Why Jerod Mayo, Patriots Opted For Questionable Fourth-Quarter Decision

Analytics experts will tell you Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo made the correct decision during the fourth quarter of New England’s 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. But not all will agree.

Mayo and company opted to keep quarterback Drake Maye and the offense out on the field and attempt a two-point conversion following a touchdown from Maye to K.J. Osborn. Osborn’s catch helped New England close the gap to 25-16 with eight minutes remaining. A successful two-point conversion would have tightened the gap to seven points while a successful extra point would have made it an eight-point game. Either would have made it a one-possession game.

The Patriots failed to convert the two-point attempt, however, which kept it a two-possession game.

“That decision, at some point in time, you have to go for two,” Mayo told reporters after the loss, per a team-provided video. “I just wanted to at least know what situation we were going to be in with more time on the clock. So, we went for two on the first one. I’m sure other people see it different ways, it’s a philosophical thing.”

The Patriots seemed to run a play that would have converted the two-point attempt. However, wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk slipped as he broke to the outside and was on the ground when Maye threw the ball his way. Should Polk have not fell, he very likely would have added two points for the Patriots.

Patriots radio broadcaster Scott Zolak, among others, did not agree with the decision. Zolak made his feelings well-known during the 98.5 The Sport Hub’s radio broadcast.