When the Saints scored a touchdown against the Lions with 1:34 left in overtime on Sunday, they could have kicked the extra point to tie the game, then hoped their defense could get the ball back so they could win, or at least contain the Lions’ offense to preserve the tie. Instead, Saints head coach Kellen Moore decided to go for two and end the game right there, one way or another. The way it ended was that the Saints lost: Tyler Shough’s two-point conversion pass was incomplete in the back of the end zone and the Saints left the field 0-1. After the game, Moore said he believes he made the right decision. “There was 1:34 left. That’s a really talented offense. We had a chance to win the football game,” Moore said. “I really looked at it like we’re going for two to win the game, if we get the chance.” The Saints also decided to kick at the start of overtime, thinking they would prefer to receive the ball second and know what they have to do. The decision to kick at the beginning of overtime influenced the decision to go for two at the end of overtime: Because the Saints had the second possession, Moore knew what his team had to do, and what his team had to do was score a two-point conversion. It didn’t work out, but Moore still believes it was the right decision.
