I've seen people jumping on the Titans for not challenging. I think that's wrong. We fans had the benefit of actually watching it. I credit the Packers for getting down the field, lined up and snapping the ball before Titans could review the play. I know that's not the en vogue or culture thing to do ... you know ... give a team credit when we can bash another team, but that's how I viewed it. I had a few rounds with some folks on Twitter about it too. They were saying it was dumb to not challenge it. They assumed that Vrabel SAW the RB step out of bounds and elected not to challenge it. There was absolutely no reason for Vrabel to throw the challenge flag. The play was on the opposite sideline. They didn't show it on the jumbotron.
The lack of challenging the play was more so good on the Packers hustling than it was a failure on Titans.
Edit, I just found this.
Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool
I know what you are saying Zero. I realize he didn't see the play. Many people don't realize that football fields are not table top flat. With some fields the crown is so large you can't see the other sideline. (old Cowboys stadium was like that. Favre said it took him a whole quarter to zero in on how to throw the ball on an out route.) AND not the least was the outstanding effort by the Packers to hustle down the field.
What I am saying is despite all these reasons, Vrabel still needed to take action. Look at the circumstances before him at that very moment and make a decision without the benefit of having indisputable evidence.
Why would a team run down the field? Is time about to expire in the quarter? No. On the play clock? No.
Do they want to avoid defensive substitutions? Perhaps.
Do they want to avoid a review? Perhaps.
Do teams normally run down the field without some specific reason? No.
Would it be more advantageous to GB or TN to not challenge? GB.
Would it be more advantageous to GB or TN if he challenged? Don't know.
Some other reason? Perhaps.
My point is, as the HC he needed to take the very small amount if information he had available, realized he isn't going to get the perfect answer and then make an action anyway. His non action was the worst case result. Most people with any kind of understanding would not have criticized him for tossing the red hanky. Even if he didn't win the challenge.
Once again, if I wasn't clear before, GB did an amazing job limiting the ability of TN to make a decision.
Great coaches don't let the other team dictate terms to them. MLF was the better coach last night all game long.