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 Location: Bakersfield, CA via Manitowoc, WI
Registered: 09-24-2000
Posts: 9522
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Posted
I know the vitriol is flying around pretty fierce, but as I watched this game I thought we had it, despite the rough start, until this point:
After the Ryan Grant TD run, we had a defensive stop and Blackmon had a nice punt return. We had called time outs on D to preserve the clock, had three minutes left in the first half, and the ball pretty close to midfield. IDOT MM calls THREE STRAIGHT PASS PLAYS! Grant had been stopped A LOT, but had two nice runs. Why not three runs to see if we could get a first, maybe a short pass to set up a field goal and go into the lockerroom with a 10-6 lead? Instead we give the ball back to the Bears, they score and we look like chumps. Discuss. |
 Location: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: 01-28-2001
Posts: 4374
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Posted
I agree. You should have seen the Bears faces on the sidelines after the Grant TD. All of that energy came crashing down in one play. Then they go 3 out.
And then a simple screen pass that gave them life. And that was it. I just watched the replay of the Peterson TD...man guys were not even trying to get off their blocks and fight. Really pathetic. McCarthy is pissed they got played like sissies today. |
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Registered: 01-10-2005
Posts: 1531
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Posted
I agree. All we've heard the last two years is that the zone blocking scheme is designed to hit the big play. You get 8-10 plays for 2-3 yards and then you hit a big one. That's exactly what happened on the previous play on offense and then you do that.
This game cost McCarthy any shot at coach of the year and silenced the Favre for MVP talk. For one of the few times this year, Favre looked like a player very close to retirment. He wanted nothing to do with playing today. |
 Location: Normal, Illinois
Registered: 01-09-2001
Posts: 5672
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Posted
I think you nailed the turning point. The opening drive of the 2nd half in which Favre thru a pick was a killer as well. Also the 11 minute opening drive for the Bears was tone setter for the Bears. They showed a lot of focus in driving that ball down the field and consuming that much time. |
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Location: Normal, Illinois
Registered: 01-09-2001
Posts: 5672
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Posted
I was suprised to see the majority of the Packers team wilt under the pressure of playing in bad weather. That hasn't happened very often over the years. A lot of the players looked like they weren't interested in playing today. |
 Location: parts unknown
Registered: 02-04-2000
Posts: 7199
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Posted
I agree that most of the team didn't show up. Rather than man up in cold weather against a physical team looking to play spoiler, they mailed it in and were content with the #2 seed.
That series wasn't good but I think the key was the four botched punts. It gave them easy points. Also I don't think they had a sack, fumble forced, or int. |
 Location: 400 Miles South West of Lambeau
Registered: 08-18-2000
Posts: 16628
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Posted
When they started the heaters on the Packers sidelines.
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 Location: Miller Park
Registered: 10-02-2004
Posts: 1082
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Posted
Right on YA, Actually wouldn't have minded 3 straight running plays with another attempted punt, just to get to halftime with a 7-6 lead. In a game like that you want to shorten the game as much as possible, especially when you have a lead. MM tried to extend the 1st half for no reason at all. I fault him for his judgement there. Playing in a dome or warm weather you do what he did, not yesterday.  Go in up 7-6 and you get the ball to start the half. The Bears got life back before half and the meltdown started with the pick right away in the 3rd. The Bears IMHO would have folded up shop if they were down going into half..... |
 Location: Baldwin,WI,USA
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 11012
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Posted
How could you not know the Bears were going to be running screens? |
 Location: Broomfield, Colorado
Registered: 02-03-2000
Posts: 7704
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Posted
Yeah, those 3 pass plays were dumbfounding. The 2nd poor punt of 9 yds was a key moment. Ryan just slumped his shoulders, indicative of the entire team's mental makeup.
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 Registered: 12-24-2004
Posts: 371
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Posted
We lost the game on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Lack of preparation. Very disappointing.
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 Location: 2000 Miles West of Green Bay
Registered: 02-05-2000
Posts: 2508
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Posted
When Brett Favre went out before the game, looked at the weather, and then told a reporter that it was the worst conditions he ever played in. During the pregame they said that he very quickly got back inside.
At that point the weather got in his and probably everyone elses heads. This resulted in a lack of focus and effort, which was evident on the field. They couldn't wait to get off that field. |
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Registered: 01-10-2005
Posts: 1531
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Posted
As I said in an earlier post, the game was lost at the end of the first half. However, I agree with the other posts saying the preparation/coaching was pathetic. Look at what the Steelers did against the Dolphins in that Monday night game earlier this year when they played the game in about 6 inches of water on the field. The Steelers played smart, conservative football and won 3-0 with a FG in the last minute. The Steeler game was played in almost as bad of conditions, and they adjusted accordingly.
The Packers should have run the ball 40 times, maxed protected on punts, and played 9 guys in the box. To do otherwise was just stupid and they got what they deserved. |
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Location: Baldwin,WI,USA
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 11012
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Posted
Did anyone else notice the FOX crew was able to bring up multiple examples of the Packers complaining, or at least, worrying about the weather (Favre, Ryan..) but none from the Bears. That might be the ballgame right there. |
 Location: Gods Country
Registered: 05-09-2000
Posts: 10914
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Posted
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Location: Baldwin,WI,USA
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 11012
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Posted
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Location: Bakersfield, CA via Manitowoc, WI
Registered: 09-24-2000
Posts: 9522
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Posted
Word! Radical change to the game plan would've taken care of the game, especially after Grant got the TD and we were ahead. One thing I noticed is that Woodson and Harris were often playing 5-7 yards off the receiver, not doing their usual mugging at the LOS. Why? |
 Location: The Halls of Hallowed Ground
Registered: 05-18-2007
Posts: 904
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Posted
If it truely was the weather, the game was lost before it physically began in the minds of the players.
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 Location: No longer wasted in WI, living in Va Bch, Va. USA
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 8815
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Posted
IMO it was lost when they did not bother to practice outdoors during the week. My guess is that even with the doors open, the temp difference between practice and actual games conditions was at least 50 degrees.
No one had any practice in wind. Practicing in the cold and wind I believe would have help the team adapt better to the conditions they faced yesterday. I would bet that the remainder of the season that MM has them outdoors at least one time per week, hopefully more, like 2-3 times. |
 Location: Mattoon Il
Registered: 11-26-2003
Posts: 1995
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Posted
I agree. The moment I heard Brett talking about the weather I knew it was a factor. Were the Packers not the Champions of bad weather games at one point?  |
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Location: The Halls of Hallowed Ground
Registered: 05-18-2007
Posts: 904
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Posted
Yup! We would have been better off letting Vinve & his boys play that game. Ha, ha. |
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Location: Jacksonville, AR
Registered: 01-19-2004
Posts: 409
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Posted
I think everyone has pretty much given all the right opinions for the loss.
After we held the Bears on the 1st blocked punt, we were still in the game and I thing we could have ran away with it, especially after Grants TD run. Then, MM got a brain freeze and forgot he was not playing in a fair climate. His misuse of his TO's and coming out passing was the resounding key for this loss before halftime. In those conditions you must play it safer than he did. Should have run until forced to pass. |
 Location: Trying to take the high road
Registered: 09-14-2000
Posts: 1707
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Posted
That makes two of us |
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Location: Gods Country
Registered: 05-09-2000
Posts: 10914
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