Sean McVay makes surprising decision to kick field goal on 4th and goal

Sean McVay made a surprising decision to opt for a field goal instead of going for a touchdown on a big 4th-and-goal play late in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.

The Los Angeles Rams got into an and-goal situation with under eight minutes left in the game as they were trailing 20-17 to the New Orleans Saints. They picked up five yards on their first two plays to take the ball down to the 1-yard line. CJ Anderson was stuffed shy of the goal line on third down, leading to a big decision.

With 6:04 to go and the ball inside the 1, would the Rams opt for a field goal to tie the game at 20 or go for a touchdown?

McVay elected to kick. The Rams took a delay of game penalty, moved back five yards, and Greg Zuerlein made a short field goal to tie the game.

The lack of aggression from the Rams seemed to be more of a defensive move than an offensive one. They had a chance to go up by four points had they scored and kicked an extra point. That would have forced the Saints to score a touchdown to take the lead because a field goal would be useless. And if they didn’t get it, the Saints would be pinned at the 1.

It made too much sense, but McVay played it safe instead.