Mike Vrabel Exploits Clock Management Loophole By Throwing First Down With Failed Quarterback Sneak

Very few coaches in the NFL are as strategic as Mike Vrabel. The head coach of the New England Patriots always seems to be up to something sneaky.

Sunday was just the latest example.

He exploited his opponent’s lack of timeouts and NFL clock rules to score a touchdown right as time expired before halftime. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not get the ball back.

Drake Maye led a 77-yard drive.

New England trailed Tampa Bay by three points with seven minutes left in the second quarter. The Patriots returned the kickoff after a Buccaneers field goal to the 22-yard-line.

Eight plays and three penalties later, it was time for the two-minute warning.

Drake Maye completed a pass for nine yards on the first play out of timeout. And then TreVeyon Henderson scampered five yards for a first down.

Tampa Bay called its third and final timeout in hopes of getting the ball back before halftime. That set up 1st-and-goal from the one-yard-line for New England with one minute and 44 seconds left.

Mike Vrabel called a quarterback sneak.

However, the quarterback sneak was just a decoy. May took the snap and immediately went down before the end zone. He did not want to score a touchdown. He wanted to be stopped short.