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Sometimes a head coach has to go with his head and his heart and his feel for the game and dismiss what it says on a spreadsheet.
That is what John Harbaugh did in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 27-27 overtime tie with the Commanders.
The Giants were down by 14 points when Jameis Winston hit tight end Isaiah Likely with a 17-yard scoring pass to trim the deficit to 27-19 with 7:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. Kicking the extra point to pull within seven points seemed to make the most sense, but the analytic assessment is to go for the 2-point conversion to boost the chances to win the game in regulation. The thinking is the trailing team will need 15 points to win the game, so go for two after the first touchdown and if you do not get it, go for two after the second touchdown.
“I think generally speaking, theoretically, you go for two,” Harbaugh said Monday. “Then you see if you have to go for two twice, give yourself a chance to win the game in regulation. But the way the game was going, I just decided I wanted to put it into overtime. I didn’t want to take the chance on the 2-point conversion. I thought overtime would give us the best chance.
“Plus, it’s a road division game so the tie isn’t the worst thing for the road team. So, I just feel like all in all, I made that decision to go for one and put it in overtime if it came down to two scores.”
Harbaugh sent Dominic Zvada out for the extra point to make it 27-20. When Winston found Malik Nabers with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter to bring the Giants within 27-26, Harbaugh could have opted to go for two and the win. Again, he called on Zvada for the extra point to pull the Giants even.
Harbaugh is not keen on detailing the injury report the day after games. He did say three players forced out of the game should be considered day to day: RT Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), S Tyler Nubin (neck) and CB Colton Hood (concussion).
“They’ll have a chance for the game,’’ Harbaugh said of Sunday’s meeting with the Saints. “We’ll just have to see how it goes throughout the course of the week.’’
Bryan Hudson started at center for the second consecutive game, replacing John Michael Schmitz Jr., and will remain in that role “for this week,’’ Harbaugh said. “JMS will still be in the plans. He could play, but Huddy will be the starter.’’
Harbaugh is giving out a Purple Heart award each week for the player who works his way back from injury to get on the field. Malik Nabers (knee) won it in Week 1. Andrew Thomas (groin) won it this week.