Do You Agree With Jim Harbaugh's Decision to Keep Points Instead of Penalty?

[EmpireWF]

Situation for those who don't know didn't see it...

Niners were leading by a TD in the 4th quarter with 11 minutes left when David Akers kicked a 55-yarder to put them up by 10. The Cowboys were called for a penalty on the play and Harbaugh had this decision to make with 11 minutes....

A) Decline penalty, keep 10 point lead

B) Accept penalty, take the automatic first down with a 7 point lead


He chose A.

You disagree?

 

[spiker]

Yeah. Take the points.

 

[Juggernaut]

Never take points off the board.

Forgot who said it during the game, but I agreed with him then, and still do.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

You take the first down and you run off more clock and potentially earn MORE than 3 points.

 

[Senser81]

I would have kept the points. You aren't really running out the clock with 11 minutes left, and you aren't gaining that much field position since Akers' FG was from so far out. Even after the penalty, you'd still be 20-25 yards away from the endzone.

That said, Harbaugh is a loon just like his brother. He spends most of his time yelling at officials.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Forgot who said it during the game, but I agreed with him then, and still do.

That was me.

Only time you even think about taking points off the board is inside the 10 yard line.

Harbaugh did the right thing. You go up two scores with 10 minutes left.

 

[MvP]

Considering that it was a 55-yarder, I'd keep the 3 points. If it was <25, I'd accept the penalty.

 

[NAHSTE]

Never take points off the board.

The only acceptable answer, ever.

 

[Chrispy]

You take the first down and you run off more clock and potentially earn MORE than 3 points.

Or you potentially turn the ball over and lose out on the points and it is still a one possession game. Plus Alex smith is at QB, probably would of thrown an INT.

 

[Champ]

Or you potentially turn the ball over and lose out on the points and it is still a one possession game. Plus Alex smith is at QB, probably would of thrown an INT.

Run the ball and kill the clock.

 

[NAHSTE]

Run the ball and kill the clock.

LOL. There's 11 minutes left in the game. How much clock can you reasonably kill?

 

[j.hen]

With that team? Yes.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

If you have even a remotely competent QB you take the penalty and the first down.
One glance at Alex Smith you settle for the 3.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I thought the only mistake Harbaugh made was not trying an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff.

He took the points, and elected to take the 15 yards on the kickoff. Kicking off from the 50 gives very little risk if you fail, because you are giving the opponent the ball around their own 40.

 

[cynismus]

Should have taken the penalty. That being said, defensive playcalling on the Cows' ensuing possessions were piss poor. Letting the mexican stand back there all day without bringing an extra man or two, plus corners playing 8-10 yards off was a recipe for disaster.

 

[mgoblue2290]

Depends on how much confidence you have in your offense. Since its the 49ers, you keep the points. If it was the Pats, I'd take the penalty and give my offense a chance to get a touchdown.

 

[Realist]

I'm glad most here agree with keeping the points. I'm in the same boat. The Defense had been playing well majority of the game, I understand why he would keep the points. Gore was averaging 2 ypc, we didn't have Edwards or Crabtree and you have Smith as your QB. You don't take points away from a spotty offense

 

[Realist]

Also, if you want to know why it's smart to keep the points, read this article from last years team and coach

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page...1221_tuesday_morning_quarterback&sportCat=nfl

Ho Ho Ho: In the process of getting pounded into fine dust by the San Diego Chargers, the San Francisco 49ers -- who did a lot of boasting in the preseason, then have backed it up by losing games 34-7, 21-0, 31-10 and 31-6 -- had a drive on which they scored three points, then scored six points, then ended up with no points.

With the Bolts leading 7-0, the Squared Sevens kicked a field goal. San Diego was called for "leveraging," the second time in three weeks this unusual call has been made. Accepting the penalty took points off the board but gave San Francisco first-and-goal at the 10. Three snaps later, Alex Smith ran for what officials signaled was a touchdown, but San Diego challenged and the six points came off the board, too. Mike Singletary went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1. High first-round draft choice guard Mike Iupati air-blocked -- he made contact with no one -- as undrafted Bolts defensive tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo shot into the backfield to drop the runner for a loss, San Diego ball and zero points for San Francisco.

 

[Hitman]

In this situation I take the penalty and run the clock. Not knowing if Romo was going to come back into the game or not, you give your defense more of a chance to hold onto a lead if you run 3-4 more minutes off the clock.. I could see the call going either way in this situation though. It was a 15 yard penalty afterall. If it was just a 5 yarder, I'd take the points.

 

[NAHSTE]

In this situation I take the penalty and run the clock. Not knowing if Romo was going to come back into the game or not, you give your defense more of a chance to hold onto a lead if you run 3-4 more minutes off the clock.. I could see the call going either way in this situation though. It was a 15 yard penalty afterall. If it was just a 5 yarder, I'd take the points.

No, you give your defense more of a chance to hold the lead by extending the lead.