You Play to WIN the GAME!

The Cleveland Browns and Eric Mangini found themselves in an interesting predicament this afternoon.  The Browns got the ball back with 1:35 left in overtime when Joe Haden intercepted the pass at the 3 yard line.  The Browns had two timeouts, and the Jets only one.  In the NFL, if the game is tied at the end overtime in the regular season, the game ends in a tie.  So the Browns basically had two options... 1.)  Run the ball three times, running down the clock and securing the tie, but giving you no real chance to win the game.  2.)  Try to get the ball downfield in an attempt to win the game, knowing that if you fail to do so, you'll stop the clock and give the Jets another chance to beat you.  So what do you do?

The Browns threw the ball on first down, ran it up the middle on second down, and attempted to pass on third down, but the play was busted and McCoy had to scramble to avoid being sacked in the end zone.  And of course, they had to punt and the Jets won with 0:16 to go.  Criticizing an NFL head coach is an easy things to do, and I do it all the time.  I enjoy it thoroughly.  But I don't fault Mangini for going for the win rather than sitting on the tie.  What good is a tie for a 3-5 team playing at home that isn't going to make the playoffs?  Go for the win.  If you get one first down, you probably do no worse than tie, anyways.  And if you have to punt, your defense still has a chance to stop them one more time or Folk could miss one more field goal and the game ends in a tie anyways.  I just can't justify playing for the tie in the Browns situation.  If the Browns were in the playoff hunt and could absolutely not afford to lose, then I could see it.  But a tie is really only okay in this situation if everything else has been done to try to win the game and that results in a tie.  I think most football coaches are way too conservative for their own good, and I've been pleased that the Browns have been more aggressive and creative in recent weeks.  It's paid off handsomely with some great wins that have boosted the morale of a team, organization, and fan base that desperately needed some signs of hope.