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Should I Stay or Should I Go (For It)

Okay, so I'm a little late to the hoodie party. No biggie. They're still talking about it. Everywhere. Many days later. Still talking. In fact, the NFL Network replayed this instant classic in its entirety three days later.

And why shouldn't they? It was the biggest game of the NFL season in a contest that showcased the decade's greatest rivalry, a 'love him or hate him' coach, and this generation's two greatest quarterbacks playing on the biggest 'regular season' stage under the lights during Sunday Night Football.

As if they were playing out an action-packed script written for Hollywood, the score was close. Time was winding down. And the game had 'fourth-quarter comeback' written all over it. In other words, it was the typical New England-Indianapolis matchup we've come to expect. This time it all came down to two short yards.

Which brings us to the question of the week: If you were in Bill Belichick's situation, what would you have done?

Now before I throw in my two cents, which I guarantee is worth a lot less than that, let's go back to Sunday night ...

Late in the fourth quarter the Patriots were holding onto a slim 34-28 lead. In football speak, that's a touchdown and extra point away from a bitter defeat. With momentum clearly in favor of Indianapolis, New England found itself with the ball on the wrong side of the field facing a 4th-and-2 from its own 28-yard line. Just a few ticks north of the two-minute warning, Belichick and the Patriots had a decision to make.

Many assumed it would be the obvious choice: Punt the ball and pray to the football gods that Peyton Manning wouldn't play like Peyton Manning on the game's final drive.

Many assumed wrong.

Belichick decided to put the ball in Tom Brady's hands and go for it.

The plan fell short by a yard.

And the Colts made them pay.

Playing with a short field, Manning commanded a 'you knew it was coming' game-winning drive in less than two minutes, capped by a 1-yard touchdown strike to Reggie Wayne with :13 seconds left on the clock.

Ball game. Just like that.

Now the last time I checked I wasn't coaching the New England Patriots. In fact, I don't even own a hoodie, nor anything with cutoff sleeves. Still, I asked myself a simple question shortly after the now infamous play: what would I have done if I were wearing the headset during that particular situation?

After pondering the question a few times, I couldn't answer in the time allowed. I sat there frozen on a 'to punt or not to punt' fence. So much so, I needed a second opinion. Luckily my wife missed the play due to plumbing issues. Luckily we'll end the rest of that story right here.

After rewinding the action on the DVR and resetting the situation, I parked my lovely bride in front of the TV and asked her the same question: "What do you think about this move?"

Lovely Bride: "What do you mean?"

Awesome Husband: "The Patriots are walking up to the line of scrimmage on 4^th down. They're going to run a play."

Lovely Bride: "And?"

Awesome Husband: "They're not trying to draw them offsides. They're actually going to run a play."

Lovely Bride: "Yeah. Okay. And?"

Awesome Husband: "Look at the arrows on the field." [I then literally point my finger inches from the chalked-white "30" (as in yard line) screaming out on the screen]

Lovely Bride: [blank stare]

Awesome Husband: "Look closer at the arrow on the field."

Lovely Bride: [blank stare]

Awesome Husband: "It's pointing the other way. They're inside their own 30!"

Lovely Bride: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING?!?"

(Note - if my keyboard allowed the option to 'all cap' the ALL CAPS type style I would because that's how shocked she was ... after she got it.)

Okay, so I got her answer. And it seemed to echo what most were saying on Monday.

Me, well, even days after the game, I'm still not 100% sure what to think. I can see both sides of the argument.

My gut reaction says punt for the simple reason of giving the Colts more opportunities to make a mistake. Sure they marched down the field on two different occasions earlier in the game. But can they do it a third time? With pressure? As time ticks away?

Second, with the ball inside the 30, it's safe to assume the Colts would probably only need to run 3-5 plays. With a timeout in their back pocket, and less field to conquer, they could take their time and even call a running play or two to keep the New England defense honest. More importantly, the chances for a botched QB-center exchange, Joseph Addai fumble, or a Manning interception decrease dramatically.

Now, having to travel 70 yards or so down the field, odds are that the Colts will need seven or so plays to get into the end zone. With time running down, the playcalling becomes more predictable.

'Punt' I say. Yeah. Punt.

On the flip side, with destiny in your own hands all you need to do is gain a measly two yards against a defense that's not the '85 Bears, with Tom Brady at the helm. Two short yards with Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker as your weapons and the game is pretty much over.

Damn, now my gut says to go for it.

No wait.

After further review maybe it's best I'm not the coach of the Patriots after all. If that were the case, I'd still be on the sidelines sitting on my pretty little fence ... with a wardrobe a tad more sleeveless than before.

-Gabe Leon, not coach of the New England Patriots

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We'd like to hear from you. Send us your reasons on why you would or wouldn't go for it to podcast@ea.com, put "Garbage Time" in the header, and we'll post the most interesting answers in the next post. Good luck, (temporary) Coach Hoodie. You're going to need it.

by Gabe Leon

EA kicked off the 2009-2010 NFL season Thursday with the official launch of Madden NFL 10.

One day ahead of schedule.

In response to yet another perk for working for one of the coolest companies ever, lines at the EA Experience, the company store, were steady throughout the afternoon, while the rest of the world had to wait one more day before they were able to ‘Fight For Every Yard.’ It was the first time in company history EA released one of its titles to its employees prior to the game’s street date.

And it couldn’t have come on a better day.

Under sunny, 80 degree-plus Bay Area weather, the D.J. known as JX2 spun the latest tracks from a collection of electro house mixes of R&B, rock, house, and hip-hop tunes, filling the EA campus air with the sounds of SebastiAn, Yuksek, Bag Raiders, Barletta, and Mansion, among others.
On the great lawn, football fans of all ages got an opportunity to convert a 20-yard field goal, kicking balls through league-sized (well, almost) goalposts Charlie Brown-style, while Monday morning quarterbacks of past, present, and future tested their accuracy by throwing balls through cutout targets from 10 yards away.

The highlight of the day for most, especially for the kids from the Matt Barnes Basketball Camp who crashed the party (OK, they were invited), was the Blow Up Sports Challenge, an air-filled ‘jumpy-type’ challenge course featuring obstacles, tunnels, and more. Lines were long and fans were literally giving up their left shoe to take their turn. Actually, participants had to give up their right one too, as shoes were not allowed on the course. But still.

As employees enjoyed the action with a plate full of BBQ from the sideline, some sporting authentic NFL jerseys—Bears, Titans, Vikings, and Jets to name a few—or tested their skills in one of the gridiron events, one thing is for certain: volleyball season is officially dead.

Just don’t tell that to the four employees who set up a net and snuck in a game on the west end of the great lawn during the lunch hour. The football season must begin in September for them.