This year on This weekend in NFL stupid, we’re focusing on one extremely stupid winner with an honorable mention or two on a weekly basis. To close out Week 5 of the 2015 regular season, we look back on an overly-conservative strategy from a young team that lost by a point at home.
The winner: Tennessee Titans
This goes to Tennessee for punting three times inside its opponent’s territory in a game it ultimately lost by a single point.
Ken Whisenhunt had a 4th-and-2 on the Buffalo 36-yard line on the first series of the game, but opted against having Marcus Mariota or one of his running backs attempt to pick up those two yards and decided not to attempt a 54-yard field goal. On the next drive, they punted again on 4th-and-9 from the Buffalo 48-yard line (easier to understand), and in the second quarter they punted on another 4th-and-2 from the Buffalo 39.
This all in spite of the fact Titans kicker Ryan Succop has nailed 11 field goals in his career from beyond 50 yards. Plus, teams are above 50 percent (8 for 15) this year when going for it on 4th-and-2. In 2014, 59 percent of 4th-and-2 gambles were converted.
You’re not gaining enough by punting to rationalize giving up on the decent chance you have at converting a 4th-and-short inside enemy territory. I think if the Titans attempt field goals or run well-designed plays on those two 4th-and-2s, they likely win this game.
Runner-up: Oakland’s offense
Yes, that was a four-yard screen pass Oakland ran with its life on the line on a 4th-and-19 late in the fourth quarter Sunday against Denver.
