Ian Allan
Can’t believe the end of the Chargers-Broncos game. That was just crazy.
The fumble call, and then Mike Shanahan going for the 2 to win it.
Part of me – that small sliver of sportsmanship deep inside – thinks that Shanahan, recognizing that a incorrect call had been made, should have conceded the game. He could have instructed Jay Cutler to take a knee. I wonder how that would have gone over, whether he would be praised or ridiculed.
And I’m blown away that he went for the two-point conversion. Even as they were lined up, I was wondering whether they were just hoping to draw the Chargers offsides or something – maybe only run the play if Cutler liked the defense he saw. I can’t remember a team ever going for a two-point conversion (in the pros) to win a game. The Carolina Panthers intended to try a two-pointer to win in their first-ever game (back in 1995), but a false start penalty pushed the ball back to the 7-yard line, so they instead kicked the PAT.
On Sunday, though, this was no expansion team going for a win. These were the two frontrunners in the AFC West, battling it out in a game that will have playoff implications.
—Ian Allan
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Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Sep. 15 at 03:46 AM
I can remember one other time, and I've got the trivia question to prove it.
Posted by Scot Woods | Sep. 15 at 09:07 AM
Certainly a gamble, but if you kick the PAT, you still go to overtime and risk losing that way. Are the chances of winning in OT that much better than the chances of making the conversion? Aren't they about equal, actually? I give Shanahan credit: He trusted his players and went "all in."
Posted by Sam Pitaro | Sep. 15 at 01:13 PM
Didn't something similar happen a few years back with the Dick Vermeil coached KC Chiefs? I think they were playing the Raiders. If I recall correctly they were down by 3 points and drove down to the goal line and were 4th and goal at the one with just enough time for one play. They elected to go for the TD and the win and they got it - I believe LJ ran it in.
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Sep. 15 at 03:39 PM
Kansas City beat Oakland 27-23 at Arrowhead in 2005. The game-winner was scored by Larry Johnson with no time remaining. That game was different, however, in that the ball was at the 1-yard line. With the ball being on the 1 rather than 2, Kansas City had a higher probability of success.
Posted by BRYAN BERTSCH | Sep. 16 at 08:05 AM
I love the call. When the 2-point conversion was first implemented, the "rule of thumb" was for the away team to go for two to win, and the home team to kick for overtime. In this game, however, the teams were scoring at will and the Broncos had momentum. Plus, they had just received a gift call from the ref. So ride the hot hand and end the game. If you lose, you know you should've lost the play before anyway. Just being able to watch Mile High erupt was awesome!