Mike McCarthy’s conservative offensive gameplan once again kept a game much closer than it should have been. Although the Packers won, the fact that they only led 6-3 at halftime meant that a key injury, turnover, fluke play, etc., could have cost them the game. The gameplan kept the Lions in the game far longer than they should have been.
Let’s look at the offensive gameplan:
On the first drive, the Packers threw on 4 first downs and ran on 2, and got a field goal. For the rest of the half, they ran on 6 first downs and threw on 1. This doesn’t count the run when they got the ball back with 15 seconds left in the half. Since they ran on all these first downs, and thus made no attempt to score on these drives, the score was 6-3 Packers at half.
On the opening drive of the second half, when you want come out and be aggressive and set the tone, they ran on both first downs and punted. Since the opening drive of the game, they ran on 8 of 9 first downs and had 6 points.
On the second drive of the second half, they ran on both first downs and got a field goal. Since the opening drive of the game, they ran on 10 of 11 first downs and had 9 points.
On the third drive of the second half, they threw on all 3 plays, including the first play when they were called for offensive holding resulting in a first-and-20, and scored an easy touchdown.
As a result of this, they led 16-3 after three quarters, when the game could easily have been put away earlier.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, they ran on all 3 first downs, which stalled the drive, and they got a field goal.
On the second drive of the fourth quarter, they ran on both first downs, which stalled the drive and they got a field goal.
All of this first-down running resulted in only 1 touchdown all game, and a much-closer game than it should have been. Of course, the one drive they threw every play, they scored an easy touchdown.
Some of you say the Packers should mix it up so they are not predictable, despite the fact that in the first three quarters of every Packer game for the last 20 years, throwing on first downs has worked and running hasn’t. However, based on the gameplan above, I would say McCarthy is very predictable. He makes it obvious he’ll continue to run on first downs, which is predictable, and it’s also predictable that he won’t realize this is a failing strategy despite overwhelming evidence from every Packer game for the last 20 years.
When I read your article it seems that the Packers Lost the game.
I’m just pointing out how bad this strategy is, and how it frequently does cost them games. In this case, and in many others, it just kept the game much closer than it should have been.