Plankton
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 12,258
- Reaction score
- 18,650
Got back from the game - drove through a snowstorm once I crossed the Wisconsin/Illinois border.
What a galling loss. The Cowboys were right there, and had it within their reach, but just made enough mistakes to lose it. They put in a great effort, and played gallantly, but didn't make the necessary plays.
First, there were a good amount of Cowboy fans in the stands. My entire row were Cowboy fans, and we enjoyed the majority of the game. Second, Lambeau Field is a terrific place to watch a game. At that stadium, it is all about football, and the fans couldn't be nicer. Very friendly, and after the game, people were coming up to me unsolicited, and wishing me well, and saying that it was a great game that could have went both ways. I can honestly say that I didn't meet a Packer fan that was a jerk all day.
As for the game, it was a good, competitive game. Both teams were evenly matched, and it showed in that it went right down to the end. After the Packers scored the early touchdown with ease on the ground, things didn't look so good, but the Cowboys answered back on the next drive, showing the grit and resilience that have been their trademark this season. Every time that the Packers would make plays, the Cowboys would answer. For the degree of control that the Cowboys demonstrated in the first half, the fact that they were only ahead 14-10 at halftime had a lot to do with the loss. The missed field goal at the end of the first half, answered by the field goal by the Packers, had a huge impact on the game. The Cowboys went from potentially being ahead 17-7 to only being ahead 14-10.
Now, everyone will point to the pass to Bryant as being the reason why they lost. Was it a catch? Absolutely. The pass was thrown toward the corner where I was sitting (was in the 20th row). To me, it passes the five drunks in a bar rule as to whether it was a catch. He took three steps, and made a football move in reaching for the goal line. I don't think the ball hit the ground - I think his hand/arm did, and that's what jarred the ball loose. He ended up with the ball afterward. How is that not a catch?
But, and I say this with all candor, it didn't cost them the game. The same way that the missed call against the Lions didn't cost them the game. The Cowboys had other errors take place that led them to a place where they were down five points on that drive:
Heroic performances today:
What a galling loss. The Cowboys were right there, and had it within their reach, but just made enough mistakes to lose it. They put in a great effort, and played gallantly, but didn't make the necessary plays.
First, there were a good amount of Cowboy fans in the stands. My entire row were Cowboy fans, and we enjoyed the majority of the game. Second, Lambeau Field is a terrific place to watch a game. At that stadium, it is all about football, and the fans couldn't be nicer. Very friendly, and after the game, people were coming up to me unsolicited, and wishing me well, and saying that it was a great game that could have went both ways. I can honestly say that I didn't meet a Packer fan that was a jerk all day.
As for the game, it was a good, competitive game. Both teams were evenly matched, and it showed in that it went right down to the end. After the Packers scored the early touchdown with ease on the ground, things didn't look so good, but the Cowboys answered back on the next drive, showing the grit and resilience that have been their trademark this season. Every time that the Packers would make plays, the Cowboys would answer. For the degree of control that the Cowboys demonstrated in the first half, the fact that they were only ahead 14-10 at halftime had a lot to do with the loss. The missed field goal at the end of the first half, answered by the field goal by the Packers, had a huge impact on the game. The Cowboys went from potentially being ahead 17-7 to only being ahead 14-10.
Now, everyone will point to the pass to Bryant as being the reason why they lost. Was it a catch? Absolutely. The pass was thrown toward the corner where I was sitting (was in the 20th row). To me, it passes the five drunks in a bar rule as to whether it was a catch. He took three steps, and made a football move in reaching for the goal line. I don't think the ball hit the ground - I think his hand/arm did, and that's what jarred the ball loose. He ended up with the ball afterward. How is that not a catch?
But, and I say this with all candor, it didn't cost them the game. The same way that the missed call against the Lions didn't cost them the game. The Cowboys had other errors take place that led them to a place where they were down five points on that drive:
- Bad snap on 3rd and 1 late in the second quarter that led to Romo having to throw the ball up for grabs to Terrence Williams. Incomplete pass.
- Dan Bailey missing not once, but twice on makeable field goals at the end of the second quarter: a six point swing.
- DeMarco Murray, who marred a wonderful effort today by fumbling in the third quarter on a play that was blocked well enough to result in a 58 yard touchdown run, but setting up the Packers for a FG: a ten point swing.
- Failing to recover a Randall Cobb fumble on the kickoff after the Cowboys took a 21-13 lead, despite being in perfect position to recover it.
- Romo taking back to back sacks at the end of the third/beginning of the fourth quarters, killing a drive, and setting up the Packers to take the lead for good.
Heroic performances today:
- Tony Romo - played his butt off despite being banged up. The throw to Bryant was daring, yet a terrific pass that gave his best player the chance to make a big play.
- Jason Witten - clutch as usual.
- DeMarcus Lawrence - got a sack again today, as well as some decent pressure. Looks like the light is turning on for him.
- Jeremy Mincey - played his butt off as well. Got some pressure off the edge, was good in the run game.
- Brandon Carr - to me, played his best game as a Cowboy. Completely eliminated Jordy Nelson from the game.
- Sterling Moore - every time Rodgers needed a completion, he went at Moore. Poor tackling, poor coverage, just a real bad game.
- Orlando Scandrick - see above. Randall Cobb abused him in the second half.
- Cowboy defensive tackles - completely invisible, except for a couple of plays by Ken Bishop. No push on the pass rush at all today.
