I don't blame Hoyer for maybe not thinking of AJ as his first target on that last play. Safeties were both back to the point most would think they are going to protect over the top(safety on AJ's side was actually back peddling right before the snap even selling it more), so forcing a ball to Aj with a CB under and in, and a safety over(pre-snap) on a route that was taking AJ to the endzone might not be your best option...i get the thought process to where he might not be the #1 option for the play in Hoyer's mind considering the pre-snap movement and alignments.
But IMO i think the play was drawn up for Miller to be the #1 option and he was open just past the 1st down marker and heading to the sidelines! And that's what i don't get. So yes i do blame him for the poor post snap transition in his head. It was a poor decision considering they had plenty of time and 2 time-outs.
But one can say they wouldn't have needed a TD if someone wouldn't have fumbled it. Nor would they been in the 3rd&15 or 4th&8 if someone didn't hold.
I don't either, as I have the ability to judge now what happened then (hindsight is 20/20 after all.). Colts disguised their coverage and tricked Jeffery and Hoyer into thinking one things. I'm just wondering why you don't throw to your best receiver in that situation no matter what. Especially when he had to see that Meredith wasn't open either.
Because he didn't "have" to..it wasn't the final 3 seconds of the game or anything like that. It was 4th and 8 with roughly a minute left and 2 time outs. A first down to ANYONE will keep things moving.
That's why i feel he just took the wrong choice. Did he misread the defense? Did he try to win it himself?..idk But i can't look at that play anymore and not think he messed up by not throwing it to Miller.