I'm just not an advocate of 4th down attempts from more than a couple of inches, unless it is absolutely necessary. This was totally unecessary. Their defense just held the Saints. Like Will Smith said, if Payton did that to them it's a little disturbing (paraphrasing).

ha ha ha hahaha hahah hahahahaha
ha hahahaha ha http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...22bank.480.jpg

Question for all that agreed/said it was the right call:


If Mike Smith had tried to convert that 4th & inches from his own 29 yd line in the 3rd quarter would you still have thought it was a good call?

3rd quarter I prolly wouldn't. But 3rd quarter and sudden death OT is 2 different animals.

True. But in the 3rd quarter, if the Saints score, you still get the ball back.

I still stand by my originial position ... 9 out of 10 high school coaches in Smith's position would've gotten that first down by simply calling a QB sneak.

some of you need to heed the words of the great Madden.

There is only one word Mike Smith and the Falcons need to know...

O-W-N-E-D

Honestly, I think going for it was the right decision. It was only "inches" and our beloved Saints are pretty weak at stopping the run. Where Smith made a mistake, I think, was in the play called.

They lined up showing a run up the gut. The Saints stacked the box. Even at that, I'm thinking they're going to get the inches needed.
I'm very happy that the Saints D surprised me and held strong on that down.

9 out of 10 high school coaches wouldn't have made the bonehead call to go for it in the first place. It was a stupid high risk/low reward move that cost them an important game. There is no way Payton would ever be that stupid. In fact, on the previous possession in OT the Saints had a 4th and one from their 38 yard line. Did Payton go for it? No. He did the smart thing and punted.