The Seattle Dragons entered Saturday’s matchup with the St. Louis BattleHawks as massive 12.5-point underdogs, but after Jim Zorn finally benched struggling quarterback Brandon Silvers after the first half, the Dragons pulled within four points with a touchdown early in the final quarter. Backup B.J. Daniels hit tight end Evan Rodriguez over the middle to make the game 20-16 – but Zorn’s puzzling extra-point decision left commentators and fans dumbfounded.
In the XFL, there are no point-after kicks, and coaches have the option to run a play for a 1, 2, or 3-point conversion. Down four points in the final quarter, it would make most sense for the Dragons to opt for a 1-point conversion from the 2-yard line, as they could pull within a field goal if the try is successful.
Zorn, however, opted to run a 3-point play from the 10-yard line – and though Daniels hit his receiver in the chest after scrambling on an extended play, the pass fell incomplete and left Seattle down four points.
GAME. CHANGER. @BJDANIELS10 brings the @XFLDragons right back in it! đ˛ pic.twitter.com/xJSEK8LIG3
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) March 1, 2020
Immediately after the incompletion, Fox sideline reporter Brock Huard asked Zorn why Seattle went for three – and Zorn gave a very confusing answer.
Jim Zorn trying to explain why he went for 3 instead of 1 to get within a field goal đł pic.twitter.com/MkT2AenySG
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) March 1, 2020
Zorn: “It’s the fourth quarter, so, you know, if we get three points….. I thought we had a good play on. We hit it – I think, did you see the replay? He put it on his chest, so, you know, we’re taking the opportunity. But that gets us, now that gets us one touchdown away. So we’ll keep scoring, going to try to win this football game.
Huard: So being in the fourth quarter, that being more important at that point being just a field goal away if you go for one?
Zorn: “Uhh… I’ll think about that when I get there.”
Fans piled on Zorn on social media.
Iâm not sure Jim Zorn understands XFL rules.
— Stephen Cohen (@scohenSEA) March 1, 2020
Is it just me or did Jim Zorn have no idea what the score was right there. That was bizarre.
— Jonathan Coachman (@TheCoachrules) March 1, 2020
Jim Zorn deciding on point after conversions. #XFL #XFLfootball #XFLDragons #XFLBattlehawks pic.twitter.com/Pha3WmRGay
— Brock Severson (@brockabye) March 1, 2020
Jim Zorn has the over with his guy. Simple math people.
— Mike Speer (@realmikespeer) March 1, 2020
Jim Zorn is not a smart football coach.
— i hate all teams (@bantheshift) March 1, 2020