A recap of all that was stupid during the 12th weekend of the 2014 NFL season…
The stupidest intentional grounding penalty
No way, Walt Coleman. You cannot flag Kyle Orton for intentional grounding in the end zone when his pass winds up this close to receiver Sammy Watkins…
To be clear, this was called intentional grounding…
And this was not…
The second-stupidest intentional grounding penalty
Oh, but this was…
It’s clear that came as a result of quarterback-receiver communication issues, with tight end Cooper Helfet running the wrong route. And it’s on the officials to make that distinction. In all three of these situations, they failed.
The stupidest pass interference penalty
Tough weekend for officials. Fantastic breakup by Stephon Gilmore is somehow called a DPI by Coleman’s crew…
The stupidest fourth-down decision
Down 10 points at the Miami 47-yard line in the fourth quarter, Bills head coach Doug Marrone decided to punt the ball away on a 4th-and-7. The crappy punt bought them only 27 yards. That’s a complete joke. Are you trying to lose?
The second-stupidest fourth-down decision
Down eight points near midfield late in the third quarter, Lions head coach Jim Caldwell decided to punt the ball away on a 4th-and-1. They did gain 46 yards, but those yards were taken back within two plays by the opposing Cardinals. Considering that they were losing a low-scoring game and that teams convert about 65 percent of fourth downs in those situations, it was an incredibly silly decision. Too many of these guys coach not to lose, rather than to win.
The stupidest Giants moment
Do you want the ball or not?
The stupidest non-fourth-down-related coaching decision, first half edition
Late in the first half against the Vikings, the Bears had 65 seconds on the clock and a timeout in their back pocket at home. The offense was rolling and they had a chance to pad their lead and pull away with the ball also coming their way to start the third quarter. But from the 26-yard line, Marc Trestman decided he was content with his 3-6 team heading to the locker room up only four. They handed off twice, and because the second run went for 15 yards they used the timeout and attempted to go back on their decision by taking a shot. Jay Cutler’s pass was intercepted, but it never should have come to that. What a wasted opportunity.
The stupidest non-fourth-down-related coaching decision, second half edition
This goes to Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, who had a chance to upset the 49ers but blew it with some terrible red-zone play calls in the fourth quarter. Down six at the San Francisco 4-yard line with around five minutes to play, McAdoo had quarterback Eli Manning throw four consecutive passes, three of which were low-percentage fades.
The running game wasn’t on fire, but that’s just comical. Trademark of a first-year play-caller.
The second-stupidest non-fourth-down-related coaching decision, second half edition
A few times a year, we rip on coaches for settling far too easily as soon as they’re in perceived field goal range. Kicks have become so automatic these days that coaches curl up into the fetal position and become dangerously conservative when a field goal is in play, and Ron Rivera and Mike Shula were guilty of exactly that Sunday against Atlanta. Down two points at the Atlanta 32-yard line with 1:32 to play, the Panthers handed the ball off three consecutive times, gaining only four yards. That forced the Falcons to use their timeouts and almost guaranteed they wouldn’t risk turning it over, but it also left Graham Gano with a 46-yard field goal…which he missed. And that was ultimately the difference. Again, coaching scared hardly ever pays off.
