[Farm93]

It is worth noting that both championship games came down to very short FG attempts.

The Ravens could have pushed more aggressively and thrown down the middle to score a TD as the fourth quarter closed out.  Instead they opted for 2 safe throws to the sidelines.  Both were defended well by the Patriots.  So the Ravens settled for a short FG to go to OT.  Oddly, the kicker was a bit late and had to run down to his spot.  The kicker then missed, and the players were stunned.  Note:  That missed FG stuff even happens in the pros.

The Giants could have easily pushed the ball in for a TD in OT.  But instead "settled" for a 26 yard FG attempt.  After a 5 yard delay of game penalty, that the staff was almost indifferent about, the kick became a 31 yard attempt.  Rather than running again to try to get some of that back, the Giants elected to still stay with the kicker and attempt a 31 yard kick.  The FG attempt was outside, on a wet surface, in the rain, and with a significant wind.  But the Giants thought trusting their kicker was better than trusting Jacobs and/or Manning.  Giants win, kicker is a hero for making a really easy kick.

If the Giants miss the kick, perhaps people wonder why the coach didn't try harder for a TD and/or why they didn't call timeout to avoid the 5 yard penalty.  That's the game though, and it is often won and lost with the kicker.

Stanford and both Harbaughs were on the wrong side of the kicker fortunes this year.  Still the Ravens, 9ers and Stanford all had great years, just not quite the endings they wanted.

[Farm93]

It is worth noting that both championship games came down to very short FG attempts.

The Ravens could have pushed more aggressively and thrown down the middle to score a TD as the fourth quarter closed out.  Instead they opted for 2 safe throws to the sidelines.  Both were defended well by the Patriots.  So the Ravens settled for a short FG to go to OT.  Oddly, the kicker was a bit late and had to run down to his spot.  The kicker then missed, and the players were stunned.  Note:  That missed FG stuff even happens in the pros.

The Giants could have easily pushed the ball in for a TD in OT.  But instead "settled" for a 26 yard FG attempt.  After a 5 yard delay of game penalty, that the staff was almost indifferent about, the kick became a 31 yard attempt.  Rather than running again to try to get some of that back, the Giants elected to still stay with the kicker and attempt a 31 yard kick.  The FG attempt was outside, on a wet surface, in the rain, and with a significant wind.  But the Giants thought trusting their kicker was better than trusting Jacobs and/or Manning.  Giants win, kicker is a hero for making a really easy kick.

If the Giants miss the kick, perhaps people wonder why the coach didn't try harder for a TD and/or why they didn't call timeout to avoid the 5 yard penalty.  That's the game though, and it is often won and lost with the kicker.

Stanford and both Harbaughs were on the wrong side of the kicker fortunes this year.  Still the Ravens, 9ers and Stanford all had great years, just not quite the endings they wanted.