By Ben Sullivan
Say what????
With Philly trailing 28-23, facing a fourth-and-10, and just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, Fox announcer Joe Buck reminded us how Eagles coach Doug Pederson decided to go on fourth down twice in the second quarter rather than attempting field goals.
“You’re talking about how the Eagles opted not to attempt (two) field goals in the first half and left those points out there,” Buck said. “And they are coming back to haunt them right here.”
Perhaps thinking he had not driven his point home, Buck was at it again after Carson Wentz threw an incomplete pass, ending the Eagles’ hopes and sealing a Giants win. Buck mentioned how Pederson was criticized for not being aggressive in his play-calling in the Eagles loss to Dallas.
“….He went the complete opposite way today,” Buck said.
In order to buy Buck’s analysis a What If Machine is needed. If Pederson decided to go for the two field goals in the second quarter, could Buck, Aikman or the Man on the Moon guarantee Caleb Sturgis would have made both? After all, Jason Pierre-Paul blocked a 40-yard Sturgis FG attempt late in the second quarter.
