Dallas/Seattle - allowing an uncontested TD..? Yes or No.

Although this game had pretty much everything, if the challenge on the first down went in favour of Dallas (on Seattle's one-yard line) it would have been nice to see if:

1) Seattle would have let Dallas score a TD uncontested to get the ball back..?
2) Whether Dallas would have tried for the TD..?

Thoughts?? Pick two of the four options below.

[blackjack777]

Seattle would have been stupid to NOT allow a score.

My guess is Romo would have taken the snaps and downed the ball a couple times, then kicked the field goal from 10 yard line or so.

(That's assuming he would have been able to HOLD ONTO the ball and take a knee)

[KanMan]

Same question, opposite situation. Seattle had the ball on the 2 yard line with 1:13 to go in the game. Shaun Alexander broke a huge run for a first down on the first play and there was only one defender between himself and the endzone. Should Tony Parrish have let Shaun Alexander go all the way for a touchdown (Seattle would have only been up by 8)? Or should Dallas have played it out as is?

[boc4life]

[ QUOTE ]
Same question, opposite situation. Seattle had the ball on the 2 yard line with 1:13 to go in the game. Shaun Alexander broke a huge run for a first down on the first play and there was only one defender between himself and the endzone. Should Tony Parrish have let Shaun Alexander go all the way for a touchdown (Seattle would have only been up by 8)? Or should Dallas have played it out as is?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sub-question: Would Alexander have been smart enough to not score?

Although I know very little about Alexander's intelligence, I'm guessing he probably would have realized that the Cowboys were letting him score, and would have realized why, and would have downed the ball somewhere between midfield and the end zone.

With that being the case, I would say tackling him was the proper play.

[.Alex.]

They should have definitely let Alexander score there. Still would have had a decent chance with a minute left instead of relying on a punt return or fumble.

In the Eagles-Saints game earlier this year, NO kneeled near the goal line and kicked a last-second FG instead of running it in. I was impressed.

[TheNoodleMan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Same question, opposite situation. Seattle had the ball on the 2 yard line with 1:13 to go in the game. Shaun Alexander broke a huge run for a first down on the first play and there was only one defender between himself and the endzone. Should Tony Parrish have let Shaun Alexander go all the way for a touchdown (Seattle would have only been up by 8)? Or should Dallas have played it out as is?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sub-question: Would Alexander have been smart enough to not score?


[/ QUOTE ]
Believe it or not this exact situation came up between these 2 teams just 2 years ago.

4th and 1 from the Dallas 32 with 2:53 remaining. Dallas had no timeouts remaining and Alexander took the handoff and ran 32 yards for the score.

Dallas scored, recovered and onside kick and then scored again to win.

link

[TheNoodleMan]

[ QUOTE ]
Although I know very little about Alexander's intelligence, I'm guessing he probably would have realized that the Cowboys were letting him score, and would have realized why, and would have downed the ball somewhere between midfield and the end zone.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know much about Alexander's intelligence either but I'd guess they only thing he'd be thinking is "OMFG 99 YARD TD!"

[Jack of Arcades]

Right, it's like when a DB picks it off on 4th and long, or a WR makes a catch for a loss or in the middle of the field when there's little time. It's just instinct taking over.

[jstnrgrs]

[ QUOTE ]
Right, it's like when a DB picks it off on 4th and long, or a WR makes a catch for a loss or in the middle of the field when there's little time. It's just instinct taking over.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure about what happens in the NFL, but I've seen the long pass on 4th down in high school many times before. The defender always bats the ball down and passes up an easy int. If high school kids can do this, I think that NFL players could do it.