The Underground Man

Packers fall at the last fence

What in God's name was Mike Sherman of the Green Bay Packers thinking?

Less than two minutes left in the game against the Eagles - they just need TWO feet to get a first down (its a fourth down) and they decide to punt to Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. The same Eagles who have just run roughshod over the Packer defence for the last six or seven minutes and come very close to tying the game. Absolutely insane if you ask me (as events proved). I mean, I'm not an NFL coach, I only play one on TV but is it asking too much for a professional team with title aspirations to gain two feet on one play to put the game away? If you can't get that with your O-line push and a quarterback sneak you really don't deserve to be playing the game. Did I mention that you have Brett Favre as your qb and Armand Green (156 yds in this game) as your running back?

I don't really like the Packers (because they cost the Niners four Superbowl opportunities in the '90s) but I do like and admire Brett Favre (who owns the 49ers). I'm sure that every offensive player on the Packers saw that as a mistake given the swing in momentum in the Eagles favor in the last few minutes of the game. Certainly, the Eagles must have breathed a sigh of relief that the Packers were going to give up their best chance to win the game and give that chance to Donovan & Co.

I ask again, "Why not just go with the Jumbo/Elephant package (two tight ends, biggest linemen) and trust that your 350+lb behemoths can advance the ball two feet? Since the loss, Brett Favre has been blamed for the terrible interception in overtime but I would like to point out that it would have never been necessary had Coach Mike Sherman made the obvious call and gone for it on 4th and 1.

I see the Eagles as a seriously flawed team (what run defense?) and will bet that the Panthers steal their lunch money. And make them run home crying to Mommy.

The Panthers have one of the best (if not the best) lines in football right now and a really great running back (Stephen Davis).

And a much better coach than the Packers. Posted by artandscience at January 11, 2004 08:02 PM