It's an old football axiom: you never take points off the board.
There's two minutes left and you're down by two. Your drive stalls at the other guys' 3-yard line. You kick a field goal, but as it sails through, a blitzing defender brushes your kicker. It's a penalty that gives you a first down.
There's too much time left. A one point lead leaves you vulnerable to a field goal. With four downs, there's a good chance you can push it in. If not you can always kick another field goal. You'll be no worse off than you are now, plus you'll take a lot of time off the clock. Seems like a no-brainer, so you accept the penalty.
On first down, your tailback runs smack into your quarterback and the ball ends up on the ground. A defender falls on it. And just like that, next year you're going to be coaching Pop Warner football.
Many of us hate what the Senators have wrought in the way of Health Care Reform. Some of us are convinced we can do lots better if we take this one off the board and come back next year.
Don't bet on it.