As we have read and discussed at length the things that happened during the Cardinals' win on Sunday. At the end of the games there were a couple of decisions made that some believe could have cost the team the game. One such move was the decision that LaRod Stephens-Howling made on the final kickoff to kneel it in the end zone for a touchback, rather than try to bring the ball out on the return and try to run a few more seconds off the clock.
So far, the consensus has been that he was not smart for taking the touchback, but it isn't as cut-and-cried as that. Let me illustrate.
The clock was at 2:06 when the ball was kicked off. May believe that he should have run the ball out because it would have taken the clock down to the two-minute warning. This is possible.
However, it was no sure thing. The one other kick he returned on Sunday went for 28 yards and it knocked off only six seconds.
Against Seattle, there was a 28-yard return and a 22-yard gain that went for seven second each.
Now, if he does run it out and runs six seconds off, then New England would have been unable to stop the clock for a third time. But if it doesn't, then nothing changes, but they might have worse field position. That's the one thing we could not see on the TV broadcast -- Hyphen might not have liked the coverage look he got.
In short, we don't even really know if that decision changes anything. We can second guess, but it isn't a sure thing that the clock runs to the two-minute warning.
Anybody change their minds on this?