Aside from the catch, three things that stick with me

[spook930]

The kick was slightly blocked, too. Don't know that he would have made it otherwise, but it was partially blocked.

Yeah it was, I was just going off the pregame work out he was knocking them down from 54/53 I believe.

 

[Aven8]

On the Murray fumble Peppers made a hell of a play. He blew up Martin and pounded that ball. I hated to see the fumble, but he was just a great play.

 

[birdwells1]

Yet all they had to do was go for it on 4th and more than likely get it. With 40 seconds left, they needed to be thinking TD and not FG anyway.

I agreed with not going for it on fourth down because we have one of the best kickers in the game with not a lot of time left in the half, which means that you're probably going to have to kick a fg even if you make the first down. So why not kick it now.

 

[birdwells1]

I agree with you. A lot of people are saying the time out was idiotic because of the generous spot, but those people had the advantage of seeing the forward progress relative to a superficial yellow line on TV. Garrett doesn't have that. He simply thought the spot was accurate and did what he should have done relative to that.

I agree and the booth probably would have stopped play and reviewed it anyway.

 

[SDCowboy]

I agreed with not going for it on fourth down because we have one of the best kickers in the game with not a lot of time left in the half, which means that you're probably going to have to kick a fg even if you make the first down. So why not kick it now.

It's not about how good our kicker is. It's about needing TD's, how much time was left and how horrendous our defense is. There is no excuse for going for a FG there when we need one yard, deep in their territory, with 40 seconds left.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

It's on coaching when we shouldn't have been kicking a FG there.

But if we DO, it's 3 points for us on the board and 3 off for them. That's ballgame.

We have to make that kick. Stuff happens, but we were still in range for points that would have won the damn game.

 

[birdwells1]

The referees really botched that review, no doubt about it. But Dallas had every opportunity to win, and just couldn't get it done. Here are three plays/sequences from yesterday that will haunt me all off-season:

1. The fumble. Murray's fumble was simply backbreaking. He had a chance to bust one for a huge gain, and he coughed it up instead. He was better about the fumbling later in the year, but I never felt comfortable when he had the ball and I had a feeling he might lose one in a critical situation. I would be open to him returning next year at a low price, but he lost a lot of bargaining power in my eyes.

2. The end of the first half. The timeout and the playcalling there were just idiotic. You get a great spot, and you call timeout to let them review it? Then on 3rd and 1, you pass it out of shotgun? We have probably converted 90%+ of our 3rd/4th and 1s this year with a power run, and you don't even present that as an option to the defense? And then to give up points is just inexcusable. It was a 6-10 point swing that wound up being the difference in the game. It makes me sick to my stomach today.

3. The kick return fumble. I can't be too mad at any one player for it, because sometimes things like that just don't bounce your way. But man, if we fall on that, we have a chance to land a huge blow to GB.

I told myself I would be okay with a loss at Lambeau, but the way we lost just makes me sick. I'm proud of the team for how they battled through adversity all year, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the squad looks next year. But I'm gonna need a real long time to get over this one. I've never been so deflated by a loss, and that's really saying something with this franchise.

I'll add my 4th one, GB had a 3rd and 15 and not only convert but score a td, if we stop them there we get the ball back instead we give up a td.

 

[SDCowboy]

But if we DO, it's 3 points for us on the board and 3 off for them. That's ballgame.

We have to make that kick. Stuff happens, but we were still in range for points that would have won the damn game.

You're assuming they wouldn't have scored anyway. They moved the ball down the field with ease in those 40 seconds and likely would have gotten the FG anyway, regardless of of we made ours or not.

 

[sbark]

Thing is.... fumbles, tipped kicks etc.......those are part of the game, things that just happen, ..............its the Cobb ground catch and Dez's catch that are reviewable and should have time to have common sense applied.........10 points between them , and then at that point if G.Bay makes plays to still win that is football.

 

[LandryFan]

I agree and the booth probably would have stopped play and reviewed it anyway.

I think they would have, as well.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

You're assuming they wouldn't have scored anyway. They moved the ball down the field with ease in those 40 seconds and likely would have gotten the FG anyway, regardless of of we made ours or not.

We would have kicked the ball off and they'd have had to go at least a few more yards with a few seconds having run off the clock. I'll take that over what we got.

I understand wanting to be aggressive there, but my goodness, we needed those points and it very well could have been the difference. We just flat blew it.

 

[birdwells1]

It's not about how good our kicker is. It's about needing TD's, how much time was left and how horrendous our defense is. There is no excuse for going for a FG there when we need one yard, deep in their territory, with 40 seconds left.

Up until then, defense was playing fine, we might have to agree to disagree on this but I just felt that you take the opportunity to go up 2 scores when it's presented. The score would've been 17-7 if the fg was successful.

 

[Sportsbabe]

The referees really botched that review, no doubt about it. But Dallas had every opportunity to win, and just couldn't get it done. Here are three plays/sequences from yesterday that will haunt me all off-season:

1. The fumble. Murray's fumble was simply backbreaking. He had a chance to bust one for a huge gain, and he coughed it up instead. He was better about the fumbling later in the year, but I never felt comfortable when he had the ball and I had a feeling he might lose one in a critical situation. I would be open to him returning next year at a low price, but he lost a lot of bargaining power in my eyes.

2. The end of the first half. The timeout and the playcalling there were just idiotic. You get a great spot, and you call timeout to let them review it? Then on 3rd and 1, you pass it out of shotgun? We have probably converted 90%+ of our 3rd/4th and 1s this year with a power run, and you don't even present that as an option to the defense? And then to give up points is just inexcusable. It was a 6-10 point swing that wound up being the difference in the game. It makes me sick to my stomach today.

3. The kick return fumble. I can't be too mad at any one player for it, because sometimes things like that just don't bounce your way. But man, if we fall on that, we have a chance to land a huge blow to GB.

I told myself I would be okay with a loss at Lambeau, but the way we lost just makes me sick. I'm proud of the team for how they battled through adversity all year, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the squad looks next year. But I'm gonna need a real long time to get over this one. I've never been so deflated by a loss, and that's really saying something with this franchise.

Every time Marco received a hand off (all year) I held my breathe. Yesterday was the day it happened. I was begging for someone else midway through the 1st qtr.

 

[SDCowboy]

We would have kicked the ball off and they'd have had to go at least a few more yards with a few seconds having run off the clock. I'll take that over what we got.

I understand wanting to be aggressive there, but my goodness, we needed those points and it very well could have been the difference. We just flat blew it.

Right, or we could have gone for it on 4th down and more than likely converted and scored at least a FG, if not a TD, and there would be no time left. A FG there is not the right call.

 

[DanteEXT]

The assumption on #2 that the play wouldn't have been reviewed without the TO is ... well.. kinda foolish. That one was so blatant I have no doubt they would have buzzed down to review it either way.

 

[tcc0808]

Didn't we have two timeouts left even after they burnt one? That's plenty of time to run it on 3rd and 1. You run it on third down, and even if you don't get it, you burn some clock or force GB to use a timeout. In all likelihood, we pick it up, call timeout, and have ~25 yards to go with 35 seconds and a timeout. I feel good about that situation..

This is another part of the rule book that I just don't get. Had the call on the field been correct, Dallas may have just let the clock run down some more forcing Green Bay to call a timeout. With the reversal of the spot after the booth initiated review, the Cowboys should have gotten their timeout back and maybe even had the clock start once the correct spot was made. I know that is not how the current rules are, but regardless, while the NFL is reviewing the "catch" rules perhaps they should consider review rules as well.

 

[romothesavior]

The assumption on #2 that the play wouldn't have been reviewed without the TO is ... well.. kinda foolish. That one was so blatant I have no doubt they would have buzzed down to review it either way.

I think you at least try to rush to the line to get the snap off. If they don't stop you, you've got the first down. If they do, you save the timeout.

I'm probably being a little too harsh about the timeout call though since the coaches may not have realized it was a bad spot. The following playcall was horrendous, however.

 

[birdwells1]

I think you at least try to rush to the line to get the snap off. If they don't stop you, you've got the first down. If they do, you save the timeout.

I'm probably being a little too harsh about the timeout call though since the coaches may not have realized it was a bad spot. The following playcall was horrendous, however.

This.

 

[tyke1doe]

The referees really botched that review, no doubt about it. But Dallas had every opportunity to win, and just couldn't get it done. Here are three plays/sequences from yesterday that will haunt me all off-season:

1. The fumble. Murray's fumble was simply backbreaking. He had a chance to bust one for a huge gain, and he coughed it up instead. He was better about the fumbling later in the year, but I never felt comfortable when he had the ball and I had a feeling he might lose one in a critical situation. I would be open to him returning next year at a low price, but he lost a lot of bargaining power in my eyes.

2. The end of the first half. The timeout and the playcalling there were just idiotic. You get a great spot, and you call timeout to let them review it? Then on 3rd and 1, you pass it out of shotgun? We have probably converted 90%+ of our 3rd/4th and 1s this year with a power run, and you don't even present that as an option to the defense? And then to give up points is just inexcusable. It was a 6-10 point swing that wound up being the difference in the game. It makes me sick to my stomach today.

3. The kick return fumble. I can't be too mad at any one player for it, because sometimes things like that just don't bounce your way. But man, if we fall on that, we have a chance to land a huge blow to GB.

I told myself I would be okay with a loss at Lambeau, but the way we lost just makes me sick. I'm proud of the team for how they battled through adversity all year, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the squad looks next year. But I'm gonna need a real long time to get over this one. I've never been so deflated by a loss, and that's really saying something with this franchise.

Good list.

But I think what was most glaring is the inability to get Rodgers to the ground. The Packers brought enough pressure that even though they didn't sack Romo on every play, they hit him and made him feel the pressure. We simply could not get to Rodgers. This offense was good enough to get to a Super Bowl. But not this defense, not this pass rush.

I can't get upset with the Murray fumble or even the 3 and 1. Those things happen in a game. The other team is playing also and trying to make plays - not just our guys. No team plays perfectly. Even Rodgers fumbled, which led to a Cowboys touchdown. But none of those single plays cost us the game. The accumulation of plays cost us the game.

I'm upset at the no-catch call, but I understand it based on the letter of the law. But even then, we had a chance to stop the Packers and couldn't. And then the tip ball that Cobb catches anyway to seal the game? It was just their day.

We'll be back, though.

 

[mldardy]

Didn't we have two timeouts left even after they burnt one? That's plenty of time to run it on 3rd and 1. You run it on third down, and even if you don't get it, you burn some clock or force GB to use a timeout. In all likelihood, we pick it up, call timeout, and have ~25 yards to go with 35 seconds and a timeout. I feel good about that situation.

Plus, a 40+ yarder in the cold off of that crap field is a lot tougher than a 40+ yarder in a dome. Playing for the FG at that range is both risky and weak.

This is my thinking as well. They should have ran it on 3rd and 1, hopefully get the 1st and then burn your timeouts and take your shots at the end zone. If you don't get it then let the clock run down to a few seconds and then kick the FG. Even if Bailey still misses we go into halftime with a 14-7 lead. The coaching in that situation has to be make sure the Packers don't get the ball back before halftime. It's a completely different game going into halftime up 17-7 or even 14-7.