Believe it: Giants' Pat Shurmur made right call going for two vs. Falcons

ATLANTA -- Giants head coach Pat Shurmur was skewered by the ESPN Monday Night Football announcers, fans, and media alike on Twitter, for a controversial decision to go for two points with his team trailing 20-12 with 4:52 remaining in Monday night's loss to the Falcons.

Here's the thing, the math is on Shurmur's side.

It was the right call.

Had Odell Beckham caught the pass, the Giants would have trailed 20-14 with 4:47 remaining for the defense to get a stop, give the ball back to the offense, with a chance to go down the field to win the game by scoring a touchdown and kicking an extra point.

Teams across the NFL are converting two-point tries, approximately 48.2 percent of the time. According to ESPN, if a team scores twice after trailing by 14 points goes for two after their first score, their chances of winning increase by approximately 60 percent.

"We discussed the math internally," Shurmur said after the game. "I just felt like we had a good play. I liked our two-point play selections. We didn't get it done. Had they not kicked the field goal later, I felt good about our second two-point play. I wanted to be aggressive for our guys.

"You increase your chances by 50 percent if you go for it, and make it there. That's what you do. Because, then if we score a touchdown, we just kick the extra point and win. I think it's an aggressive approach."

Eli Manning Report Card: Giant can't overcome QB's m issed chances

The Falcons ultimately made all of this much ado about nothing by capping their ensuing eight-play possession that chewed up 2:52 of clock with a 56-yard field goal that proved to be the difference.

Later, the Giants did convert a two-point try with :09 remaining with a Saquon Barkley run to pull within 23-20. But, it was too little, too late.

However, Shurmur's aggressiveness is quickly becoming in vogue across an NFL that continues to trend towards offense and high-scoring games.

Beyond simply playing the analytics into his favor, Shurmur's message of being aggressive in that spot sent a message to his players, that resonated afterwards.

"I like it," Beckham said, of Shurmur's decision to go for two. "If we go up 20-14, the defense might have said 'There's no more. We're going to come up with a stop and give it back to the offense.' Then it's on us to go down and score.

"I like the call. I love being aggressive. I don't know if I could be a coach. I'd go for it on fourth down. If we score, we're going for two. That's why I'm not a coach. I like the call. I'm always going to ride with him. I just wish I could have come up with it."

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoNFL

Let's block ads! (Why?)