Alabama quarterback Blake Sims came into the 2014 Iron Bowl having thrown a total of four interceptions on the season. As Jesse Palmer stated during his first drive, he has done a great job of avoiding the big mistakes. But Sims fell victim to the moment on Saturday and almost doubled his season interception total in just one game. It’s hard to chalk up the picks solely to big-game jitters since Sims started the first couple drives looking confident, completing his first four passes, including a 17-yarder to Amari Cooper to give the Tide their second touchdown in as many possessions. From that point it’s not clear whether play-calling or decision-making changed, but the Tide had difficulty moving the ball successfully and consistently. Here’s a drive chart indicating Sims’ plays through the first half and the first possession of the second half:

1st Quarter

14:53
5-yard completion to Cooper;
drive resulted in Yeldon TD run

8:08
16-yard completion to Cooper;
20-yard completion to Howard;
17-yard touchdown pass to Cooper

2:57
7-yard completion to Cooper;
drive resulted in punt

2nd Quarter

11:01
Interception

10:16
Incompletion to White;
sacked;
drive resulted in punt

4:42
15-yard completion to Fowler;
13-yard completion to Yeldon;
21-yard completion to Jones;
incompletion to Cooper;
4-yard completion to Cooper;
drive resulted in Yeldon TD run

0:54
11-yard completion to Cooper;
interception

3rd Quarter

15:00
Interception

After the third interception that began the second half, backup Jacob Coker was seen taking snaps and warming up on the sidelines while Sims talked with coaches on the bench. However, it was Sims that trotted out once again on the Tide’s next possession. Handoffs and short passes moved the ball down the field, along with a run by Sims and a flat pass to DeAndrew White for a fourth down conversion. But it was a play-action, 39-yard lob to a wide open Amari Cooper that finally seemed to shake Sims out of his funk. The Alabama offense was lights out from that point on.

3rd Quarter

11:02
6-yard completion to Cooper;
incompletion to White;
QB run for 7 yards;
3-yard completion to White;
39-yard TD pass to Cooper

3:30
75-yard TD pass to Cooper (first play)

1:40
5-yard completion to Cooper;
16-yard completion to Cooper;
QB run for 2 yards;
QB run for 11 yards and a TD (2pt conversion pass to White)

4th Quarter

12:54
8-yard completion to Cooper;
incompletion to Cooper;
15-yard completion to Cooper;
10-yard completion to White;
6-yard touchdown pass to White

6:55
QB run for 10 yards;
drive resulted in Henry TD run

0:20
QB kneel

After completing 9 of 14 attempts for 129 yards, three interceptions, and one touchdown through the first possession of the third quarter, Sims ended up going 11/13 for 183 yards, three touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, and no interceptions for the rest of the game. In addition, the Tide’s last five drives (aside from the QB kneel) all resulted in touchdowns. By contrast, their first eight drives resulted in three touchdowns, two punts, and two interceptions.