Your Gut May Know the Score Better than the Scoreboard

Sometimes you have to listen to your gut if you are a football fan. It knows the real score

Did you ever watch a football game where even though your team had the lead you knew their opponent was not “out of the woods just yet?” Or, perhaps on a more positive note, your team was trailing, but your gut instinct knew that they were going to come back? Well, what your gut was probably uncomfortable with was the fact that the team in the lead had scored its points easily – maybe too easily without much effort from the offense – through scores from interceptions, fumble returns, kickoff or punt returns, or even perhaps through a quick strike bomb on offense. Your head doesn’t think this type of scoring matters, but your gut does. These types of scores leave the door open to all sorts of trouble. Let’s explore some games from this season to see this in action. Let’s start with the Bills – Cowboys game in week 5. The Bills scored early and often with two interception returns and a kickoff return. Now, one or two scores accomplished in this manner, may be easily overcome by a “better” opponent, but to overcome three “worthless” scores would require a totally anemic offense by the leading team and a little luck for the losing team. The Cowboys got both, the Bills offense was truly anemic and scored only three points in four quarters, and the “lucky” Cowboys recovered an onsides kick with 20 seconds remaining in order to win. Next let’s look at the week 5 Giants – Jets game. The Jets, like the Bills, led most of this game. The Jets took their lead with a fumble return and later added a kickoff return. The Giants continued to work on offense and had two five-minute touchdown drives and a three- minute touchdown drive in the second and third quarters. The Giants ended up winning the game 35-24. The Giants’ scoring was capped by a “worthless” score of their own, an interception return that sealed the Jets fate. This is the second time this year the Giants did this their second half 24-17 win over the Redskins in week 3 told a similar tale. Conversely, there are times when an opposing team holds a small lead that feels insurmountable even though it is very early in the game, and your gut is saying, ”This is trouble and we may not pull this one out.” Why? Because chances are you have watched this enemy methodically execute flawless drives that have culminated in scores. Consider the Jaguars-Broncos game in week 3. The Jags’ second drive of the game resulted in seven points off an 11-minute offensive drive. This “statement” drive set them up, and they never trailed. The Jaguars went on to win the game 23-14. Also, look at the week 3 Colts – Texans game. Although the Colts only held a four point halftime lead of 14-10, the game felt well in the Colts’ control. The Texans opened up the game with one of those “worthless” scores -- a kickoff return for a touchdown -- which gave them a 7-0 lead. The Colts had the same thing happen in the Super Bowl and went on to dominate the remainder of the game. A similar situation happened here. The Colts had two efficient offensive drives resulting in touchdowns and their 14-10 lead. They never trailed after this point and went on to win 30-24. Donna Cavanagh