Why Was Cris Collinsworth Delving Into The Mathematics Of Going For 2?
Cris Collinsworth, half of the nation’s less complained about commentating duo, along with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, seemed to be getting into unchartered territory late on in the Detroit Lions – Tampa Bay Buccaneers game – mathematics.
Having just scored a touchdown to come with in a score of the Detroit Lions, the Bucs, with a little under 5 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, elected to try for a two point conversion, with good reason. However, Cris Collinsworth’s explanation is something to behold, per Awful Announcing.
Cris Collinsworth explains the math behind the Bucs’ decision to go for 2 while trailing by 8. 🏈🎙️ pic.twitter.com/sgIllQhAoy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 21, 2024
Cris Collinsworth The Mathematical Whiz?
Whilst perhaps not the most coherent thing anyone under the age of 85 has ever said, Collinsworth allusion was not incorrect: Extra points are not automatic – in fact around 5% each year are missed.
So, in a situation where there is no immediate reason to go for either one or two – for example, where time has expired and you are two points behind, so you would obviously have to go for the two point conversion – you would need to be completing 48% of your 2PCs to have a positive payoff.
Regardless, the use of numerical heavy jargon is indeed laughable, especially coming from a man who, whilst a formidable receiver and excellent announcer, is probably not, on an individual level, an analytics whizz.
Fans Had A Field Day With Collinsworth
Cris Collinsworth trying to explain why you go for 2 there pic.twitter.com/ha5V1Ei4B9
— Eric Lauzin (@Lauzin) January 21, 2024
Others criticized Collinsworth’s logical assumptions, rather than his math.
I appreciate Cris Collinsworth trying to explain why you go for 2 down 8, but it has NOTHING to do with a 2 point conversion being 55% conversion and an XP only being 95%.
The math holds true even if going for 2 is 50/50 and XP is 100%.
— Michael Flora (@michaelchamp) January 21, 2024
We still love Cris, and look forward to another great season with him and Tirico at the helm!
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