1st and 15 or 2nd and 10?

[yeotaJMU]

watching the Dallas/Vikings game... Cowboys make a stop on a deep pass on first down, Vikings had illegal formation, Cowboys declined. This made me think: would you rather have a team at 2nd and 10 or 1st and 15?

[mutigers5591]

1st and 15...not an expert on this though just seems better to me maybe im stupid

[vhawk01]

I think it depends pretty heavily on the quality of your offense. Really good offenses should take 1st and 15, bad ones should take 2nd and ten. No idea if thats right, it just seems like its easier for a good offense to run bad and have to punt with less downs, the yards don't matter as much, and a bad offense can luckbox a big play but they cant afford to waste yards. Since most of their plays are for small amounts the yards are worth more.

Could it be that as long as you have more than 5 yards per play average you should always be taking the 1st and 15?

[yeotaJMU]

well this is from the perspective of the defense

[vhawk01]

[ QUOTE ]
well this is from the perspective of the defense

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok then reverse it?

[Artdogg]

mathematically 1st and 15, psychologically 2nd and 10 (from the defensive perspective)

[vixticator]

Second and ten but field position matters to some extent. If teams went for it on 4th down more often maybe 1st/15 but everyone punts so I'll go with only two more downs to stop unless it moves them out of FG range or something like that.

[Matt Williams]

I'd go w/ 2nd and 10. Fewer snaps by the offense can only be good for the defense.

[THAY3R]

I didn't read OP and voted wrong. 1st and 15 is better for the offense.

[PokerFink]

Against Minnesota? 2nd and 10. Dallas is smart.