Barking out a few thoughts about the game

[bark]

Well that was a tough one to take for sure.
I thought it was fitting that after the game I had to spend an hr and a half hunkered down in the Walmart across from the stadium waiting for the tornado warnings to pass.
Crazy end to a crazy game.
I haven't watched the replay of the game or any game highlights yet and my thoughts may change when I do.
I find it harder to watch a game from the stadium and get a feel for what i have seen as opposed to watching it from my couch.
For instance, I and no one around me, had any idea what the 15 yard penalty on butler was about, but it definitely ended a good drive.
What I was able to get a good grasp on was the crowd and atmosphere.
Let there be no talk of the pack taking over our stadium.
Just didn't happen and that crowd was electric. How rodgers was able to function at the end of that game is beyond me. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap I suppose.

We had a few players show up big. Dez, Dak, Zeke and even on defense lee and Heath made plays.
As far as the coaching goes, I'm sure Garrett left himself open to some second guessing again.
I will say this, if Crosby misses that 56 yarder near then end of the game, which he almost always does btw, Garrett is not the one being questioned today.
In that scenario we have great field position and we are driving for the win and McCarthy is answering all the what were you thinking questions.

The clocking play at the end hurt us no doubt, but the sequence right before half was one I really questioned.
We had a great drive going right before half, got into the red zone and threw three incomplete passes. I believe this was the series wit got mugged on and was not called. Zeke running would have punished them there, got 6, and drained the clock.

Wound up settling for a field goal and leaving Rodgers time on the clock. We luckily stopped him but with them getting the ball back to start the half we could have been down 35-13 before we touched the ball again.

The other play that jumped out to me was the Heath sack at the end of the game.
How does Rodgers hold onto that ball? Strip sack and it's ballgame us.

So very close but so very far away.
An incredible one man performance by Rodgers and unfortunately we helped him add another star to his legacy as I'm sure we'll get to see this one on all those "classic" shows that are played this time of year.


Oh well, it's off to offseason now. Future looks bright but don't underestimate how hard the hill will be to just to get back to the spot we were in this year.

Get those scouts out there jerry and sharpen your pencils Stephen.
We need to lock up Martin long term. Don't even want to think about that salary cap hit, and get players to upgrade this defense.
We've got more answers than questions now. Let's get it done

 

[LocimusPrime]

Good post! We need defensive help. And no, don't tell me the current set of guys will get healthier and better next season and provide some nerdy pressure stats suggestion in some way that T Crawford, Mayowa, and crew are legit Dlinemen.

This is what happened to the Dline yesterday. Knocked out...lights out

 

[bark]

Yea we didn't seem to get much pressure on Rodgers and I believe all our sacks came from secondary blitzes?
May be wrong on that one. Tank had a big play at the end that I thought took them out of field goal range.
Can't really think of another big play by our d line

 

[robbieruff]

Did the live crowd provide any notable reactions to the lack of Zeke runs on short yardage situations? just curious...

 

[Hoov]

Well that was a tough one to take for sure.
I thought it was fitting that after the game I had to spend an hr and a half hunkered down in the Walmart across from the stadium waiting for the tornado warnings to pass.
Crazy end to a crazy game.
I haven't watched the replay of the game or any game highlights yet and my thoughts may change when I do.
I find it harder to watch a game from the stadium and get a feel for what i have seen as opposed to watching it from my couch.
For instance, I and no one around me, had any idea what the 15 yard penalty on butler was about, but it definitely ended a good drive.
What I was able to get a good grasp on was the crowd and atmosphere.
Let there be no talk of the pack taking over our stadium.
Just didn't happen and that crowd was electric. How rodgers was able to function at the end of that game is beyond me. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap I suppose.

We had a few players show up big. Dez, Dak, Zeke and even on defense lee and Heath made plays.
As far as the coaching goes, I'm sure Garrett left himself open to some second guessing again.
I will say this, if Crosby misses that 56 yarder near then end of the game, which he almost always does btw, Garrett is not the one being questioned today.
In that scenario we have great field position and we are driving for the win and McCarthy is answering all the what were you thinking questions.

The clocking play at the end hurt us no doubt, but the sequence right before half was one I really questioned.
We had a great drive going right before half, got into the red zone and threw three incomplete passes. I believe this was the series wit got mugged on and was not called. Zeke running would have punished them there, got 6, and drained the clock.

Wound up settling for a field goal and leaving Rodgers time on the clock. We luckily stopped him but with them getting the ball back to start the half we could have been down 35-13 before we touched the ball again.

The other play that jumped out to me was the Heath sack at the end of the game.
How does Rodgers hold onto that ball? Strip sack and it's ballgame us.

So very close but so very far away.
An incredible one man performance by Rodgers and unfortunately we helped him add another star to his legacy as I'm sure we'll get to see this one on all those "classic" shows that are played this time of year.


Oh well, it's off to offseason now. Future looks bright but don't underestimate how hard the hill will be to just to get back to the spot we were in this year.

Get those scouts out there jerry and sharpen your pencils Stephen.
We need to lock up Martin long term. Don't even want to think about that salary cap hit, and get players to upgrade this defense.
We've got more answers than questions now. Let's get it done

I couldn't believe that he made the 56 yard fg. That and the 35 yard throw and incredible catch with 3 seconds left ? Both those plays were low probability plays but they made them.

Funny thing is after watching Rodgers do things like that so often, as soon as I saw him get to the sideline with no one in pursuit I thought it was trouble.

At first I didn't mind Dak spiking the ball - He just ripped off two big gains to gash their defense and I thought good, stop the clock and still have time out so can take 2 more throws over the middle and not be limited to sideline passing only. I was never thinking they would stop us on downs - just make sure we have time.

Then they brought heavy pressure and Dak had that 7 yard gain and out of bounds to Beasely.

Then I realized its 3rd down and we have to kick FG if we don't convert and GB had been playing well at limiting cowboys 3rd down conversions, and I wanted that down back real bad then.

At the same time though, they could have rushed to get to the line and get a play off and end up doing something sloppy and wasting the down anyway plus time or turning the ball over.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Wish we coulda seen what romo woulda done with this roster. Dak left a lot of meat on the bone yesterday ;(

 

[bark]

Did the live crowd provide any notable reactions to the lack of Zeke runs on short yardage situations? just curious...

Yes. The people around me were going nuts about it. The were several Zeke Zeke Zeke chants going on

 

[SDCowboy]

Wish we coulda seen what romo woulda done with this roster. Dak left a lot of meat on the bone yesterday ;(

 

[bark]

I couldn't believe that he made the 56 yard fg. That and the 35 yard throw and incredible catch with 3 seconds left ? Both those plays were low probability plays but they made them.

Funny thing is after watching Rodgers do things like that so often, as soon as I saw him get to the sideline with no one in pursuit I thought it was trouble.

At first I didn't mind Dak spiking the ball - He just ripped off two big gains to gash their defense and I thought good, stop the clock and still have time out so can take 2 more throws over the middle and not be limited to sideline passing only. I was never thinking they would stop us on downs - just make sure we have time.

Then they brought heavy pressure and Dak had that 7 yard gain and out of bounds to Beasely.

Then I realized its 3rd down and we have to kick FG if we don't convert and GB had been playing well at limiting cowboys 3rd down conversions, and I wanted that down back real bad then.

At the same time though, they could have rushed to get to the line and get a play off and end up doing something sloppy and wasting the down anyway plus time or turning the ball over.

Yes and the third down throw to dez I think was there. Dez had inside leverage. The packer lineman just timed his leap perfectly and swatted down a sure first down. So fricking close man . So close

 

[Hoov]

Yes and the third down throw to dez I think was there. Dez had inside leverage. The packer lineman just timed his leap perfectly and swatted down a sure first down. So fricking close man . So close

That's all ive been saying all day. So close. They were so close.

Its tough afterwards thinking that if we get that 3rd down, I think they go and score a TD taking all the time off and winning the game right there.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I don't think romo would've gotten them to 13-3. He would play in a way where he takes more sacks. But his arm talent is undeniably better and dak wasn't seeing the entire field yesterday. His pick was a kill kill kill. And he threw a bomb that should've been picked. He missed a few throws early. For a rookie he was great. but we didn't need great "for a rookie" against Aaron Rodgers.

 

[SDCowboy]

I don't think romo would've gotten them to 13-3. He would play in a way where he takes more sacks. But his arm talent is undeniably better and dak wasn't seeing the entire field yesterday. His pick was a kill kill kill. And he threw a bomb that should've been picked. He missed a few throws early. For a rookie he was great. but we didn't need great "for a rookie" against Aaron Rodgers.

Dak had a better game yesterday than Romo has ever had in the playoffs. He wasn't great for a rookie. He was just great. I swear, the revisionist history when it comes to Tony, from some here, is hilarious.

 

[bark]

Dak showed a lot better of fortitude yesterday. Many places to look for blame but I can't really fault Dak. He left it all on the field.
I suppose the rust group got some ammo in this one as we definitely came out flat.
The fight this group showed to climb back from 21-3 was impressive.
I'm sure someone will post the stats to prove me wrong, but Garrett seems like the anti-Andy Reid with teams coming off their bye week.
Guess it didn't help Andy either come to think of it

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Dak had a better game yesterday than Romo has ever had in the playoffs. He wasn't great for a rookie. He was just great. I swear, the revisionist history when it comes to Tony, from some here, is hilarious.

he had zeke at 6 yards a carry and dez in beast mode he should've scored at least 3 on every possession. I ain't mad at what he did but I think dez has four touchdowns if that's romo. I'm fine with going forward with dak but he just has less arm talent than romo

 

[bark]

The way Rodgers was playing yesterday Marion 4 Tds may not have been enough

 

[maxdallasfan]

99.99% of these games are decided by one, maybe two plays. The margin for error is razor thin.

Parity at its finest.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

99.99% of these games are decided by one, maybe two plays. The margin for error is razor thin.

Parity at its finest.

that Rodgers to Montgomery blind handoff was just evil

 

[Clove]

he had zeke at 6 yards a carry and dez in beast mode he should've scored at least 3 on every possession. I ain't mad at what he did but I think dez has four touchdowns if that's romo. I'm fine with going forward with dak but he just has less arm talent than romo

he had zeke at 6 yards a carry and dez in beast mode he should've scored at least 3 on every possession. I ain't mad at what he did but I think dez has four touchdowns if that's romo. I'm fine with going forward with dak but he just has less arm talent than romo

But more brain power.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

But more brain power.

Hmm idk I think romo sees the field better but dak has the ability to stand tall in the pocket and take hits whereas romo now needs to absorb hits by going with them. I really thought there was merit in installing some romo packages for the playoff game. We'll never know I guess. The people laughed at the idea romo should play don't really have a leg to stand on right now. One and done.

 

[bark]

But more brain power.

Thankfully Dak should come out of this loss in pretty good shape psychy-wise.
No bobbled snaps or game ending mistakes to dwell on. Would have been tough if the quick hitter int had ended our hopes but it really on cost us time.