Colts P Pat McAfee explains failed fake punt
Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee explained the puzzling fake punt that his team attempted to run against the New England Patriots on Sunday during an interview on the Bob and Tom radio show Tuesday morning.
“The point of the play is to be a deception play. So, you’re trying to manipulate the [receiving team] into thinking they have to sub their defense back on,” McAfee said. “So, we are sprinting to the sideline in hopes to make the other team think we are subbing our offense back onto the field. So, when they think the offense is coming back on the field, your hope is that they think their defense has to come back on the field.”
McAfee then added, “As soon as their defense comes back on the field, we snap it, steal 5 yards (because the defense would have too many men on the field), and we get a first down. So there’s the intention of it. That’s the thought.”
However, that’s not exactly how the play turned out.
McAfee also said that they play was never supposed to feature wide receiver Griff Whalen as the center. Safety Clayton Geathers practiced as the center in practice, but was injured in the second quarter.
The Patriots defeated the Colts 34–27.
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