| Bengals coach Marvin Lewis made a controversial decision to kick a field goal down four late against Miami on Sunday. Monday he stood by his decision. (US Presswire) |
With the Bengals trailing by four with 3:05 remaining Sunday against Miami, Marvin Lewis opted for a Mike Nugent 41-yard field goal rather than allowing his offense to go for a first down on fourth-and-5.
Eventually, Nugent missed his first field goal of the season and a final touchdown drive attempt with just under two minutes remaining concluded with an Andy Dalton interception.
Should Lewis have gone for it?
In hind sight, the standard fan outrage on Twitter insists he should have. Research from Jason Lisk at The Big Lead suggests the numbers dictate he should have gone for it as well.
On Monday, Lewis stuck by the belief he made the correct call.
"There (on Miami’s 23-yard line), we’ve got automatic -- or what should be automatic -- points," Lewis said. "We’ve got the ability to kick off, have a touchback, pin them back again, get the ball back again -- just like we had done the previous series -- have another opportunity for a field goal or touchdown, and win the football game going away. I’ve got to trust our guys are going to get done what they’re going to get done."
They didn't. And Lewis understands that opens the door for criticism of the decision he'd made. Take into consideration the Bengals offense wasn't exactly tearing it up in those spots. They were 2 of 14 on third down, but did convert a fourth down earlier in the game.
"I thought of it more like we would get the three points, then we’d be kicking off to them, and we were likely to have a touchback because we had the wind," Lewis said. "Then we have an opportunity to pin them back again and make him (Miami P Brandon Fields) punt, which he had not done a good job of all day, and we’ve had a chance to return punts all day. Any time we can get the ball in Adam Jones’ hands back there in that situation, he’s going to get us set up in good field position. That’s more of my thinking.”
The thinking of many others in the seats at Paul Brown Stadium was they didn't like it.
"Everybody’s got an opinion, and unfortunately I have to make the decision and live with it," Lewis said. "When you win the football game, none of these questions are ever asked. Obviously when you lose, you’re opened up for second-guessing. But I’ve got to make the decision at the time, and I still feel like it was the best thing to do."
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