Rio would have been blamed, since they did not go for the score on the plays after the kneel at the one.
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If you watch the game you could see how Maurice Jones Drew dominated it. First drive, five runs no passes 55 yards and a TD. Next drive lots of runs and screens to him. Completely stopped the blitz early.
Where are all the Jets fans bragging about what a freaking genius their coach is? I think it's time for Rexie-poo to pucker up and kiss some rings.
Go Patriots!
The chance of the Jags defense allowing a touchdown with a minute and a half left in the game was greater than the chance of missing a 20 yard field goal. Great move (even though he is on my fantasy team).
Everyone is letting the JETS off easy. they were allowing a team to score a TD. Thats just sad. And the odds of the JETS taking the ball for a TD with a 1:48 left were much higher then the Jags messing up a chip shot FG.
I always wonder what would have happened in the SB if Fitzgerald had been able to stop at the 1 yard line and waited for the Steelers to catch up.
Well what happened if the FG was blocked?!
God people THINK for a second, that can be answered with another question: What happened if he scored, then the Jets came down and tore through the Jags at times unreliable defense? I'd take a really short FG try over tempting fate with their defense.
It's all about managing risk. You weigh the risk of a missed field goal (which was approximately the same as an extra point) versus a late drive or hail mary pass. There is no fail safe option but I like the decision, whether it was Del Rio's or Jones-drew's. You keep the game in your control and challenge your guys to execute a play you practice daily. They likely would have won regardless of the decision but this kept the chance of a fluke play to a minimum.