12/29 analytical

While reading the next potion of my book, War Room, by Michael Holley, I came across a point that stuck out to me. A point was made in the book that there is a, "what if" moment in every game. This took my a little while to understand what a what if moment was, but I think I grasped it. In every game there is momentum, and it shifts from one team to the other depending on how the game is going. A  what if moment if a momentum shift in the momentum that cannot be returned to the other team. Usually a big controversial play, or a play that cost a turnover or points can be looked at as a what if moment to the team on the short end of the stick. Teams look back on these moments and say what if, what if he didn't make that tough catch 30 yards down the field, or what if we didn't throw that pick in the end zone. In a game there can be many, or just one large what if moment, and these moments can shape the game, and the way it is being played.

This picture shows the margins of victory throughout the NFL, and as you can see, there are many games that have been decided by seven points or less. This is a one play game, probably changed by one what if moment. These moments occur very frequently and help change the course of every game played.

There are multiple coaches that do not believe in what if moments, and believe that you always control the game and what happens in it, and others do not tolerate them. One reason I think Bill Belichick is the best coach of all time is because he does not tolerate his team letting up what if moments. Bill believes that to dominate in a league like the NFL, you must have control of the game 100 percent of the time. You can not leave the game up to chance, because then you only have a 50-50 shot. If you compete to your hardest level all the time and never lose sight of the goal, then there should be no what if moments, because you will be in control the whole game. This comes with hard work and 100% effort in practice and games every day, combined with good coaching and the will to win. I believe that what if moments come with the game and they will happen as long as the game is played. Even though coaches like Belichick have proven that their coaching style may be able to force them out of the game, I enjoy the excitement that they bring. Many famous sports moments like the David Tyree helmet catch, the Doug Baldwin foot catch, Odel Beckham's one handed grab, and Malcolm Butler's super bowl winning interception have all been what if moments. It is not about stopping them from entering the game, a coach should try and teach his players how to deal with them when they happen, and how to bounce back against the building momentum the other team will then get.