…that’s all I can say.
Now I should write something about the Packers playoff loss at home to the New York Giants. Where should I begin?
DEFENSE
This was a 15-1 regular season team that made the playoffs without a playoff caliber defense. They were statistically ranked last in the league, and tonight it was easy to see why. They could not generate any kind of consistent pass rush against Eli Manning. He was allowed to stand back and calmly survey the field while his receivers were able to run their routes and improvise themselves open for easy completions and big gains. Big gains that usually came on 3rd down and long situations, keeping drives alive and adding confidence to the Giant’s offense. Big gains that often came by way of very poor tackleing efforts, all of these things that were very apparent throughout the regular season. So for the defense it could be said that tonight the chickens came home to roost.
OFFENSE
Dropped passes and fumbles, combined with a less than sharp Aaron Rodgers, equaled a completely unrecognizable offensive performance. The players were the same, but the group than ran roughshod through the regular season schedule forgot to show up for this game. The Giants defensive front produced constant pressure while their secondary apparently had the Packers receivers on lock down. How many times did Rodgers wind up running for his life, having to pull the ball down and try to make something happen with his feet? What happened to the quick slant, that combined with yard after the catch would produce some of the most exciting plays of the season?
COACHING
Again, what happened to the quick slant? The book on Eli Manning says that if you get him under pressure, he makes mistakes, yet we continued to use a completely impotent three-man front that allowed him to sit back and wait for his receivers to work themselves open. And what was with the call to go for it on 4th down when the game was still within reach and there was plenty of time left on the clock? A surprise onside kick, really? The playoffs are no time to get cute!
So now a historic season has come and gone, ended by a historically bad game. When do pitchers and catchers report?
Badger State Sports 