Sean McVay addresses meaningless field goal that let Rams cover the spread

[BetterBizness]

McVay wasn’t asked about the decision after the game. On Monday, reporters raised the question.
Here’s the full, word-salad response.
“What we were trying to do is we were trying to be able to get a completion to where we kicked the field goal beforehand with the opportunity to be able to . . . if we had hit that deep in-breaking route, it really would’ve worked out the way that we wanted to,” McVay said. “We were going to try to kick a field goal once we got into field goal position to then be able to kick an onside and try to give ourselves the real opportunity to win the game. By the time it got down to it, [I] didn’t anticipate that in-cut that we hit Puka [Nacua] running that long and just said, ‘Alright, go ahead and kick the field goal.’ [I] felt like it was an opportunity to be able to not leave Matthew [Stafford] susceptible to an unnecessary heave to the end zone and get an opportunity for our field goal operation. The initial goal was to try to get a two-for-one to where you end up getting into field goal range a little bit earlier with some of the play selections that we had and then ultimately be able to try to have an onside kick to then be able to go try to compete to tie or win the game. Apparently, [Rams V.P. of communications] Artis [Twyman] told me there’s a lot of people in Vegas pissed off about that decision. I clearly was not aware of that stuff.”

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profoo...ver-the-spread

[stevenash]

I grew up as a kid a Giants fan, and still am.
I've heard all the Bill Parcells quotes, this one is my all time favorite.

"I coach to win the game, I don't give a fuk about the betting line, I don't coach to win by 4.5 or more points, just win"

[ChuckyTheGoat]

1) I respect McVay's comments.
2) Logically, why would he want to risk a Stafford injury on a meaningless play?
3) Honestly, he need to have a better end-game strategy. Even if that means Hail Mary throw at 0:30. The onside kick takes time.

[JIBBBY]

I like running up the score when betting the favorites to cover the spread. DO IT! ; )

[Slurry Pumper]

It's a beautiful moment in gambling history. He should just say if you can't win at least you can do is cover and let the fans who backed you enjoy a victory.

[str]

Every gambler is so sure that everyone associated with a team or in my case thoroughbred horse racing thinks just like they do.

I mean, after all, you can bet and win money.

I was never associated with a pro team but I sure as hell was associated with about 7,500 horses that started races for me.

Most that bet on those races would probably think I was betting all the time. And although I started betting at the age of roughly 13, betting was the furthest thing from my mind once I started training at the age of 21. There is just too much to do to spend a minute worrying about that stuff.

The mindset that McVay knew the spread and kicked a last second field goal to cash a bet is insane. They get paid millions to be successful at what they do and manage a full team of players and coaches. Decisions have to be made in seconds . They don't work to win 5-10 K on a game??

Two ways to go here. Believe me, or do the math.

Hope that helps.

[JIBBBY]

It's a beautiful moment in gambling history. He should just say if you can't win at least you can do is cover and let the fans who backed you enjoy a victory.

I agree. You please your gambling fans by covering the spread. Every coach should have that in mind.

The mind set should be - "You bet on our team you damn well better believe we will play to try to win first and then cover that spread then after."

[gauchojake]

This has been discussed ad nauseum on local sports talk in LA. There's two possibilities, one is that he did it to tweak the niners fans that were in the stadium (there were a lot of them) or that he did it for the purposes of the sixth or seventh tie breaker which is total points scored or differential.

[franklee168]

This has been discussed ad nauseum on local sports talk in LA. There's two possibilities, one is that he did it to tweak the niners fans that were in the stadium (there were a lot of them) or that he did it for the purposes of the sixth or seventh tie breaker which is total points scored or differential.

Sorry for the loss Bro

[pavyracer]

It's a beautiful moment in gambling history. He should just say if you can't win at least you can do is cover and let the fans who backed you enjoy a victory.

This is the best comment I heard about this. What a nice gesture from the coach to reward the home fans who bet the team to cover the spread but also punish the opponent's fans who bet on the 49ers. With one move he transferred millions from 49ers fans to Rams fans and every hoem fan went home happy.

[Thefix13]

I grew up as a kid a Giants fan, and still am.
I've heard all the Bill Parcells quotes, this one is my all time favorite.

"I coach to win the game, I don't give a fuk about the betting line, I don't coach to win by 4.5 or more points, just win"

Ok but where's the quote where he tells us how you win a game when you are down by 10 with 4 seconds left, in the NFL?

Because that other one was a wee bit obvious

[Thefix13]

This is the best comment I heard about this. What a nice gesture from the coach to reward the home fans who bet the team to cover the spread but also punish the opponent's fans who bet on the 49ers. With one move he transferred millions from 49ers fans to Rams fans and every hoem fan went home happy.

More than half the stadium was 49ers fans so not sure about that take. When your home stadium can be so easily taken over week after week you don't have fans

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Sorry for the loss Bro

Haha. If he did it to jam the Niner bettors, that's beautiful.

Frank, hope all is good. If you clear out some of your PMs, I'll catch up w/ you. Salud, bruh.

[DrunkHorseplayer]

It was the correct call; you never when point differential will make the difference between the playoffs and golfing.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

It was the correct call; you never when point differential will make the difference between the playoffs and golfing.

True. Teams do it to help on the Tie-breakers.

I only recall one time where it went down to that level. It was the year that Carol/GBay were competing for the last spot. Both were winning comfortably but had to pile it on...while they were monitoring the other team's score.

[d2bets]

How is that a word salad? It makes sense to try to get to FG range and then do onsides kick .As it turned out, they didn't leave quite enough time. But it also wasn't going to help to go for it and to expose the QB. If they take a knee, then everyone points to the spread also and complains. Plus, the spread differential tiebreaker.

[Git Lo]

If you needed an example on how Vegas owns you, this is it

[Booya711]

Good coaches win, great coaches cover

[d2bets]

If you needed an example on how Vegas owns you, this is it

Was this really a good result for "Vegas". he line moved from -8 to -7. If you wanted Rams you probably bet it early +8 or +7.5. If you waited for SF you pushed -7. Just guessing that the 7 point margin was the worst result for the books.

[johnnyvegas13]

He knew what the spread was and wanted the cover

protect Stamford from one play ya right

[DrunkHorseplayer]

.....

[DrunkHorseplayer]

True. Teams do it to help on the Tie-breakers.

I only recall one time where it went down to that level. It was the year that Carol/GBay were competing for the last spot. Both were winning comfortably but had to pile it on...while they were monitoring the other team's score.

The 1979 Redskins lost a playoff spot by five points on point differential.

[unusialsusp5]

Whoever teased that game won anyway field goal or no field goal and SF ML bettors won so I don't see any issue here. Who lays 7 1/2 on the road in the NFL anyway. You deserve to lose doing that.

[raiders72001]

I agree. You please your gambling fans by covering the spread. Every coach should have that in mind.

The mind set should be - "You bet on our team you damn well better believe we will play to try to win first and then cover that spread then after."

Spurrier and Joe Pa knew the spread.

[JIBBBY]

Spurrier and Joe Pa knew the spread.

All coaches know the spread going into a game. They use that as coaching fuel to fire up the troops if they are the dogs in the locker room before game time. If favored they use that also as we are expected to win on the flip. Represent!

Well in most cases I believe that happens anyways if the coaches have half a brain and want to coach up and motivate their players.

[gauchojake]

Sorry for the loss Bro

All good Frankie. I'm considering getting a Rams Jersey with Tartt and the number 56 on the back. Thoughts?

[Art Vandelay]

He said he wasn't "aware" of the line... C'mon Sean, lol

[semibluff]

I was watching the game in real time and clearly the team wanted the penultimate play to be run deeper so they could kick a 50 yard FG attempt with 20+ seconds on the clock. That would have left an opportunity for a possible onside kick and a hail mary. The penultimate play created a possible 56 yard FG attempt. However, Stafford hustled everyone up to the LOS. There were no time-outs remaining so McVay couldn't intervene. Stafford doesn't have the highest football IQ and has previously made rash decisions in the dying seconds of games. McVay always publicly takes the blame rather than criticise his players, (unlike Payton). I've no issue with whatever they do on the final play. A FG was the lowest injury risk play. meh. If you bet the spread you know you're betting on an outcome that isn't the objective of the player/team. Some go for you and some go against you.

[Eddy Munny]

I didn't see the game, but this type of scenario unfolds several times a year. Why are people still perplexed by it?

Two scores is two scores... Coaches take the easy one first and then hope for a miracle onside and hail mary to convert the second one. By kicking the FG asap you also know exactly how much time you have to work with for the second half of the equation. Otherwise you keep pressing for a TD and chewing up clock.

[Eddy Munny]

Was this really a good result for "Vegas". he line moved from -8 to -7. If you wanted Rams you probably bet it early +8 or +7.5. If you waited for SF you pushed -7. Just guessing that the 7 point margin was the worst result for the books.

Exactly. Everybody's ready to pounce with a conclusion when they don't even consider their premise doesn't add up.

[DwightShrute]

TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.
Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs)
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference
5. Strength of victory
6. Strength of schedule
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed
9. Best net points in common games
10. Best net points in all games
11. Best net touchdowns in all games
12. Coin toss
    
    https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules...ng-procedures/

[Ghenghis Kahn]

Only problem is he won't do that next time. Who are we kidding? They know the spread

[franklee168]

All good Frankie. I'm considering getting a Rams Jersey with Tartt and the number 56 on the back. Thoughts?

Low blow Bro. Kidney shot for sure. Uggg

[Headsterx]

Whoever teased that game won anyway field goal or no field goal and SF ML bettors won so I don't see any issue here. Who lays 7 1/2 on the road in the NFL anyway. You deserve to lose doing that.

So no go with Cowboys -12 v. Cardinals?

[gauchojake]

Low blow Bro. Kidney shot for sure. Uggg

lol

I was at that game and it was one of the more glorious goofs I have ever seen in live sports. I also witnessed Vlade tip the ball out to Horry for the game winner so that's saying something.

I though the Rams played pretty well but giving up a TD drive at the end of the first half and then not scoring to start the second was not how you beat the Niners or any good team. All good though, we will hopefully have Kupp back soon and then we'll see you guys for the final game of the season.