FuzzyLogic
Mathematically Possible
It's ridiculous second-guessing for two reasons. One relates to the play call itself. Even with the benefit of hindsight, there's not much to hate about the play call since it did in fact spring Akins open. The only reason to say that it should have not been called is because we know it didn't work.
The second relates to Watson's performance in the pocket on that specific play. The criticism is that he should have stood tall and delivered a strike notwithstanding a DE bearing down on him. After all, the greats do this all the time, right? The only problem is that the greats almost never do this under the same circumstances. This wasn't a situation like the 4th and 3 in KC where Watson knows the blitz is coming. In that situation, it's only a matter of (a) knowing where the blitz is coming from and (b) getting the ball out on time. This was a situation where Watson is not expecting a DE to come barreling into him in the end zone at the top of his drop. Almost universally, a QB takes a sack in that situation. The irony here is that Watson is the best QB in the NFL when it comes to evading pressure that really shouldn't be in his face to begin with.
It's also a bit ridiculous because the alternative could have been far worse than the actual result. What if Watson took that second hitch step, got blasted, and the ball flew 10 yards past his intended target and got intercepted? It's all nitpicky second-guessing. It's not plain error where a QB makes a mistake no coach or offensive coordinator would consider reasonable.
OK, sure... discussing football plays on a football forum is ridiculous, got it.