No Guts, No Glory -- More On Shanahan's Decision To Go For Two
Ok, so I gave you my opinion on why it was a great thing that the Broncos went for 2 and the win yesterday against the Chargers. If you didn't read it, or hear it on MHR Radio Post Game last night, I'll summarize. It was better decision for the morale of the football team to lose it by missing a 2-point conversion than by losing a coin toss, something out of your control, and letting the Chargers drive the field. Remember, the Broncos hadn't stopped the Chargers from getting to field goal range the entire 2nd half.
Here are what some of the players had to say about the move --
Champ Bailey -
I was shocked. I didn't see it coming. You expect a team that's 1-6 and is on the road to call that play. But we have a chance to do something here and to get that type of play, could really get us rolling. I love it.
Tony Scheffler -
Jay gave us the plan in the huddle. We all looked at each other and thought it was a great idea. You don't want to lose a game like this on a coin toss .... Our coach is going for it this year.
Nate Jackson -
There were some guys on our sidelines who were confused that we were going for it. But this team has had our number. Now we have all the momentum.
Jay Cutler -
I was telling the guys that if we had to score again we had to go for two. It’s one of those calls. We didn’t want to go into overtime and I like the call. We haven’t really been stopped, we kind-of stopped ourselves with the pick. So I liked it.
Eddie Royal -
It means a lot that the coaches have that much confidence in us to let us go for it.
Selvin Young -
I was thinking two points before we even touched the field. I had it in my head that we were going to go for two and walk out of here with a win, and we did. Tomorrow we will go over film, get back to work and get the job done. I think people saw that we had some fire today. We all wanted to let people know that we were here today to play for four quarters. Jay showed poise and we fought together and stayed together. The fans were great today, they came out and supported us throughout the game, they made some noise and were a big help to our win.
Oh, and for those of you keeping score at home, this is the 6th time a team has gone for 2, down by one, inside the final 2 minutes. The results? 3-3 --
Sept. 14, 2008 Broncos vs. San Diego 0:24 Scored, won 39-38
Nov. 13, 2005 Tampa Bay vs. Washington 0:58 Scored, won 36-35
Dec. 19, 2004 Detroit vs. Minnesota 0:08 Failed, lost 28-27
Dec. 15, 2002 Minnesota at New Orleans 0:05 Scored, won 32-31
Oct. 12, 1997 Chicago vs. Green Bay 1:54 Failed, lost 24-23
Nov. 19, 1995 Jacksonville at Tampa Bay 0:37 Failed, lost 17-16
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Comments
Yeah, but
2 of those would have had enough time for an onside kick if failing the 2 point. And there was no team that has done such thing this early in the season! Great Jay, great Shanny, great Broncos!
by DjBroncos on Sep 15, 2008 5:56 AM MDT 0 recs
As long as we are being honest
It never occurred to me until I got back to the blog and saw everyone talking about , that we should have done anything but try for two. At the time I was thinking: “What more could you want for an opportunity to win the game? One play with the best unit on the team, from the goalline. That is about as good as you could ask for given the situation.”
But after mulling it over, I see the logic behind kicking the PAT, namely that FG’s have a higher percentage of success than goalline plays, which is what you would be playing for in OT.
But seriously, the way our defense was getting slapped around, too much would have been riding on that stupid coin flip. This was a no-brainer.
Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.
by styg50 on Sep 15, 2008 7:27 AM MDT 0 recs
We were thinking the same thing...
Conventional logic says to kick the PAT…>Screw convention, I’m all about winning football games!
-TSG
SBNation's Denver Broncos Blogger
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by TheSportsGuru on
Sep 15, 2008 7:35 AM MDT
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Not just the way our defense was getting slapped around...
but also our offense was moving the ball- we only scored 8 in the second half, but the last two drives, the Chargers just couldn’t stop us… unless we turned it over.
13-3? why not 16-0!?!
by jack_ on
Sep 15, 2008 7:37 AM MDT
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We got beat in OT twice last year
and we never touched the ball. I wouldn’ t have expected anything less from Shanahan.
"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan
by weazel on
Sep 15, 2008 8:47 AM MDT
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Same here
Our _efense hadn’t stopped them all game long. I would rather have the ball in Jay’s hands with one play to make, then to take a chance on a coin flip. Even if we don’t make it, I support the call.
Owning the Patriots since September 9, 1960
by Darin H on
Sep 15, 2008 9:09 AM MDT
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I was too stunned...
….to develop an opinion before the two points were scored. What a game! I drank all the beer in the house!
I like a man who fights with a grin on his face. Winston Churchill.
by bradley on Sep 15, 2008 7:48 AM MDT 0 recs
I was hpoing that we'd go for two as soon as we scored
but wasn’t sure Shanny would be thinking that way. My thinking was, we hadn’t been able to stop San Diego in the second half. If they win the coin toss they win, but if we win the coin toss it’s not certain that we win. Not only were the odds better going for two, it meant that it was in our hands to win or lose the game. Better to go for it all while we have the ball than to sit back passively and hope the coin falls right.
"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen
by spock on Sep 15, 2008 8:28 AM MDT 0 recs
Me too
and I was elated immediatly when I saw it happen!
by metalman5050 on
Sep 15, 2008 6:25 PM MDT
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I loved the call
I’m a Giants fan, so I didn’t have as much invested in it as the rest of you, but I loved it. I unfortunately had to watch the Brett Favre-snorefest on CBS for two-and-a-half hours, so I only got to see the last 2 minutes of the Broncos game, but even just from that 2 minutes it was the most exciting game I’ve seen this year.
Living on the East Coast I don’t get too see many Broncos games, but after MNF and the game yesterday, I like what I see from them: Cutler looks awesome, and the decision to go for 2 showed Shanahan has confidence in his O to get the job done. I hope to see some more of you guys this season.
by cjmulrain on Sep 15, 2008 8:39 AM MDT 0 recs
I'm not the official greeter here at MHR...
…but I’m certain nobody else woulf mind if I told you to please feel free to stop by anytime and offer your two cents. We enjoy outside perspectives.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on
Sep 15, 2008 10:32 AM MDT
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First of all,
Hey Rivers,
Karma is a bitch aint it?
Shanny has grapefruit and he slapped Norv in the face. The Broncos should have never been in that postion, but I will take it.
We have a problem on our hands with the defense. The offense is set for years with all the youth and smart picks in Marshall, both Ryans, Cutler, Royal, Scheff, Torain, and Hillis. We built the offense within 3 years through the draft. The defense is going to be harder to rebuild.
I don’t care if you’re Superman, you can’t cover a WR for 5 or 6 seconds on a consistent basis. We need to get some pass rush NOW. You need to get some rush at all costs. The Giants and Colts have shown us what you can do with some ends, a dt, and an average secondary.
Lastly, I love having Shannon Sharpe, Tom Jackson, and sometimes Merrill Hodge being analysts. They all favor the Broncos. Now, if you’ve noticed, the “experts” are quiet. They’re not saying complaining about the call, they’re noticing us.
Bic Mac, Casino Royale, and the Slot Machine.
by broncodude793 on Sep 15, 2008 8:39 AM MDT 0 recs
My thoughts on going for 2.
First off I thought it was a classy move by Shanny. After the “fumble” in what maybe deamed gimme points, Shanny went for 2. In essences saying, we will put it all on the line and either win it or lose it with one play. Giving the Chargers a fairshot at winning on one play as well.
The overtime coin toss is so important. I like this play because it left the game up to the players and not a lucky side of the coin. In the end the chargers had a tough call not go their way. But they had a chance to win… they just didn’t stop the 2 point conversion. Gutsy, Classy call by Shanny.
My image is the Circa 1960-’61 Broncos home uniform sock. Some what folk lore to me ... but referred to as the clown sock by my Dad.
by YellowStoneBronco on Sep 15, 2008 8:47 AM MDT 0 recs
I got that same feeling.
I thought Shanahan was saying to Turner, "On the one hand, that call was hard. On the other, we’re not just going to hand you the game and walk away. So this is how we settle it, man to man. We gotta score twice. If we do, we win. If we don’t, you win.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on
Sep 15, 2008 10:38 AM MDT
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My first thought was that they were trying to catch SD off guard
and would call a timeout if SD was aware and kept the defense organized on the field. But when I realized they were going for two, I liked the call. Better to take a 50-50 shot when you have the ball than a 50-50 shot on a random coin toss.
As a random note, I learned on ESPN (of all places) that this was the first Denver game that Ed Hochuli has reffed since 2001 after Denver complained about his crew in a Oct. 8, 2000 game vs the Chargers that Denver won 21-7 while suffering 9 penalties for 113 yards.
by MattR on Sep 15, 2008 8:49 AM MDT 0 recs
I was for it
I was screaming before we even scored that we needed to go for two, because simply put, our defense wasn’t going to stop San Diego the rest of the game, and I know Shannan was feeling the same way. So in essence I think it was the smartest thing we could of done, you had the momentum, you had their defense on their heels, and if you can get the win, then go for it. If we had failed, I am sure everyone in here would be bemoaning that we should of played it safe, you don’t know what would of happened in overtime, but I think this goes to Shannan belief in his offense and his fear of his defense.
"How do the berries taste Ralph?" Bart Simpson
"They taste like burning." Ralph Wigam
Broncoman
by Broncoman on Sep 15, 2008 9:38 AM MDT 0 recs
Great insight from a buddy of mine in SD
He pointed out to me this morning that Shanny went for two because
“wow, the refs are definitely going to turn the rest of this game one big makeup call, I better try to steal it now”
I wish Woody Paige was our coach!
by bcfunk on Sep 15, 2008 9:38 AM MDT 0 recs
Interesting line of thinking...
I wonder if this crossed Shanny’s mind?
My image is the Circa 1960-’61 Broncos home uniform sock. Some what folk lore to me ... but referred to as the clown sock by my Dad.
by YellowStoneBronco on
Sep 15, 2008 9:53 AM MDT
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Did anyone else have problems understanding
the call about the fumble? I didn’t but it seemed to confuse the commentators. When they first came out with the review rules the whistle blowing was supposed to be the end of the play no matter what. This is part of the reason many officials will let the play continue even when from our angle (t.v.) we see the play should have been stopped or in this case not.
Now I was surprised a whistle was blown so early, but I’ll take it because it could have and will go the other way for us sometime in the future.
The officials will probably have a meeting about letting the play go (assume its a fumble) and then reviewing to over turn the other way.
I’ll bet the thought of makeup call was looming in the back of Shanny’s mind, but the biggest factor was out Ds inability to stop them in the second half.
by Sneaky Sean on Sep 15, 2008 10:26 AM MDT 0 recs
I don't think he blew the whistle early.
The players are taught to keep going till the whistle blows. If Hoculi genuinely thought the pass was incomplete he needs to blow the whistle a.s.a.p. to prevent injuries.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on
Sep 15, 2008 10:42 AM MDT
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Its not thet he blew it "early" in a bad sense
I just meant that usually refs are told to let the play go unless 100% sure. I see exactly what you are saying and fully agree. I just don’t believe he could have been 100% sure. I love the outcome and just wish it hadn’t been fumbled in the first place and we wouldn’t even be talking about it.
But I’m able to see hundreds of replays and different angles. He has to decide in a matter of fractions of a second. I was surprised he had blown it as soon as he did…and relieved.
by Sneaky Sean on
Sep 15, 2008 11:22 AM MDT
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The ref who blew the whistle
was standing behind Cutler. All he saw was an arm going forward, but not at what point the ball came out. In the replay, you can see him running up from behind cutler signalling incomplete as soon as the ball hits the turf. I don’t know which ref it was, but the mistake is his, and it seems human.
Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.
by styg50 on
Sep 15, 2008 11:36 AM MDT
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It was Hockili, and you are right, the replay showed he had already blew the whistle when the ball hit the turf
"How do the berries taste Ralph?" Bart Simpson
"They taste like burning." Ralph Wigam
Broncoman
by Broncoman on
Sep 15, 2008 12:03 PM MDT
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My bad then. Sorry.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on
Sep 15, 2008 12:21 PM MDT
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Go for Two!
I yelled it out before they said they were doing it, i was joking, but i called it before Jay did.
Go Broncos!
by dbroncos78087 on Sep 15, 2008 10:55 AM MDT 0 recs
Remember that the crowd exuberantly cheered the call before the play occurred.
I think an easy majority of Broncos fans believed that going for 2 was the better gamble. Win or lose, at least it was up to the Broncos.
by hooper on Sep 15, 2008 11:13 AM MDT 0 recs
I loved it
First it was a fumble but from where Eddie Guns was situated it looked like an incomplete pass so he blew the whistle. Good for Denver bad for SD. But IMO Denver should NEVER have been in that position. I feel Mike was trying to run out the clock in the 3rd. If he would have kept his foot on the neck of SD, I feel the Broncos would have scored over 50. That being said Marshall is a BEAST. Royal is a stud. Denver has two #1 Wr’s. Those 2 dictate coverages. I looks like it took Marshall 1 game to lead the NFL in receptions. But the most telling thing to me is that Shanny has rejuvanated this organization. That duece is awesome, he said the Broncos are in it to win it. I applaud him. Even if Denver would have lost I feel thei offense can score on anyone. Cutler is the real deal. Denver has our replacement ot Elway. We are gonna see plays in the arsenal not seen since 1998. I for one am so jacked. Sure there are issues with our defense but to me this is gonna be a wild ride. I want to see improvement on the defense, which I do believe will happen as the year goes on. SD is a good offensive team, they are a good team overall. They were a game from the SB, and have returned everyone. Now they are minus a great pass rusher. Too me this showed Denver is for real
Though the end is near, Still I am not sorry
by broncfanstuckinsd on Sep 15, 2008 11:41 AM MDT 0 recs
I gotta gree with you BFSinSD.
Maybe they should have really poured it on, tried to bury the Chargers to start the second half.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on
Sep 15, 2008 12:24 PM MDT
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What does it matter -- it's not like they really won!
What a joke! Cutler lost that game. It’s not that I don’t like the Broncos because I actually do, but seriously, that was not a win. This game was handed to them, not earned. Aside from the first TD that was stolen, the Cutler fumble was the end of the real game. Broncos lost based on actual football! I would say the same thing if the calls


