Interesting thing about 4th quarter comebacks

[HarveyWallbangers]

The Packers went 13-3 last year. Only four times did they tie or take the lead in the 4th quarter or OT.

Against Philadelphia, they were tied 13-13. The Philly return man fumbled at his own 35 with 59 seconds left. The offense ran the ball three times for 6 yards and Crosby kicked a 42 yard FG as time expired.

In two other games (San Diego and Kansas City), the Packers took the lead with over two minutes left AND the defense held the lead.

In the other game, the Packers won the coin toss in OT and scored.

This year, the Packers offense has actually tied the game or taken the lead six times in the 4th quarter. In five of those six games, the defense has NOT held on. (They only held on in the Detroit game.) In another game, they had a chance to win the game as time expired, but Coach Mac got conservative and Mason Crosby missed the FG.

Kind of interesting. It's why I haven't lost hope that Rodgers can get it done in the crunch. He's brought the team back several times late in games, but has been put in a position to do it a second time FAR too often.

[BF4MVP]

GREAT post. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[swede]

Harv rocks.

Patler has those intellectual chops down but Harv just plain straight tells it like it is.

[mngolf19]

Not saying they are the same but this is interesting as well. Culpepper had very good yardage and completion stats during his years with the Vikes but never had 4th qtr comebacks. Something I always thought kept him out of conversations as being a good QB.

[sheepshead]

Nice work.

[hurleyfan]

Re: Interesting thing about 4th quarter comebacks

Kind of interesting. It's why I haven't lost hope that Rodgers can get it done in the crunch. He's brought the team back several times late in games, but has been put in a position to do it a second time FAR too often.

Good post Harv...

But unfortunately for Rogers... until he actually WINS a game that is on the line late, he'll get jabbed..

[Gunakor]

Re: Interesting thing about 4th quarter comebacks

Kind of interesting. It's why I haven't lost hope that Rodgers can get it done in the crunch. He's brought the team back several times late in games, but has been put in a position to do it a second time FAR too often.

Good post Harv...

But unfortunately for Rogers... until he actually WINS a game that is on the line late, he'll get jabbed..

Right, because it'd be too silly to expect the defense to win a game.

[The Leaper]

Thing is...Favre made two ridiculous throws for TDs to win 2 of those games. In the NFL, you win by scoring TDs...not settling for a FG when you are down 1 or 2 points.

Rodgers hasn't looked good late in games...he's made poor decisions, but the rest of the offense is to blame as well for poor play. My point would simply be that a proven legend like Favre really takes pressure off everyone else...and gives guys confidence that they WILL win, no matter what.

Sorry, but I just don't see the same thing from the offense when Rodgers is in there yet. Doesn't mean he won't get there eventually...but it is a chink in his armor at the moment.

[Bretsky]

Good post; I just don't give a ton of thought to how the Packers will lose next anymore. It's like habit for them now.

5-9; gosh I'm still sick.

[hurleyfan]

Re: Interesting thing about 4th quarter comebacks

Kind of interesting. It's why I haven't lost hope that Rodgers can get it done in the crunch. He's brought the team back several times late in games, but has been put in a position to do it a second time FAR too often.

Good post Harv...

But unfortunately for Rogers... until he actually WINS a game that is on the line late, he'll get jabbed..

Right, because it'd be too silly to expect the defense to win a game.

It sure would be nice if the defense could at least slow some team down!

But the fact remains... until Rogers "snatches a victory from the jaws of defeat", he will not get the accolades.

[Packers4Ever]

Harv rocks.

Patler has those intellectual chops down but Harv just plain straight tells it like it is.

Harv also sings while he rocks, ever hear him ??

[MJZiggy]

Re: Interesting thing about 4th quarter comebacks

Kind of interesting. It's why I haven't lost hope that Rodgers can get it done in the crunch. He's brought the team back several times late in games, but has been put in a position to do it a second time FAR too often.

Good post Harv...

But unfortunately for Rogers... until he actually WINS a game that is on the line late, he'll get jabbed..

Right, because it'd be too silly to expect the defense to win a game.

It sure would be nice if the defense could at least slow some team down!

But the fact remains... until Rogers "snatches a victory from the jaws of defeat", he will not get the accolades.

He keeps snatching it, but the defense seems determined to feed that beast.

Maybe they should let them score faster--give Rodgers more time for the necessary last-minute score.

[Noodle]

Rodgers hasn't looked good late in games...he's made poor decisions, but the rest of the offense is to blame as well for poor play.

Kind of depends how you define "late in games." Rodgers has led a number of scoring drives "late in the game," but he has yet to lead a last drive come back.

I worry about this. Not because I think he's incapable. But because this kind of thing can become an unfair label. Longwell had the same thing, as I remember Ron Wolf saying dogging the guy for never hitting a game winner. Finaly, Longwell did -- he was not an inferior kicker before he hit it, but hitting it made his bones and earned him respect that he didn't have before.

The simple fact is that Rodgers needs to get a last-possession, game-winning drive under his belt. That will shut up the nay-sayers. And, more importantly, that will shut up the voices that have to be plaguing him at this point.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Good point, noodle.

[VegasPackFan]

Harv, you are saying exactly what I have been saying to all my friends. I have been pointing this same thing out. Good post and right on the money!