# Why didn't the Giants take a try on the last play? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 2, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161 "2017-01-02T19:02:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/21 "2017-01-03T19:26:15Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Yeah no. It was the [Rams](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1807165/) this season, and [Tampa Bay]([http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000064398/article/greg-schiano-ill-send-bucs-on-kneeld](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000064398/article/greg-schiano-ill-send-bucs-on-kneeld) own-blitz-again) (against Eli!) a few years ago. In both those instances, the game wasn’t out of reach if the defense could have forced a fumble, which wasn’t the case here. I don’t think your first link goes where you think it does. As for Tampa, treating professional adults like college kids is the main reason why Greg Schiano is back to working in college and not the NFL. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/22 "2017-01-03T19:35:33Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I’m not sure why the Giants didn’t get an option to waive the try though. Because the Redskins also have an opportunity score on that play. It wouldn’t have made a difference in the game or in the playoff picture - but it’s one of those things that if it’s in the rules, you do it. There’s too much gambling on the NFL to not do everything strictly by the book so as to avoid any implication of impropriety. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/23 "2017-01-03T19:59:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t think your first link goes where you think it does. I reported it and asked for it to be fixed shortly after posting it, but you know what the Mods are like here. Here’s the link I meant: > **[Rams' rush on Lions' kneel-down 'did not come from the sideline'](https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/31316/rams-rush-on-lions-kneel-down-did-not-come-from-the-sideline)** > > Rams coach Jeff Fisher on the attempt to force a turnover during the Lions' kneel-down: "It was not something that we practiced, or that we preach." ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/24 "2017-01-04T00:21:40Z")
The Giants knelt down because that’s the sporting thing to do there. Similarly, if you’re blowing out the opponent late in the fourth, and you get into the red zone yet again, you run it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/25 "2017-01-04T01:18:57Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I reported it and asked for it to be fixed shortly after posting it, but you know what the Mods are like here. We’re not online all of the time. I fixed your link. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/26 "2017-01-04T01:22:16Z")
Merged two threads. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/27 "2017-01-04T02:31:17Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > We’re not online all of the time. I fixed your link. It was a joke, since Loach is a mod too. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/28 "2017-01-04T05:12:06Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > The Giants knelt down because that’s the sporting thing to do there. Similarly, if you’re blowing out the opponent late in the fourth, and you get into the red zone yet again, you run it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal. How do explain games like [these](http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-7-worst-blowouts-in-modern-nfl-history.html/?a=viewall)? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/29 "2017-01-04T06:44:49Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > How do explain games like [these](http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-7-worst-blowouts-in-modern-nfl-history.html/?a=viewall)? There are a few things going on in those: 1. Some of those games were already lopsided before the fourth quarter 2. In at least one (the Bengals game at #2 on that list), late turnovers made the score look even worse 3. Games between bitter rivals (see the Bears / Packers game at #4), where the winning team may not care to let up on the gas It’s _rare_ that a team will keep running up the score late in the game, but not entirely unheard of. And, yes, there are occasionally coaches / teams who don’t believe in letting up, or that running up the score is poor sportsmanship (or don’t care). Also, with NFL playoff qualification tiebreakers using point differentials, there’s sometimes a semi-legitimate reason for it. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/30 "2017-01-04T07:43:05Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > How do explain games like [these](http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-7-worst-blowouts-in-modern-nfl-history.html/?a=viewall)? Well, half that list is from games 40 years ago. There are only two “recent” ones – within the past 20 years – which may be the textbook definition of “the exception that proves the rule.” When teams run up the score, it’s unsportsmanlike. That’s why it’s very rare, but not unheard of, in the NFL. There are tons of examples of teams _not_ running up the score when they could, but relatively few examples of pouring it on. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/31 "2017-01-04T07:51:44Z")
My google-fu is on-point tonight. I remember citing examples for this argument several years ago, and [here it is](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12011599&postcount=1339). I had said that during blowouts, when the winning team gets into field goal range late in the fourth they don’t kick field goals, because that would be running up the score. (Unsportsmanlike.) Instead, what they do is hand the ball off and run it up the middle. Someone asked for a cite, so I just went through the games that season looking for blowouts. The evidence of teams doing exactly as I describe was quite easy to find, enumerated in the linked post. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/32 "2017-01-04T08:01:04Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Because the Redskins also have an opportunity score on that play. It wouldn’t have made a difference in the game or in the playoff picture… I don’t know. I saw the list of what had to happen for the Buccaneers’ to make the playoffs. Washington getting a 2-point return on a blocked kick might have still been a difference maker at that point. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/33 "2017-01-04T20:23:03Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > My google-fu is on-point tonight. I remember citing examples for this argument several years ago, and [here it is](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12011599&postcount=1339). > > I had said that during blowouts, when the winning team gets into field goal range late in the fourth they don’t kick field goals, because that would be running up the score. (Unsportsmanlike.) Instead, what they do is hand the ball off and run it up the middle. > > Someone asked for a cite, so I just went through the games that season looking for blowouts. The evidence of teams doing exactly as I describe was quite easy to find, enumerated in the linked post. Eh, it’s a pretty rare situation, but I would say the thinking is less “lets not run up the score and just hand the ball over” and more “lets just go for 1st and end this game.” In your third example, that was definitely a calculated move. The kick could potentially be blocked and returned for a touchdown. Then the Chiefs would only need an onside kick followed by a field goal. Rare and difficult, but easier then having to march down field from the 18th. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/34 "2017-01-04T20:27:45Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Eh, it’s a pretty rare situation, but I would say the thinking is less “lets not run up the score and just hand the ball over” and more “lets just go for 1st and end this game.” > > In your third example, that was definitely a calculated move. The kick could potentially be blocked and returned for a touchdown. Then the Chiefs would only need an onside kick followed by a field goal. Rare and difficult, but easier then having to march down field from the 18th. It could not be returned for a touchdown. The would only get two points for that. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161/35 "2017-01-04T20:44:33Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It could not be returned for a touchdown. The would only get two points for that. I’m referring to Ellis’s example. A field goal can get returned for a touchdown. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-giants-take-a-try-on-the-last-play/776161.md?page=1)