"Last year I wrote so many times about Buffalo shooting itself in the foot by passing on short-yardage or goal-to-go situations -- here's the last of the five 2003 columns to note Bills' fiascos caused by passing when only a yard was required -- that finally I said, "At this point Tuesday Morning Quarterback has written so many items about the Bills bringing defeat upon themselves by going pass-wacky on short-yardage downs that I might as well enter a generic Buffalo short-yardage-fiasco item into my AutoText." And, in fact, I just reproduced that block of words from my AutoText.
Nonetheless, for the record, it's Buffalo 7 and Jacksonville 6 early in the fourth quarter, Bills facing third-and-goal on the Jax 1. Run, and there's a 58 percent chance of a touchdown: That's an actual figure for third-and-goal rushes from the 1 in the NFL in 2003. Throw, and there's a 46 percent chance of a touchdown: That's an actual figure for third-and-goal passes from the 1 in the NFL in 2003. Plus, a run that gains even a little sets up fourth-and-inches for a touchdown, while a pass is unlikely to have that result. Plus, the closer you get to the goal line, the harder it is to throw since the defense has steadily less territory to defend. So did the Bills learn anything from constant 2003 short-yardage passing fiascos? Drew Bledsoe sprints backward 10 yards -- they're one yard from paydirt, and Bledsoe is sprinting backward. Sack ... field goal on the next down. Instead of being ahead eight, the Bills are ahead four and lose when the Jaguars complete their improbable clock-expires touchdown drive. " nfl.com
Nonetheless, for the record, it's Buffalo 7 and Jacksonville 6 early in the fourth quarter, Bills facing third-and-goal on the Jax 1. Run, and there's a 58 percent chance of a touchdown: That's an actual figure for third-and-goal rushes from the 1 in the NFL in 2003. Throw, and there's a 46 percent chance of a touchdown: That's an actual figure for third-and-goal passes from the 1 in the NFL in 2003. Plus, a run that gains even a little sets up fourth-and-inches for a touchdown, while a pass is unlikely to have that result. Plus, the closer you get to the goal line, the harder it is to throw since the defense has steadily less territory to defend. So did the Bills learn anything from constant 2003 short-yardage passing fiascos? Drew Bledsoe sprints backward 10 yards -- they're one yard from paydirt, and Bledsoe is sprinting backward. Sack ... field goal on the next down. Instead of being ahead eight, the Bills are ahead four and lose when the Jaguars complete their improbable clock-expires touchdown drive. " nfl.com
