Dolphins try to get Raiders to score

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The Raiders did not want to let pressure. The Dolphins wanted them to.

Although a touchdown by the Raiders would give the Dolphins more time, the Dolphins would also need to score a touchdown to win or perhaps draw (if Las Vegas passed two and made it). By milking the clock and taking a field goal that gave the Raiders a 25-23 lead, Miami had less time but needed only three points to win.

On Saturday night, Raiders coach Jon Gruden said he had no regrets trying not to attack. On Sunday, Dolphins coach Brian Flores confirmed that his team tries to get the Raiders to attack.

Both were probably wrong in their assessment of the situation. As MDS noted, defending the end zone is always easier for a defense.

While Josh Jacobs ran back, he did the clever and unselfish thing by taking a seat for a play that started at 1:50 and Miami out of the time-outs, the Raiders must have tried to attack the to get play that started with 1: 05 on the clock. And the Dolphins must have tried to stop them.

Obviously, the result supports the idea that the Raiders should try to get a touchdown, as the field goal opened the door for the Miami victory. And the Dolphins’ ability to reach the goal within 19 seconds borders on the category of miracles. It is still better to defend the end zone when the opponent has the ball with about a minute left and has no countdown time.

It does not take nearly as much effort (or time) to get into the field goal, as the Dolphins proved last night. It takes a lot more to get into the end zone. Unless Gregg Williams calls out the opposing defense.

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