What if on that last Punt (where they took the Safety)?

[mythoughts]

....the Ravens O-Line were instructed to just grab on HOLD their player ? But not to do it in the endzone.

I think perhaps they could've run the clock completely out ? And wouldn't the game end (even though it was a penalty)?

[DColeman]

What if the Power hadn't "malfunctioned" changing the momentum of the game? Hmmm that's what has me kinda pissed....

[elj1201]

What if the Power hadn't "malfunctioned" changing the momentum of the game? Hmmm that's what has me kinda pissed....

That entire situation raises a lot of questions. Blowout to a close game with the flip of a switch so-to-say. Entergy New Orleans says the problem was on the Superdome's end. But they are a power company with a less than stellar reputation and it it certainly in their best interest to blame the stadium. Who knows. CBS got a great game that ended in the last minute. Just seemed too convenient. Or we're just being paranoid.

[Bassman]

Half or game can't end on a penalty. Another play would still have to be run.

[Peej7245]

Half or game can't end on a penalty. Another play would still have to be run.

Unless the penalty had been declined. There were 11 seconds and the play by Kock consumed 7 of them leaving only 4 seconds left to do something with the free kick.

[jtowne-swim]

Half or game can't end on a penalty. Another play would still have to be run.

It can end on an offensive penalty

[Jeebus]

....the Ravens O-Line were instructed to just grab on HOLD their player ? But not to do it in the endzone.

Holding in the end zone (or out of the end zone) would have resulted in the same outcome when Koch ran out of the end zone - safety.

Having them hold IN the end zone was brilliant, allowing much more time to tick off, with no downside whatsoever.

[mythoughts]

It can end on an offensive penalty

That's the point of my post.
After seeing a replay of the punt it looks this Harbaugh and the coaches told them to do exactly like - "hold, tackle do whaever you need to do to stop your man from getting to the punter". It's a loophole it the rules but the Ravens had nothing to lose by being called for Holding because they were the Offense and the rules only say the game can't end on a Defensive fouls. Brillant coaching to take advantage of that. The Ravens likely took an additional 2-3 seconds off the clock by holding which means the 49ers would've had time for 1 more play after that Free Kick (after the safety).

[Fang]

What a brilliant call! Everyone in my section kept saying this is the most important punt in Ravens history. No me saw the intentional safety coming. What a great call. The holds we're obvious. But it didn't dawn on me until afterwards that they held on purpose.

[BiggSeth]

Koch CREAMED that free kick, which made the return very long. I was sitting on the edge of the chair saying "just make a F^%KING tackle"

Safety was the right, brilliant call.

The lights going out was a pile of crap.

[Baltimore Ravens Lets Go!]

What I also thought funny was Nance asking Sims if the Ravens would consider taking a safety and he said he didn't see any advantage to doing so. So much for his "expert" analysis.

[Passarino]

What I also thought funny was Nance asking Sims if the Ravens would consider taking a safety and he said he didn't see any advantage to doing so. So much for his "expert" analysis.

Right Simms. Punt from the endzone, and give the 49ers the ball around midfield with time for a Hail Mary or run out most of the clock, give up the 2 points, punt from the 20 and make the 49ers return that punt all the way for a touchdown. No advantage to choice 2 at all.