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This loss comes down to execution. Against the Rams, they missed on some plays, and I said they needed to tighten that up. They didn't. The Adams drop -- it wasn't an easy catch, but it hit his hands and Aikman was almost right in saying that's a catch 99 out of 100 times. The Redmond drop of a Brady duck on 3rd down. That dude's gotta catch that. That would have set GB up and prevented the next play.
That play of course, was a bad call by Pettine and bad execution by King. It's emblematic of something I've seen all year -- outside corners playing 8-10 yards off and not even giving a bump or shove to slow up or throw a smaller WR off their route. Packers have been pretty good at not giving up big plays this season, but they failed at a critical juncture.
Second half offense -- you know Brady is going to throw some deep in Arians offense, and Jaire took advantage with a few picks. MLF got away from short/quick stuff to neutralize the rush, and also got away from running the ball. No run game, no motion.. it was like ghost of M3's offense possessed the team. Basically, when this team gets away from its staples it sputters, and they essentially did nothing with 2 picks.
On 3 turnovers, they scored 6 points. On 4 trips to the RZ, they scored 2 TDs. Oh, and ESB dropped a 2pt conversion that mattered.
As for kicking the FG with under 3 minutes, I didn't like it but I get it. If Rodgers had tucked the ball and scrambled on 3rd down maybe they change their mind on going for it. Either way, I think MLF was basically saying they need the D (which played better the 2nd half) to make ONE stop to give Rodgers a chance to win, vs. going for it on 4th and goal from the 8 -- no gimme -- AND assuming you get the 2pt conversion (also no gimme) AND you prevent Brady from scoring so much as a FG with 2+ minutes to go. Basically, they were playing to win in regulation vs. going to OT.
Also, making it to OT and winning would mean you are asking Pettine's D to hold Brady scoreless on 2 consecutive drives vs. holding him on just the one.
If the flag wasn't thrown on King it might have worked.
Regardless of that last penalty on King (Rashan Gary was being held by Wirfs on same play) the Packers didn't play well enough to win. They certainly had chances.
That play of course, was a bad call by Pettine and bad execution by King. It's emblematic of something I've seen all year -- outside corners playing 8-10 yards off and not even giving a bump or shove to slow up or throw a smaller WR off their route. Packers have been pretty good at not giving up big plays this season, but they failed at a critical juncture.
Second half offense -- you know Brady is going to throw some deep in Arians offense, and Jaire took advantage with a few picks. MLF got away from short/quick stuff to neutralize the rush, and also got away from running the ball. No run game, no motion.. it was like ghost of M3's offense possessed the team. Basically, when this team gets away from its staples it sputters, and they essentially did nothing with 2 picks.
On 3 turnovers, they scored 6 points. On 4 trips to the RZ, they scored 2 TDs. Oh, and ESB dropped a 2pt conversion that mattered.
As for kicking the FG with under 3 minutes, I didn't like it but I get it. If Rodgers had tucked the ball and scrambled on 3rd down maybe they change their mind on going for it. Either way, I think MLF was basically saying they need the D (which played better the 2nd half) to make ONE stop to give Rodgers a chance to win, vs. going for it on 4th and goal from the 8 -- no gimme -- AND assuming you get the 2pt conversion (also no gimme) AND you prevent Brady from scoring so much as a FG with 2+ minutes to go. Basically, they were playing to win in regulation vs. going to OT.
Also, making it to OT and winning would mean you are asking Pettine's D to hold Brady scoreless on 2 consecutive drives vs. holding him on just the one.
If the flag wasn't thrown on King it might have worked.
Regardless of that last penalty on King (Rashan Gary was being held by Wirfs on same play) the Packers didn't play well enough to win. They certainly had chances.
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