Decision to kick FG on 2nd down?

[Pappy13]

I didn't get a chance to see the game yet, I'm hoping that the NFL channell will show it on replay, but looking over the play by play according to it the Dolphins kicked the FG at the end of the game on 2nd down. Is that correct? Why would they decide to kick a FG on 2nd down rather than take a shot into the endzone right there? Did they worry about a sack taking them out of FG range possibly? Just curious as I haven't seen any mention of it.

[EKnight]

They needed 10 points and had no time out. It wasn't a bad choice. Get the easy 3 that you need no matter what and then try an onside kick, as opposed to using more time first trying to get into the end zone. -EK

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

They needed 10,  FG + TD.  Kick the FG then do the onside kick.  It is actually possible to score a TD on an onside kick.   

[Brian Fein]

I thought it was lunacy at first, but in hindsight it seemed OK.  I would have rather they took a shot or two at the end zone, but it would have just made the score closer.  Either way you have to get a TD and a FG.  I guess they thought it was better to get the FG when you can line it up with the clock stopped than having to rush with the clock ticking and the game on the line.

In the end, it all comes down to the onside kick, either way.

[Pappy13]

They needed 10 points and had no time out. It wasn't a bad choice. Get the easy 3 that you need no matter what and then try an onside kick, as opposed to using more time first trying to get into the end zone. -EK

I'm not saying it was a bad choice, I'm just curious why it was on 2nd down? Seems like they could have taken a couple more shots into the endzone, not lost much time and still kicked the FG if they don't get it. Again, I didn't see the game so not sure what happened on 1st down, I knew they threw an incomplete pass, but was it a risky pass or something possibly? I'm not looking to challenge the play calling, more trying to explain the thought process behind it.

[Pappy13]

They needed 10,  FG + TD.  Kick the FG then do the onside kick.  It is actually possible to score a TD on an onside kick.   

True, but typically when you are that close you want to try to get the TD first and then hope for a long FG to tie rather than vice versa.

[Dave Gray]

Kicking the FG is absolutely the right call.  You can still have an opportunity for a TD from midfield.  You can't kick a FG from there.  The Dolphins best chance to win the game was to kick the FG, recover the kick, and then use every available second trying to get a TD from anywhere on the field.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

True, but typically when you are that close you want to try to get the TD first and then hope for a long FG to tie rather than vice versa.

Yes, that is typical.  Don't think either appoach is superior or inferior.  E.g. I don't think the Dolphin's coach was either briliant or a moron for his approach.  It was and 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.  Just cause he choose the path less traveled doesn't make it good or bad.  But it does say he is willing to think outside the box.  

[Pappy13]

Kicking the FG is absolutely the right call.  You can still have an opportunity for a TD from midfield.  You can't kick a FG from there.  The Dolphins best chance to win the game was to kick the FG, recover the kick, and then use every available second trying to get a TD from anywhere on the field.

I'm not so sure about that. Yes, you CAN get a TD from anywhere on the field, but you can't tell me that a 24 yard pass doesn't have a better chance at scoring than a 50 yard pass does. Hail Mary's don't have a great success rate. Now neither do 55 yard FG's, but they have a better success rate than Hail Mary's. And if you throw an incomplete pass on 2nd down you can still kick the FG on 3rd or 4th down. I'm just curious why it was 2nd down. Did something happen on 1st down that might make you reconsider trying another pass? Was it nearly intercepted on 1st down? Was Tannehill nearly sacked which would then threaten the FG attempt? Did Philbin say anything? I'm looking for an answer from a game situation type stance, not simply that you need 10 points and need to kick a FG. I get that, but it doesn't have to be on 2nd down.

[Pappy13]

Yes, that is typical.  Don't think either appoach is superior or inferior.  E.g. I don't think the Dolphin's coach was either briliant or a moron for his approach.  It was and 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.  Just cause he choose the path less traveled doesn't make it good or bad.  But it does say he is willing to think outside the box.  

Again, I'm NOT questioning the call. I'm just curious if Philbin said something or perhaps something happened on 1st down that would lead him to make the decision he did on 2nd down. I mean why 2nd down? Why not 1st down if you are gonna go that route? He decided to take 1 shot. Why not 2? Why not 3? I'm not criticizing the call in any way, I'm just trying to understand Philbin's thought process.

[Dave Gray]

I'm not so sure about that. Yes, you CAN get a TD from anywhere on the field, but you can't tell me that a 24 yard pass doesn't have a better chance at scoring than a 50 yard pass does. Hail Mary's don't have a great success rate. Now neither do 55 yard FG's, but they have a better success rate than Hail Mary's.

Right, but you can still attempt to go down the field first, before the hail mary.  You have more options if you kick first.

Option 1:
Kick the FG now.  Assuming you make the onside kick, you have 4 downs and reasonable time to go 50 yards.

Option 2:
Go for the TD.  Since it will likely use up your time, assuming you make the onside kick, you don't have the time to go the 25 yards you need and still have time to make the kick.

Anything can happen, but statistically, option 1 gives you the best odds to win.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Again, I'm NOT questioning the call. I'm just curious if Philbin said something or perhaps something happened on 1st down that would lead him to make the decision he did on 2nd down. I mean why 2nd down? Why not 1st down if you are gonna go that route? He decided to take 1 shot. Why not 2? Why not 3? I'm not criticizing the call in any way, I'm just trying to understand Philbin's thought process.

I think it has something to do with the clock being stopped and no need for TO to kick it.  

[badger6]

10 points is 10 points either way.

[Pappy13]

Option 1:
Kick the FG now.  Assuming you make the onside kick, you have 4 downs and reasonable time to go 50 yards.

You can throw into the endzone twice and only take off maybe 10 seconds and if you manage to score, then you only need to get to around the 40 yard line to try a long FG to tie, you don't need to go 60 yards for a TD.

Option 2:
Go for the TD.  Since it will likely use up your time, assuming you make the onside kick, you don't have the time to go the 25 yards you need and still have time to make the kick.

I would agree if there were like 10 seconds left instead of 30, but you think you can get 60 yards and TD in 30 seconds but you CAN'T get 25 and a FG in 20?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Maybe he wanted to help the Fin fans that had money on the game, FG covered the spread.  If he went for a TD there might have been and int.