As promised last week, let me offer some thoughts in support of the controversial decision of the Seahawks to pass on 2nd down. While I can certainly understand the mountains of criticism — called by many “experts” as unquestionably the worst football decision ever — let’s consider the following:

1)      Seattle had only one time out left;

2)      Marshall Lynch had tried to score from the one yard line 5 times during the regular season, and been successful only once!!

3)      If he did not make it – perhaps even being stopped for a one or two yard loss — Seattle would have had to use its last time out.

4)      With no more time outs, it is quite likely that they would have had to resort to pass plays on the next one or two downs, unless they would risk another failed run, and have the time run out

5)      The Patriots could have better prepared for the pass plays, and hence better defended them.

6)      If the next pass was incomplete, the clock would have stopped, thus leaving about 20+ seconds on the clock, and the Patriots still having two time outs. (Which may have explained Belichick’s decision NOT to call a time out.

7)      If Seattle then scored with 20+ seconds, then kicked off and the Patriots didn’t run the ball back, they would have begun play at the 20 yard line with 20+ seconds left, and two time outs. They would have been able to use the whole field, and would have only needed to get to about the Seattle 40 yard line to them a chance to kick a tying field goal. Difficult, but not impossible.

8)      If, on the other hand, Lynch had been given the ball on 2nd down and scored, then the Patriots would have had approximately an additional 5 seconds to try to get into field position for a tying field goal.

9)      It’s easy to be a Monday Morning Quarterback, but the decision of Pete Carroll was far from as stupid as practically all the “experts”, such as Mike Francesa on WFAN, were insisting.

10) One further point. The interception by Malcolm Butler was an example of the superb preparation by the Patriots staff, and superb execution, of what, otherwise, would probably have been the winning touchdown. The Patriots had scouted that Seattle formation and the “pick” play that was to take place, and Butler ewas totally prepared, diagnosed the formation and forthcoming play, jumped the pass from quite a distance, avoided the pick, and made a perfect play — which is precisely what it took to defeat Seattle.