Vikings Could Have Used a Time Out at the end of the half

Sept 29, 2014 21:31:18 GMT -6 Reignman said:

In other words, the refs got the call wrong, and we got punished for it lol.

Had we taken the TO instead of the run off, there would have been 22 seconds on the clock, and I don't think that's enough time for the other team to score, or at least it shouldn't have been a concern. Even if we scored on the next play, there'd be a maximum of 16 seconds remaining. 22 seconds was enough time to run 3 quick plays, like a fade or something. 12 seconds was even enough time to run 2 plays with a timeout, but we only managed to run 1 play and mainly because it was a slow developing play. Teddy ended up scrambling all the way to the right and then lobbed a pass up for grabs. It took 7 seconds off the clock. We should have ran a fade on that play then we would have had time for a 2nd play. Heck Teddy ran some pretty effective fades in preseason. But why am I arguing this, we won anyway lol ;P

I think, if anything, it should have benefitted us and here's why:

1) McKinnon was short of the goal line.  Assuming the refs actually get the call right, McKinnon was down in the field of play, so the clock keeps running while the refs "re-set" the ball etc. (or the Vikings call an immediate time out).

2) Since the refs got the call wrong, the Vikings actually has a chance to think about their next play (at least in theory) and decide what to run for this situation in the game.  They still could call a time-out to preserve all of the clock (which they elected not to do) or let the 10 seconds elapse (to account for the fact that some time would be lost "resetting" for the next play).  They chose the latter.  Offensively, it was probably (obviously that's debatable) a wise move, since you still have the option to call a time-out if you elect to go with a running play (keeps the defense "honest") or if Icewater gets sacked, you can call a TO so Special teams is not "rushed" into kicking what would otherwise be an almost "automatic" field goal.

I originally thought we got the short end of the stick, because I mistakenly believed the refs didn't give us the opportunity to call a time-out to preserve 10 seconds on the clock.  According to the posted article, they did, and the choice not to call it was a coaching decision.  As you said, we won, so I'm OK with it.