Quest for Perfection...

The most unlikely

We all saw the Packers quest for perfection end Week 15 verse the most unlikely opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs.  I'll give it to the Chiefs, a little for stopping the Packers, a little but here were my two biggest concerns; our defense not being able to stop the run or pass for that matter, and our offensive players not being able to to catch passes throw right to them.  These two elements could not be combined together again or it would be fatal for the Packers Chance to repeat...

Did that just happen again

I find it hard to give credit to the Giant for Beating the Packers and this is why...

1st quarter

3rd and 8 NYG 29- 5:44 to go in the first, Aaron Rodgers drops back in the shotgun and over throws a wide open Greg Jennings, who probably would have score had he caught it in stride. Packers settle for a field goal. Opportunity missed 4 points  and taking the lead. GB 7, NYG 3

2nd quarter

2nd and 7 NYG 43- 9:23 to go in the second, Aaron Rodgers drops back in the shotgun and James Starks drops the pass that would have game them a first down.

3rd and 7 NYG 43- 9:17 to go in the second, Aaron Rodgers drops back in the shotgun and Crabtree drops the pass that would have game them a first down. If we make either of these catches it puts us in feild goal range. Opportunity missed, assuming the Packers only get a filed goal, 3 points and taking a touchdown lead . GB 17, NYG 10

1st and 10 GB 38- 3:48 to go in the second, John Kuhn Runs into his own guy and fumbles the Ball. I put this one on the Packers. They would have at least sustained the drive and not given up the field goal to the Giants. Opportunity missed 3 points NYG.

Green Bay Possession 1:51 left to go in the 2nd. If we wouldn't have fumbled we would have taken more time off the clock and could have scored. If the Packers didn't score, they probably wouldn't have given up a field goal to the Giant because the Packer defense came to play on that series. The Packers may have gotten the ball back after holding on defense and if they did there would have been less time on their last drive for sure and no time for the Giants to get their "Hail Marry" Possession.

New York Possession 0:41 left to go in the 2nd. If the previous things happen this possession doesn't take place. I'll go with it because it did. Giants seem to be okay with running out the clock. Green Bay takes a time out for who knows why. The Giants showed they were OK running out the clock with the Time Out comming in late and them attempting a play before it was wistled dead. They lined up and ran it again but nobody could tackle Bradshaw and he gets a huge gain setting up the Hail Marry to Nicks to end the half. Opportunity missed 7 points NYG. 

Half Time Projected Score

GB 17, NYG 10

3rd Quarter

1st and 10 NYG 30- 10:36 to go in the 3rd. Aaron Rodgers fumbles the football, I'll give this one to the Giants for making a great play. Assuming Rodgers avoids the fumble he has Greg Jennings wide open down the sideline for a touchdown. If he takes a sack we get at least a filed goal being 2-17 NYG 37 and we can gain 4 yards to make it a 50 yard field goal attempt. Opportunity missed, at least 3 Points, more likely 7 Points. GB 20, NYG 10

3rd and 5 NYG 17- 3:55 to play in the 3rd. Aaron Rodgers pass goes off the hand of Greg Jennings, Play would have resulted in a Touchdown, but Packers had to settle for the field Goal. Opportunity missed 4 points. GB 27, NYG 10

4th Quarter

3rd and 5 NYG 39- 13:04 left in the 4th. Aaron Rodgers and Finley can't connect again, Finley drops another pass. The Packers would have been in field goal range with the completion and would have had a first down. They go for it on 4th down and Rodgers is sacked giving the Giants Good field Position. Opportunity missed  3 points. GB 23, NYG 10

New York Possession 12:54 to go in the 4th. They would defiantly not had the good field position. The Packers Defense actually played good in the 3rd Quarter holding the Giants to 0 points. Who's to say the Packers wouldn't  have stopped them again on this drive being it would have started around there own 20 yard line. But I'll give them the field goal they managed from this drive. GB 23, NYG 13.

Green Bay Possession 7:48 to go in the 4th. 2nd and 5 GB-34 Aaron Rodgers passed to Grant is caught and then he fumbles after getting the first down. I can't dispute this play because the Giants were going for the ball all day. The only thing that changes with this possession is the play calling being up 10 points at GB 23, NYG 13. But I give them the turnover here.

New York Possession  6:53 to go in the 4th. Manning to Manninghamm for a touchdown. GB 23, NYG 20.

Green Bay Possession 6:48 to go in the 4th. Only being up by 3 points at this point the packers still go with their play calling figuring they need to score a touch down to make it a 2 possession game.  Aaron Rodgers hooks up with Donald Drive for the score with 4:52 remaining in the half. GB 30, NYG 20.

New York Possession 4:46 to go in the 4th. There are a few assumptions that go into this possession. How much time would they have had left but giving the history of Eli Manning and the final drives of a half I give them a touchdown at the 2 minute warning. GB 30, NYG 27

Green Bay Possession (1:55). New York tries the on sides kick but the Packers recover. Only needing one first down to seal a victory and Hosting the NFC Championship game the following week. The Packers pick up the 1st down and run out the clock.  This game is remembered because the Giants almost come back in stellar fashion to upset the Green Bay Packers in a well balanced, touch fought match up between two great Quarterbacks. One of the Key take aways from the game is that the Packers Defense looks to have made some changes and are playing better than the 32nd ranked defense, not quit as good as the previous year, but are looking better just in time to make another Superbowl run.

Final Score

GB 30, NYG 27

Final Remarks

To not be fully bias in this post I have to give the New York defense credit for sacking Rodgers 4 times and causing 2 fumbles that show in the stats (Kuhn's fumble was Packer in flicked) and 1 fumble that wasn't called, well it was then overturned then challenged and upheld. Sorry, Jennings that was a fumble but I'm glad we got the call.  The Packers killed themselves with Dropped Passes but the Giants did cause 2 fumbles.  Lessons we can learn, even if you are 14-1, your Quarterback needs to see some snaps in the season finally to stay in rhythm you can't have 3 weeks off with out taking a snap in this league.  The Packers Offense is all about rhythm. Hope they get enough rest, I beat they wish they could play one more game. Enjoy!