Roby wanted the 2 points.
Chiming in late, but: I'm glad someone asked and others fully answered this question, because I also wondered. Under the OLD rule NE* couldn't regain possession and score, but that was because the old rule said the play ended the moment any defender gained possession. Now that it DOESN'T, it made sense that would change, but I didn't know: Now I do, so thanks, everyone.
Oh, valid point. I thought you meant all starters, you should take the time to be more descriptive, don't be shy. —Jaded
Never confuse frustrated candor and disloyal malice.
Love can't be coerced. —Me
That was my INITIAL thought, but once I remembered it was a two-point attempt and there was near zero risk of New England recovering the ball and running it back 40 yards to the end zone for 2 points I was screaming for Roby to go or lateral the ball or something. It absolutely was worth it, because again, New England only gets one attempt unless there was a defensive penalty on the play(Penalties applied to Denver while Roby or a Denver player had the ball would be assessed on the kickoff, because Roby becomes the offense as soon as he gets the ball). There was zero risk, so I'm not sure what your point was.
Actually, there was tons of risk. In that situation, he should have immediately taken the knee in the endzone. He was lucky in that he fumbled so far out of the endzone. He could have just as easily fumbled on the five yard line, had the ball bounce around on the ground, knocked back towards the endzone and jumped on by a Pat or fumbled at the five or ten, picked up by a Pat and run back into the endzone for a two point conversion.
Yes, he having a 104 yard return would have put the Broncos up by 4 points, which would have been much better if the Pats had won the onside kick. However, the chances of a 104 yard return in that situation are MUCH lower than him fumbling and NE getting the ball and scoring the two points.
Bottom line, it was a very bad play by Roby.
I still disagree. It could not have been ruled a safety unless he ran it out and tried to run back in, so the risk was minimal. Roby wasn't going to drop the ball, and if he did it would have been near impossible for New England to pick it up AND return it. In a normal situation, I'd agree. But due to the special nature of two point attempts, I felt Roby's attempt to take it out again showed his high football IQ off.
I have gone back and forth on this, but I think I've decided on just taking a knee as the play that gives us the highest win probability. At that point in the game, with a 2 point lead and less than a minute left, the only way NE is winning is if they get some sort of fluky play go their way. At the point he intercepted the pass, there are really only two avenues to NE winning. 1- Force Roby to fumble and run it in. 2- Recover an onside kick then score. By just taking the knee, he takes away one of those two possible outcomes. Returning it is a higher variance play, but in that situation, the Pats are wanting high variance. Yes there is the upside for us of going up 4, but the Pats will happily take that chance for the chance of them forcing a fumble and getting those 2 points. In the end, I think taking the knee just makes the most sense, as it takes away one of their avenues to potentially win.
Safety? That doesn't really even come into play as one of the risks.
Roby fumbled and New England recovered. Fortunately, Roby touched down the Patriot immediately. If he takes it out and fumbles, which he did, the ball and play is still live, and a Patriot can pick it up and return it into the endzone and complete the two point try.
It's real hard to argue there was nearly no risk, when he actually fumbled the ball.
Meh. Roby's biggest mistake was slowing down.
Kid made a hell of a play after Talib made a hell of a play.
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