NFL

Why Didn't Jim Schwartz Kick the Field Goal?

Keith Goldner  —  @keithgoldner Nov 18th, 2013
There was an odd play call towards the end of the Lions vs. Steelers game, and it shifted the outcome of the game dramatically.

Facing a 4th-and-5 from the Steelers' 10, the Lions had a four-point lead on the Steelers and were prepared to score again. Instead of kicking a field goal to jump ahead by a touchdown though, head coach Jim Schwartz went for a fake, and punter Sam Martin fumbled the ball to the Steelers. Big Ben and company then took the pigskin the length of the field for a touchdown, which, in turn, ended up being the deciding score.

numberFire Chief Analyst Keith Goldner looks at Schwartz's decision, and explains why the call was a statistically odd one to make.

Click here to read: Lions Odd Fake Field Goal