Monday Morning 'Rider Blogging

Most of the talk about the 'Riders' tie with Calgary has focused on the penalties which kept drives alive for both teams in overtime. But while those undoubtedly contributed to the game's outcome, it's worth pointing out that the 'Riders themselves passed on what looked to be an ideal chance to take the game into their own hands.

For background, keep in mind that Darian Durant has proven to be extremely effective on two-point conversions recently. Twice in the last three games, the team has trailed by eight points in the game's dying minutes - and both times Durant managed to get the ball into the end zone, then put up a two-point conversion to tie the game. And the game before that, he likewise managed to complete a two-point convert to push Saskatchewan's lead from one point to three.

Which makes it odd to me that the 'Riders didn't go for two after their first overtime touchdown when it would have ended the game.

Even leaving aside the fact that a one-point convert is something less than automatic, the decision to play it safe looked like one with nothing but downside. The first overtime series would be the only one where the 'Riders could count on the benefit of scrimmaging last, and thus being able to use an extra down to get to the end zone if needed. In contrast, a second series would potentially give Calgary that advantage instead. So why not press the advantage while the 'Riders held it?

And the choice looks even more obvious after Saskatchewan's first convert attempt - where the Stamps managed to highlight the uncertainty of a convert by blocking the kick, but in the process took a penalty which would have made it easier to find the end zone on a two-point convert.

Mind you, there would be an obvious case for merely trying to extend the game to one more series if there was reason for concern about the team's chances on a two-point convert. But again, that's actually turned into somewhat of a specialty for Durant, whose combination of timing, touch passing and scrambling ability is ideally suited to finding some way to get the ball into the end zone from up close.

In sum, then, the 'Riders' first overtime possession got them exactly what a team normally hopes for at the end of a game: the chance to have the game decided by its own execution on offence, with the ball in the hands of a quarterback who's building a track record of making big plays when it counts the most. And having chosen not to take advantage of that opportunity, the 'Riders couldn't have expected much more than to come away with a single point in the standings.