Doug Pederson Explains His End-of-Half Decision vs. Texans

Why did Doug Pederson not just take the points vs. the Texans at the end of the first-half?

Doug Pederson and the Jacksonville Jaguars don't try to live in regret. 

With Pederson at the helm comes the territory of bold, aggressive calls in high-leverage situations. 

Sometimes they work, and the Jaguars benefit immensely and Pederson looks like a genius. 

Sometimes they fail, and the Jaguars and Pederson are challenged for their aggression. 

The latter happened in Week 12, with the Jaguars requiring a doink off the crossbar from 58 yards out to secure a 24-21 must-have win over the Houston Texans as a result. 

In the waning seconds of the first-half, the Jaguars did the improbable and completed a 57-yard pass to Christian Kirk to get them down to the one-yard line. With the Jaguars holding a 13-7 lead and getting the ball after halftime, Pederson then had a decision: kick the chipshot field goal and go into halftime up 16-7, or attempt to go for the kill-shot and take a 20-7 lead with a chance to double-down after halftime. 

Pederson kept the offense on the field, with a toss to the right side to Travis Etienne getting stuffed for no gain and giving Houston momentum going into the half. But a day later, it was a decision Pederson stood by.

"I trust our players. I think the players have trust in me to make these decisions and put them in successful decisions," Pederson said. 

"Now listen, we had the ball to start the third quarter. Had we not, I’m taking three points there. Let’s not mistake ourselves in saying, ‘Oh, he went out on a limb and he’s being overly aggressive’ or whatever. There was a logical reason for making that decision and that decision was we were getting the football. I wanted to go up 20-7 with a chance to go up even more at the beginning of the third quarter."

The Jaguars' offense had been rolling to that point, scoring in three of their first four offensive possessions. The defense, too, was holding its own, forcing punts on Houston's first three drives.

"Those all factor into making those decisions. I think if the defense were to start the third quarter, it’s a no brainer. One second left, just kick the field goal and get the three points, now you’re up 16-7 going into the locker room and it’s a different deal," Pederson said. 

"I’m going to continue to trust our players and put them in situations. They know I’m going to continue to do it and I credit Houston too, they made a great play. It’s just they got us on that particular play.”