Winning the Coin Flip

[flippy]

What do yinz think about Tomlin being aggressive and taking the opening kickoff when we win the toss?

We discuss how conservative we are in trying to avoid turn overs, but this is the opposite and quite aggressive.

[Starlifter]

I like taking the ball. I understand the thought process about perhaps closing out the first half with a score and then opening the second half with a score - but my take is more simple.

The possessions in any game are either evenly split or one team has an extra. With so many NFL games decided by one score or less, I think it’s an advantage to have the extra possession. Taking the ball first doesn’t guarantee that of course - but I never want to purposely give the ball to the other team.

Take the kick. Drive the field. Have your defense make them go 3 and out to start the second half. That’s what I like. YMMV…….

[Chucktownsteeler]

I always like to defer, just to get the ball starting in the 2nd half. However, I think Tomlin's logic may also include building some confidence in the O.

Also, if you defend first and get a 3 and out you stand a good chance of decent starting field position.

[WindyCitySteel]

Hell no, it takes them a half to warm to the task offensively, outside of last week the first possession (or first four or five) are generally wasted.

[NorthCoast]

Hell no, it takes them a half to warm to the task offensively, outside of last week the first possession (or first four or five) are generally wasted.

This...X10.

Here's last season:

Coin Toss Wins & Decisions by Team
Team	Coin Toss Wins	Defers (Defer Record)	Receives (Receive Record)
Philadelphia	13	13 (11-2)	0 (0-0)
Denver	12	12 (3-9)	0 (0-0)
LA Chargers	12	12 (7-5)	0 (0-0)
San Francisco	12	12 (10-2)	0 (0-0)
New England	11	11 (6-5)	0 (0-0)
Washington	11	11 (5-5-1)	0 (0-0)
Miami	10	10 (7-3)	0 (0-0)
Green Bay	10	10 (5-5)	0 (0-0)
Baltimore	10	7 (5-2)	3 (2-1)
NY Jets	9	9 (3-6)	0 (0-0)
Jacksonville	9	9 (5-4)	0 (0-0)
NY Giants	9	9 (6-3)	0 (0-0)
New Orleans	9	9 (4-5)	0 (0-0)
Arizona	9	9 (3-6)	0 (0-0)
Minnesota	9	7 (5-2)	2 (1-1)
Seattle	8	8 (2-6)	0 (0-0)
Tennessee	8	7 (1-6)	1 (1-0)
Kansas City	8	7 (5-2)	1 (1-0)
Pittsburgh	7	7 (3-4)	0 (0-0)
Houston	7	7 (1-5-1)	0 (0-0)
Detroit	7	7 (5-2)	0 (0-0)
Atlanta	7	7 (4-3)	0 (0-0)
Carolina	7	7 (3-4)	0 (0-0)
Tampa Bay	7	7 (4-3)	0 (0-0)
LA Rams	7	7 (4-3)	0 (0-0)
Indianapolis	7	6 (1-5)	1 (0-1)
Chicago	7	6 (1-5)	1 (0-1)
Cleveland	7	5 (3-2)	2 (2-0)
Dallas	7	3 (3-0)	4 (1-3)
Buffalo	6	5 (5-0)	1 (1-0)
Cincinnati	6	2 (0-2)	4 (3-0) (1 no contest)
Las Vegas	4	2 (0-2)	2 (1-1)

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I always like to defer, just to get the ball starting in the 2nd half. However, I think Tomlin's logic may also include building some confidence in the O.

Also, if you defend first and get a 3 and out you stand a good chance of decent starting field position.

That is what the odds say. For most game I prefer to defend. Especially when your consider that we seldom start out good on offense.

[flippy]

This...X10.

Here's last season:

Coin Toss Wins & Decisions by Team
Team	Coin Toss Wins	Defers (Defer Record)	Receives (Receive Record)
Philadelphia	13	13 (11-2)	0 (0-0)
Denver	12	12 (3-9)	0 (0-0)
LA Chargers	12	12 (7-5)	0 (0-0)
San Francisco	12	12 (10-2)	0 (0-0)
New England	11	11 (6-5)	0 (0-0)
Washington	11	11 (5-5-1)	0 (0-0)
Miami	10	10 (7-3)	0 (0-0)
Green Bay	10	10 (5-5)	0 (0-0)
Baltimore	10	7 (5-2)	3 (2-1)
NY Jets	9	9 (3-6)	0 (0-0)
Jacksonville	9	9 (5-4)	0 (0-0)
NY Giants	9	9 (6-3)	0 (0-0)
New Orleans	9	9 (4-5)	0 (0-0)
Arizona	9	9 (3-6)	0 (0-0)
Minnesota	9	7 (5-2)	2 (1-1)
Seattle	8	8 (2-6)	0 (0-0)
Tennessee	8	7 (1-6)	1 (1-0)
Kansas City	8	7 (5-2)	1 (1-0)
Pittsburgh	7	7 (3-4)	0 (0-0)
Houston	7	7 (1-5-1)	0 (0-0)
Detroit	7	7 (5-2)	0 (0-0)
Atlanta	7	7 (4-3)	0 (0-0)
Carolina	7	7 (3-4)	0 (0-0)
Tampa Bay	7	7 (4-3)	0 (0-0)
LA Rams	7	7 (4-3)	0 (0-0)
Indianapolis	7	6 (1-5)	1 (0-1)
Chicago	7	6 (1-5)	1 (0-1)
Cleveland	7	5 (3-2)	2 (2-0)
Dallas	7	3 (3-0)	4 (1-3)
Buffalo	6	5 (5-0)	1 (1-0)
Cincinnati	6	2 (0-2)	4 (3-0) (1 no contest)
Las Vegas	4	2 (0-2)	2 (1-1)

Since we had a losing record when we won the coin toss, we must have had a winning record when we lost the coin toss.

Based on trends, we probably got the ball 1st when we lost the coin toss, so technically, we must be better when we get the ball 1st.

Maybe we should take the ball if we win the toss.