I agree with this sentiment. Despite all the injuries this game was in reach, but being too aggressive put it out of reach. Injuries would limit this team's potential anyway, it's just annoying the NFC East is still sitting within reach. It's such a roller coaster the season is over, no wait we're playing better and could make a playoff run with how bad the division is, no nevermind.
This game is another primary reason why the Vikings win was a bad move. Gave up a top 3 draft pick and for what? Outright mediocrity.
LOL The fans are super fickle this season. They complain when we win. They complain when we lose. I was over the season quite a few games ago. This season just doesn't have good energy.
But we were fine. 4 points behind. The offense had moved the ball and scored points. Defense had made some plays and stops. There was absolutely no need for a kamikaze risk on special teams deep in our own half. It was the dumbest decision I have seen all season from any team and that was the end of the game after their brainless moves in the first half. E.g. not using Zeke or a QB sneak on 3rd or 4th and short again in our own half. We were well in the game.
We had scored one touchdown and Lamb had dropped another regulation TD. We should have had 20 points by that time. We moved the ball pretty well on drives up until that point with a depleted offensive line against a strong front 7. There was zero need for that special teams trick play.
If only we were healthy, if only we had chemistry, if only players get acclimated to a new scheme, if only X coach has another year to adjust to the team, so on and so on. Never mind we have stunk when healthy, stunk with "consistency", stunk after adding "new wrinkles", and stunk after signing "must-sign" players.
Bad teams often find ugly ways to lose. We certainly fit that mold. The ugly reality is we are a team effectively without our entire starting offensive line and starting QB, with a terrible defense to boot. I agree with the OP’s premise that these circumstances would require any coaching staff to try unorthodox things. McCarthy goes into every game with one arm tied behind his back and a blindfold covering his eyes. I liked going for it on 4th down, but thought the play call was strange. Even if it was caught or drew the PI as it should have, I thought it was a poor play selection. The fake punt? Count me out in that situation. The book is out on Fassell that he plays YOLO football, and as a result I think it is becoming increasingly more difficult to catch teams off guard with a fake punt.
I actually think the coaching staff did a decent job today overall except for the fake punt. This team suffered a big tragedy on Tuesday and pretty much only practiced for 1 day. Then come gametime, you lose both your starting tackles and are forced to play 3rd string at LT, RG, and RT.
Which makes last season's stumble down the stretch (6-4 after 10 games, then finishing 2-4) even more disappointing.
Starting QB? We don't have one of those. Only one close enough to that is Dalton. What are you saying? #DontpayDak
Can’t justify dumb decisions in those situations. It was obvious how that took the air out of team still fighting hard to make something out of the season in a close game. I’ve never seen anything so consistently dumb in 60 years of watching the NFL. Did he do this in Green Bay?
Simple truth is the coaching staff is hampered by there being to many backups in the lineup. Particularly on offense. From quarterback to offensive line, those positions are extremely important to a team. Starters are starters for a reason, although some on here seem not to know that.
