Anybody watch this game? The Titans with 4th and 3 on the Houston 32 and 2 minutes to go, down 13-12 went for it instead of letting the most sure footed long kicker in the game Rob Bironas win the game for them. He was practicing on the sidelines just before that, so I don't think it was any type of injury. WTF? Worse yet, the pass went incomplete 30 yards down the field!
32+8+10 = 50 yd attempt. Sounds like over half the NFL kickers would put the odds at 70% of making that, the best a little higher. I'd go for the kick...
JohnBot should be able to provide us with the stats on how outrageously good that Bironas is from 50 and longer.
It's a weird dilemma. If he gets it and they run the clock down to zero and win, people say he's a hero. It didn't work, so people like us will say it was a bad move. Hind sight is 20-20, but all things considered, I think they should have kicked. Chances of making a 49 yarder > chances of making a 4th and 3, then not turning over the ball later in the drive and then making a lesser field goal.
And to take from what Clair said, if the game is 47-45, sure I go for it because I don't trust my defense and I want to be the last one with the ball. In this case, you definitely trust your defense to stop Houston after the made FG.