Two plays away...

[RF2044]

You're assuming a perfect outcome after that play as well. For all we know we throw downfield on the next play and it's picked, or it's TD, or it's just incomplete, or Dungey gets rocked and fumbles. If it was the final play of the game I'd be more willing to see your point of view. It improves our chances but doesn't lock up that game. Clemson was definitely having their way with us at that point.

No, I'm not assuming anything. And no, it wouldn't have required a perfect outcome.

When we drew that penalty, we were forced to punt instead of retaining possession -- giving them the ball back with just under 5 minutes to go. That's an eternity -- and it gave them the luxury of being able to run the ball. They eventually scored with under a minute to go, taking full advantage of the bountiful time they had.

If we convert, then we take more time off the clock, whether we pick up another first down or not. Or we make them burn their timeouts. Either way, they wouldn't have gotten the ball back with nearly as much time to work with. If we managed to pick up another first down -- ball game.

It wouldn't have had to be a perfect outcome -- but it WOULD have made things really tough on them, and forced them to pass. Given how we were getting after the QB, that would have benefitted us instead of enabling them to run, run, run and exploit our run defense without having to worry about the clock.

 

[Pyle]

No, I'm not assuming anything. And no, it wouldn't have required a perfect outcome.

When we drew that penalty, we were forced to punt instead of retaining possession -- giving them the ball back with just under 5 minutes to go. That's an eternity -- and it gave them the luxury of being able to run the ball. They eventually scored with under a minute to go, taking full advantage of the bountiful time they had.

If we convert, then we take more time off the clock, whether we pick up another first down or not. Or we make them burn their timeouts. Either way, they wouldn't have gotten the ball back with nearly as much time to work with. If we managed to pick up another first down -- ball game.

It wouldn't have had to be a perfect outcome -- but it WOULD have made things really tough on them, and forced them to pass. Given how we were getting after the QB, that would have benefitted us instead of enabling them to run, run, run and exploit our run defense without having to worry about the clock.

Agree it would have definitely increased our odds of winning but it would not have locked up the game that's why I take exception to the one play thing. It was one play, then another first down OR a defensive stop.

 

[DomeStranger]

That's football though. We had every opportunity to close out both games and couldn't do it. We're also a play away from being 5-3.

That's really the way to look at it. Both NC and Pitt were 50/50 games. I think we probably should've beaten Pitt but it cancels out the fact we probably should've lost to NC.

As far as Clemson goes, we took one on the chin for the ACC, your welcome Swofford.