KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Calling a timeout in an attempt to "ice" a kicker before a critical field-goal attempt has become almost as routine a decision for coaches as punting on fourth-and-long.
Whether the strategy actually works is a subject of much debate, but statistics show it's been particularly effective so far this year.
When a coach has called a timeout this season just before an opponent has tried a potential tying or go-ahead field goal in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, kickers have gone on to make just 36.8 percent (7 of 19) of their attempts, according to STATS LLC.