The most important drive of the 2021 CFP Title game

[jashleyren2]

To me, the most important drive of the game on Monday night, was the clock-devouring drive that began the 3rd quarter. Even before halftime, knowing we would get the ball to start the second half, that drive needed to eat clock, and, possibly, result in points. Even a field goal, which our PERFECT FOR THE SEASON KICKER nailed, got the score to 38-17. And, considering Ohio State flew down the field and scored a TD within a minute to get the game to 38-24, and competitive by score alone, that one drive took away time from the Buckeyes. Half the 3rd quarter was taken by that drive. And I believe that was by design. The Buckeyes could not get their defense off the field.

As worthy of an opponent as Ohio State was, that drive, ending with "only" a single field goal, took the game away from them. It made their next scoring drive critical. And, even though they delivered, it would be their final score of the game. It was perfection, it was my personal peak of the game. Roll Tide folks! #18 with more to come!

 

[B1GTide]

There were two, IMO. The drive after the score was tied 14-14 was huge. It kept the pressure on our offense, which led to mistakes. And the second was the drive that you mentioned, to lead off the second half. It did the same thing in demonstrating that there would be no let-up.

The pressure placed on our offense and defense by the success of your offense was something that the Bucks could not handle.

 

[BJ4TIDE]

There were two, IMO. The drive after the score was tied 14-14 was huge. It kept the pressure on our offense, which led to mistakes. And the second was the drive that you mentioned, to lead off the second half. It did the same thing in demonstrating that there would be no let-up.

The pressure placed on our offense and defense by the success of your offense was something that the Bucks could not handle.

Which is exactly what OSU did to Clemson in the semifinal game.

 

[DrollTide]

Good point. I mentioned to my watch-buddy that the drive "took half a quarter" and we were both surprised.

 

[Elefantman]

Good point. I mentioned to my watch-buddy that the drive "took half a quarter" and we were both surprised.

It was nice of CNS to take time and pay tribute to old school Bama football.

 

[bamamick]

I think the last two touchdowns of the first half, where it just looked so easy, those were the real turning point. Sort of like the way we felt when Clemson walked away from us in 2018, or LSU in 2019 (of course, we made the score close in that one but could never get that big stop at the end to give us a real chance to win), it is hard for a proud defense to rise up after getting slapped that hard. It looked to me like Ohio State's guys were gassed halfway through the 3rd quarter, and having us score like that on them, I think, took the heart out of their defense.

 

[RollTide1224]

That final td drive before half kind of reminded me of the pick we threw right before half against LSU that led to another TD. We already didn't feel good but that extra TD being tacked on really made it tough to get back in the game.

The one you mentioned was also important, consuming half the quarter and getting points was huge.

 

[Ledsteplin]

That time consuming drive was indeed huge. And then OSU had a drive in the 4th quarter that ate up 5 minutes. I like to think the defense made that happen, not allowing the big plays.

 

[BamaFlum]

I think it was a combination of both the FG drive and the nail in the coffin Najee TD after the turnover on downs. Both of those just completely deflated OSU.

 

[bamacpa]

I thought the Slade Bolden TD drive was key. OSU had just scored in 3 plays, Smitty is out, Najee gets a breather, and we're only up 38-24. A three and out there gives the Buckeyes belief. BRob comes out and runs hard, Billingsley makes a big 3rd down catch and Slade gets the TD on a play where Wade just underestimated his speed in motion. It's interesting how we identified different drives as crucial.

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

Most important drive for me is the first Bama drive of each half. We scored with Devonta (6) and without him (3) there was no stopping Bama.

 

[TiderMan]

I thought the Slade Bolden TD drive was key. OSU had just scored in 3 plays, Smitty is out, Najee gets a breather, and we're only up 38-24. A three and out there gives the Buckeyes belief. BRob comes out and runs hard, Billingsley makes a big 3rd down catch and Slade gets the TD on a play where Wade just underestimated his speed in motion. It's interesting how we identified different drives as crucial.

That was a big drive - I called it the back-up drive because all the back-ups were making plays. I think Xavier Williams had a 1st down catch on that drive too.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

3 most important drives

the last two that led to TD's before the half. The drive in the 3rd quarter where BRob was the featured back and ate up a ton of clock.

 

[Ben23]

Man, the drive that ended with the Slade Bolden TD really showed how good of a QB Mac Jones really is. I feel he has been under appreciated all year. The dude is just money. As bamacpa said, if Bama does nothing on that drive and gives it back to OSU then they have life. Mac engineered that drive with some great reads and throws. Of course, isnt this the drive where he tried to slide again and even he was hobbling around? Every Bama player contributed mightily in this game. It was beautiful.

 

[Toddrn]

Good point. I mentioned to my watch-buddy that the drive "took half a quarter" and we were both surprised.

My son said the same thing. I was just upset that we didn't score a TD.

 

[bamadwain]

The drive that started the 3rd quarter was big, took time off the clock and the long drive OSU had that resulted in no points was big for our defense, as Eli said on radio Osu lineman can hardly get back up. GAME OVER

 

[BamaMoon]

Agree about the opening drive of 2nd half. Not only did he take half the 3rd quarter and yield 3 points, but it was precious time they would need to mount a comeback.

But beyond that...after building the big lead in the 2nd quarter...we've had a tendency to come out and look disinterested in the 3rd quarter a few games. That drive proved we were still engaged and wasn't going to have a 3rd quarter letdown.

Also, I think our first drive of the game to go score after holding them on their first drive set the tone that they were going to have to play catchup all night. Same for drive right after they tied it up (after the gifted TD/MJ fumble).

 

[bamacon]

There were two, IMO. The drive after the score was tied 14-14 was huge. It kept the pressure on our offense, which led to mistakes. And the second was the drive that you mentioned, to lead off the second half. It did the same thing in demonstrating that there would be no let-up.

The pressure placed on our offense and defense by the success of your offense was something that the Bucks could not handle.

It was like a torturer who displays all his instruments of pain and holds them each up and asks how you want to go...

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

That time consuming drive was indeed huge. And then OSU had a drive in the 4th quarter that ate up 5 minutes. I like to think the defense made that happen, not allowing the big plays.

We did eat up the third qtr. Crazy that we still could have scored 60, 70 points with that same drive.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

My best friend is a Buckeye. He still can't believe that after tOSU flew down the field to score their first TD of the second half, he then had to watch us -- with no DeVonta, no Najee, and Jaylen and Mac both playing on one leg -- respond with our own touchdown to ice it.

Second- and third-stringers and walking wounded. Amazing.

That to me was the biggest and best moment of the season, much less the game. And it epitomizes what Saban has built.