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22 min

Green Bay Packers lose NFC Championship

Sun, Jan 18, 2015

The Packers made several bad plays in the game that contributed to one of the "greatest" playoff collapses in NFL history.

Even when GB was up 19-7, it was no more than two scores, so anything is possible in the NFL, which is why I stayed with the game. Incredibly, some Seahawk fans left the game early and had to watch the comeback and the overtime win outside the stadium because of a no-re-entry rule.

When the deficit is no more than two scores, the losing team has a chance. It didn't seem like Seattle had a chance, since they were down 12, and they had only scored 7 points.

But Green Bay's offense failed to put the game away in the first quarter and in the fourth quarter. Too many blown chances.

Aaron Rodgers claimed that the best team lost that game, which is false, because the best team would not settle for so many field goals. The best team would kill the clock at the end of the game when having the lead.

Seattle was the best team because they played all 60 minutes of regulation. The Packer defense surrendered three touchdowns in a matter of minutes of football time.

The Packer defense played a fantastic game until the final moments of regulation and in overtime. Until the end of the fourth quarter, the only Seattle score occurred against the GB special teams when Seattle perfectly executed a fake field goal.

Despite playing well at times or much of the game, the Packers special teams, defense, and offense contributed to their loss. And the Packers coaching stuff also contributed to the loss.

Box Score

In the first quarter, GB kicked two field goals that were shorter than an extra point after Seattle basically gave GB two gift turnovers, allowing GB to start drives deep in Seattle territory. Credit Seattle's defense for keeping GB out of the end zone, unlike GB's defense at the end of the game and in overtime.

Green Bay got the opening kickoff and drove to the Seattle 29. On third and 10, Rodgers threw a pass to the end zone, and Seattle DB R. Sherman intercepted for a touchback.

On Seattle's first offensive series, Wilson's pass was intercepted on 3rd and 7. The pass should have been caught, but it clanged off the receiver's hands and popped up into the air, and it was easily intercepted by a GB DB who returned the ball to the Seattle 4 yard line.

But instead of 1st and goal at the 4, a bonehead GB defensive lineman got into an opponent's face after the intercepted play ended, and the GB lineman was flagged for taunting. That's a 15-yard penalty. So GB started at the Seattle 19. That's still amazing field position, but what a moronic penalty.

The Packers gained 12 yards on first down, giving GB first and goal at the Seattle 7. On first down, RB Lacy ran for 6 yards up the middle.

So now it's second and goal at the Seattle 1.

J.Kuhn up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was REVERSED.

Kuhn's elbow was ruled down at about the half-yard line. GB was definitely inside the Seattle 1-yard-line.

Now it's third and goal from the half-yard line or closer, maybe the one-foot line. Lacy ran for no gain. I thought that because GB was so close to the goal line, Rodgers, who was under center, would sneak it. Lacy seemed to run too tentatively on that third down play.

It seemed that Lacy was looking for a hole to run through instead of just slamming into the line of scrimmage as fast and as hard as possible, especially when the line of scrimmage was only 12 to 18 inches from the goal line.

On the 2nd down and 3rd down rushing attempts, neither Kuhn nor Lacy tried to stretch the ball out to break the plane. Credit the Seattle defense for stopping those two rushing attempts from inside the 1-yard-line, but some fault goes to Lacy's lackluster rush on 3rd down.

On 4th and goal from the 12- to 18-inch line, surprisingly, Packer head coach Mike McCarthy elected to kick a field goal.

When a team cannot score a TD in the conference championship game when it's 2nd and goal from the 1, that's not the best team, like Rodgers said. The best team had the defense to prevent the TD. The best team would be aggressive and go for it, like Seattle did with its fake field goal TD.

GB kicked the puny field goal and led 3-0 with over 8 minutes left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Seattle player returned the kick and fumbled around the Seattle 28, and Green Bay covered the fumble at the Seattle 23.

The Seattle kick returner returned the ball to his left, and he was near the sideline, but he carried the ball in his right arm, and he carried it too loosely, so the ball was somewhat easy to dislodge.

Credit goes to the GB kick team for poking the ball free and covering the fumble, but that fumble could have been prevented by the Seattle kick returner by holding the ball in his left hand and securing it more.

Hence, two early gifts by Seattle to Green Bay. The interception that should have been a catch and the bad kick return fumble.

GB started its previous drive at the Seattle 19, and now this drive started at the Seattle 23.

GB drove and had first and goal at the 7. Lacy rushed for 1 yard on first down. Rodgers threw an incomplete pass.

On third and goal at the 6, Rodgers threw a short out pass to the right that was completed to Cobb around the 1- or 2-yard line, but Cobb was tackled immediately. Good defense.

This made it 4th and goal at the Seattle 1-yard-line, and McCarthy chose to kick a field goal that was once again, shorter than an extra point.

I could understand kicking the field goal on this drive if GB had scored a TD on the previous gift drive.

Two Seattle turnovers deep in their own territory, and GB managed to score only 6 points. That's not winning football, and unsurprisingly, it proved costly to GB.

Seattle went 3-and-out on its next possession. After a short punt, GB started its drive on its own 44 and drove 56 yards for a touchdown and led 13-0 at then end of the first quarter. It could have easily been 21-0, and at the least, it should have been 17-0.

Seattle went 3-and-out again and punted. GB had a fine punt return. The Packers started at the Seattle 33 yard line. Stunning starting field position for the Packers in the first half. But the Packers gained only 11 yards and settled for a 40-yard field goal to lead 16-0 with 9:37 left in the 2nd quarter.

GB's offense starting field possessions and points scored from those drives:

Seattle 19 - 3 points
Seattle 23 - 3 points
Green Bay 44 - 7 points
Seattle 33 - 3 points

Here's the play-by-play for the GB drive that started at the Seattle 33.

1st and 10 at SEA 33 (13:18) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass incomplete short middle to E.Lacy. 13 0
2nd and 10 at SEA 33 (13:11) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass incomplete deep right to D.Adams. PENALTY on SEA-T.McDaniel, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at SEA 33 - No Play.
2nd and 5 at SEA 28 (13:05) (Shotgun) E.Lacy up the middle to SEA 31 for -3 yards (M.Bennett).
3rd and 8 at SEA 31 (12:19) (Shotgun) PENALTY on GB-B.Bulaga, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at SEA 31 - No Play.
3rd and 13 at SEA 36 (11:58) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass incomplete deep middle to R.Cobb. PENALTY on SEA-C.Avril, Illegal Use of Hands, 5 yards, enforced at SEA 36 - No Play.
1st and 10 at SEA 31 (11:51) (Shotgun) E.Lacy up the middle to SEA 27 for 4 yards (K.Wright).
2nd and 6 at SEA 27 (11:09) (Shotgun) R.Cobb left tackle to SEA 24 for 3 yards (E.Thomas).
3rd and 3 at SEA 24 (10:26) (Shotgun) E.Lacy left guard to SEA 22 for 2 yards (O.Schofield; B.Wagner).
4th and 1 at SEA 22 (9:42) M.Crosby 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Goode, Holder-T.Masthay. 16 0
GB DRIVE TOTALS: 6 plays, 11 yards, 3:41

Seattle's offense did not get its first first down of the game until about half-way through the second quarter.

Near the end of the 2nd quarter, Seattle drove to the GB 18. On 3rd and 8, Wilson threw a pass to the end zone that was intercepted.

The half eventually ended with GB leading 16-0.

On Seattle's 2nd possession of the 2nd half, the Seahawks drove to the GB 19. On 4th and 10, trailing 16-0 with about 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Seahawks executed the fake field goal for a touchdown.

The holder took the snap and rolled to his right and lobbed a pass to a wide open offensive tackle who was an eligible receiver. He scored easily. The GB special teams got punked.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/01/19/nfc-championship-game-seahawks-special-teams-onside-kick-fake-field-goal/

Now for the bigger and bolder decision, the play that ignited Seattle’s comeback, punter Jon Ryan’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal. Ryan had been lobbying for the call during the week of practice, after special teams coach Brian Schneider’s staff identified the weak link in the Packers field goal block team.
Reserve linebacker Brad Jones was recklessly aggressive coming off the edge on film. He consistently darted hard to the inside in an effort to get the block, and often went to unnecessary lengths to do so. Against Dallas in their divisional game, he lined up on the left side three times and on the right once, and on one attempt he tried to leap over a blocker only to get stonewalled.

So with five minutes left in the third quarter and Seattle still trailing 16-0, Carroll gave Ryan the go-ahead to execute a fake specifically designed for this game. Ryan had two options:

1. Take the snap and roll out to Jones’ side with either Garry Gilliam (left side) or Luke Willson (right) as a receiving option. If the linebacker covers the receiver, Ryan should run. If not, throw it.

2. If Jones isn’t on the field, take a delay of game penalty and then kick the field goal.

“Kickers are head-jobs anyway,” Ryan said within earshot of Hauschka, “so you don’t want to screw them around.”

Jones showed up on the left side, which meant undrafted rookie tackle Garry Gilliam would get the throw if necessary. Gilliam, a converted tight end out of Penn State, hadn’t caught a touchdown since high school.

“I broke the huddle like, Please be on my side, please be on my side,” Gilliam says. “And then [Jones] was.”

Linebacker A.J. Hawk committed to stopping Ryan’s run, so Ryan lofted the ball over Hawk and into Gilliam’s mitts, becoming the second Canadian to throw a touchdown in the NFL playoffs (the first was Mark Rypien).

Early in the 4th quarter, GB drove 57 yards to the Seattle 30, and M. Crosby made a 48-yard field goal. GB led 19-7 with about 11 minutes left in the game.

Seattle's next possession chewed up clock, but the Seahawks only made it to mid-field. I thought that Seattle might go for it on 4th down, but it was 4th and long, so Seattle chose the safe play and punted with the hope that the Seahawks could force a quick GB 3-and-out, which is what happened.

First, here's the Seattle play-by-play that stalled at midfield.

M.Crosby kicks 68 yards from GB 35 to SEA -3. D.Baldwin to SEA 13 for 16 yards (J.Bush). 19 7
1st and 10 at SEA 13 (10:46) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass incomplete short middle to L.Willson.
2nd and 10 at SEA 13 (10:41) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short left to L.Willson pushed ob at SEA 16 for 3 yards (S.Barrington).
3rd and 7 at SEA 16 (10:07) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short right to R.Lockette to SEA 27 for 11 yards (M.Burnett).
1st and 10 at SEA 27 (9:34) (Shotgun) M.Lynch right tackle to SEA 40 for 13 yards (S.Barrington).
1st and 10 at SEA 40 (9:08) (Shotgun) R.Wilson scrambles right end to SEA 44 for 4 yards (C.Matthews).
2nd and 6 at SEA 44 (8:28) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass incomplete short left to D.Baldwin.
3rd and 6 at SEA 44 (8:22) (Shotgun) M.Lynch up the middle to GB 45 for 11 yards (S.Barrington; H.Clinton-Dix).
1st and 10 at GB 45 (7:52) (No Huddle, Shotgun) R.Wilson sacked at 50 for -5 yards (M.Burnett).
2nd and 15 at 50 (7:11) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass incomplete short middle to K.Norwood (H.Clinton-Dix).
3rd and 15 at 50 (7:07) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass incomplete deep middle to D.Baldwin (C.Hayward) [D.Jones].
4th and 15 at 50 (7:01) J.Ryan punts 37 yards to GB 13, Center-C.Gresham, fair catch by M.Hyde.

So now Green Bay has the ball on its own 13-yard line, leading 19-7 with only 6:53 left in the game. The best team would kill some clock here by at least gaining one first down before punting but not GB.

Two rushing plays and then an incomplete pass, netted GB only 6 yards.

Green Bay at 6:53 GNB SEA
1st and 10 at GB 13 (6:53) (Shotgun) J.Starks right end to GB 14 for 1 yard (K.Wright).
2nd and 9 at GB 14 (6:09) (Shotgun) J.Starks up the middle to GB 19 for 5 yards (K.Wright).
3rd and 4 at GB 19 (5:26) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to A.Quarless (K.Wright).
4th and 4 at GB 19 (5:22) T.Masthay punts 37 yards to SEA 44, Center-B.Goode. B.Walters to SEA 46 for 2 yards (D.House; B.Bostick).
GB DRIVE TOTALS: 3 plays, 6 yards, 1:40

Seattle started on its own 46 with 5:13 left. If GB had made one first down on its previous possession and then punted, Seattle would have started this driver further back and probably with only around 3:30 left in the game and down two scores.

GB's defense played great for about 55 minutes, good enough to have given GB the win, provided that the McCarthy-Rodgers offense had done a little more.

Since the GB offense failed to secure the win in the first quarter and late in the fourth quarter, it was up to the GB defense to make another stop, and it did.

On the first play from its own 46, Wilson threw an interception.

Seattle at 5:13
1st and 10 at SEA 46 (5:13) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short middle intended for J.Kearse INTERCEPTED by M.Burnett at GB 39. M.Burnett to GB 43 for 4 yards. Went down on his own.
SEA DRIVE TOTALS: 1 play, 0 yards, 0:09

I did not see the interception. We visited our parents, and I was packing up while following the play-by-play on my iPhone at the ESPN website. I rejoined the TV broadcast when Seattle got the ball back next.

But I heard that M.Burnett could have returned the interception for more yardage. I guess GB assumed that would be the game, since it was two scores. When I saw the interception play mentioned on my phone, I thought that might do it.

So GB has the ball at its own 43-yard-line with 5:04 left and leading 19-7. The key was the amount of time left. It was not 2:04 left.

With the starting field position near midfield, I thought that GB would be a bit more aggressive with trying to get at least one first down. But GB rushed the ball all three times and netted a minus-4 yards. Incredibly horrible play-calling, especially when GB has one of the best QBs in the game.

So on back-to-back possessions with the score 19-7, GB went three-and-out by rushing 5 times and passing only once with Aaron Rodgers as the QB.

McCarthy must have coached scared on those two possessions. He must have been afraid of the incomplete pass stopping the clock. But too much time remained anyway and Seattle still had timeouts plus the two-minute warning.

Here's the GB play-by-play after the Wilson interception:

Green Bay at 5:04
1st and 10 at GB 43 (5:04) (Shotgun) E.Lacy left tackle to GB 39 for -4 yards (K.Williams).
Timeout #1 by SEA at 04:57.
2nd and 14 at GB 39 (4:57) (Shotgun) E.Lacy left tackle to GB 37 for -2 yards (M.Bennett).
Timeout #2 by SEA at 04:50.
3rd and 16 at GB 37 (4:50) (Shotgun) E.Lacy up the middle to GB 39 for 2 yards (B.Wagner; M.Bennett).
4th and 14 at GB 39 (4:00) T.Masthay punts 30 yards to SEA 31, Center-B.Goode, out of bounds.
GB DRIVE TOTALS: 3 plays, -4 yards, 1:12

After the GB punt, Seattle started on its own 31 yard line. The GB defense had nothing left now.

Seattle easily and quickly drove for a TD score.

Seattle at 3:52
1st and 10 at SEA 31 (3:52) (Shotgun) M.Lynch up the middle to SEA 45 for 14 yards (C.Hayward).
1st and 10 at SEA 45 (3:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short right to D.Baldwin to GB 35 for 20 yards (T.Williams).
1st and 10 at GB 35 (3:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) R.Wilson pass incomplete deep right to J.Kearse.
2nd and 10 at GB 35 (3:02) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep right to M.Lynch for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep right to M.Lynch ran ob at GB 9 for 26 yards.
1st and 9 at GB 9 (2:57) (Shotgun) M.Lynch up the middle to GB 5 for 4 yards (J.Peppers; M.Neal).
2nd and 5 at GB 5 (2:36) (No Huddle, Shotgun) R.Wilson scrambles left tackle to GB 1 for 4 yards (H.Clinton-Dix).
3rd and 1 at GB 1 (2:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) R.Wilson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Gresham, Holder-J.Ryan. 19 14
SEA DRIVE TOTALS: 7 plays, 69 yards, 1:43

With only a little over 2 minutes left, it came down to the onside kick that is rarely successful, and this one should have failed too for the kick team. The onside kick was popped up into the air. The GB tight end mistimed his jump, and he was coming down when the ball was also coming down to him. But the TE made the mistake of trying to catch the ball by cradling it or corralling it against his chest, instead of reaching up and snatching it with his fingers. The ball went through his cradled arms and bounced off his chest and Seattle covered. Unbelievable.

Seattle drove easily for another touchdown.

Seattle at 2:09
(Onside Kick formation) S.Hauschka kicks onside 15 yards from SEA 35 to 50, impetus ends at SEA 48. RECOVERED by SEA-C.Matthews. 19 14
1st and 10 at 50 (2:07) (No Huddle) R.Wilson right end ran ob at GB 35 for 15 yards.
1st and 10 at GB 35 (2:01) M.Lynch right end to GB 32 for 3 yards (M.Burnett).
Two-Minute Warning
2nd and 7 at GB 32 (1:56) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short right to L.Willson to GB 24 for 8 yards (A.Hawk; T.Williams).
1st and 10 at GB 24 (1:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) M.Lynch left tackle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. R.Wilson pass to L.Willson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. 19 22
SEA DRIVE TOTALS: 4 plays, 50 yards, 0:44

In a game with amazing plays and amazing bungles, the two-point conversion on the above touchdown was also stunning. Wilson was under pressure. He scrambled and heaved a hail-Mary type of pass back across field that was caught in the end zone for the two-point conversion. A Packer DB was nearby the receiver, but for some inexplicable reason, he failed to make an attempt at stopping the pass completion.

The two-point conversion made the score 22-19 Seattle with around 1:30 left. Aaron Rodgers led the GB offense into Seattle territory. This is why GB should have been more aggressive on its two previous possessions. It's Rodgers.

With only seconds left, Crosby made a 48-yard field goal to tie the game at 22. A big-time clutch kick, outdoors in some weather that saw a mix of rain and sunshine during the game. Wow. The kick was nearly blocked too.

Seattle had one time-out left, but head coach Pete Carroll did not use it to attempt to "ice" the kicker.

Here's the game-tying Packer play-by-play:

Green Bay at 1:25
S.Hauschka kicks 61 yards from SEA 35 to GB 4. M.Hyde to GB 22 for 18 yards (R.Lockette).
1st and 10 at GB 22 (1:19) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short left to J.Nelson to GB 37 for 15 yards (B.Maxwell).
1st and 10 at GB 37 (1:00) (No Huddle, Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short middle to R.Cobb to SEA 48 for 15 yards (E.Thomas).
1st and 10 at SEA 48 (:43) (No Huddle, Shotgun) A.Rodgers scrambles right end ran ob at SEA 36 for 12 yards.
1st and 10 at SEA 36 (:35) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to E.Lacy.
2nd and 10 at SEA 36 (:30) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to R.Rodgers.
3rd and 10 at SEA 36 (:26) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short left to J.Nelson to SEA 30 for 6 yards (R.Sherman) [L.Cohen].
Timeout #1 by GB at 00:19.
4th and 4 at SEA 30 (:19) M.Crosby 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Goode, Holder-T.Masthay.

If that goofy, desperation-pass on the two-point play had been defended, that kick would have been the game-winner. GB would have won 22-20.

But too many other would-have, could-have, and should-haves occurred earlier in the game for GB that could have made the game out of reach for Seattle at the end.

After the tying field, Seattle took a knee to go to overtime, so that drive does not count in my book.

Seattle won the toss and took the ball first in overtime and they drove right through the GB offense for the game-winning touchdown. Three straight touchdown drives for Seattle.

Green Bay at 15:00
M.Crosby kicks 66 yards from GB 35 to SEA -1. D.Baldwin to SEA 13 for 14 yards (C.Banjo).
1st and 10 at SEA 13 (14:51) (Shotgun) M.Lynch up the middle to SEA 17 for 4 yards (M.Burnett).
2nd and 6 at SEA 17 (14:20) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short right to D.Baldwin pushed ob at SEA 27 for 10 yards (C.Matthews).
1st and 10 at SEA 27 (13:50) (Shotgun) M.Lynch left tackle to SEA 31 for 4 yards (M.Daniels; N.Perry).
2nd and 6 at SEA 31 (13:17) (Shotgun) R.Wilson sacked at SEA 30 for -1 yards (sack split by J.Peppers and L.Guion).
3rd and 7 at SEA 30 (12:36) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep right to D.Baldwin to GB 35 for 35 yards (C.Hayward).
1st and 10 at GB 35 Jermaine Kearse 35 Yd pass from Russell Wilson 22 28
END GAME
SEA DRIVE TOTALS: 6 plays, 87 yards, 3:19

87 yards in only 6 plays, including back-to-back 35-yard pass plays to end the game. The Packer defense was non-existent at the end of regulation and in overtime.

Since GB offense did not get a chance, some are whining about the overtime rules. Sorry, but the GB offense had PLENTY of chances in regulation to extend the lead and end the game. GB offense squandered too much great starting field possessions. The GB offense failed to gain a single first down on two consecutive drives when leading 19-7.

The game should have never gone to overtime if the GB offense had played better. And the Packer defense and special teams contributed to the defeat.

Allowing a good team like Seattle to hang around and have a chance was obviously a recipe for disaster.

The fine score could have/should have been 27-7. By blowing that, then no way did the best team lose that game. The best team played great defense to force field goals and execute special teams plays and then make the offensive plays at the end.

Green Bay successfully managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory. And Seattle is a heck of a team to pull off an amazing comeback. Wilson made an amazing pass on the touchdown that ended the game in overtime.

I think Seattle will beat New England in the Super Bowl, but I'm guessing that it will be exciting with the game ending in the final seconds. Maybe it will also go to overtime.

My prediction: Seattle 31 - New England 27.

Photo gallery.
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/01/19/seahawks-packers-nfc-championship-game/