I’ll start with the Packer game. The Packers went up 21-3 against the Broncos in the second quarter. As soon as they scored the TD to make it 21-3, I told the people around me (I was at the game) that McCarthy would then run on first down, and it would help Denver get back in the game that the Packers had under control. The Broncos scored to make it 21-10, McCarthy ran on first down for 1 yard, second down was an 8-yard sack, the Packers punted, and the Broncos scored to make it 21-17. Just as I predicted. From that point on, McCarthy did pass, and the Packers won in a rout, 49-23 (the Broncos scored a TD at the end).
Since McCarthy did keep passing this game (finally!), the Packers easily won and the game didn’t come down to the end as previous games did when they got conservative. In the third quarter, with the Packers continuing to pass and drive downfield, Phill Simms, who was doing the game, said, and this is a direct quote: “Keeping the pace going. I think one complaint that Aaron Rodgers kind of had about the Green Bay Packer offense, he goes, I think we cool off too quick. In other words, once we get rolling, let’s go. Don’t tell me we’re going to manage the game the last quarter and a half. Let’s keep going, pressuring the defense. Didn’t do that last week in Chicago.” I’ve said this about Packer coaches since the Favre years began, and I know he complained about it. Now Rodgers has, too, and since McCarthy did listen, they won in a rout. With 2:00 to go in the third quarter, Rodgers was 24 of 30 for 375 yards. In the fourth quarter, as a result of continuously passing, the Packers were up 5 scores, and it would have been 7 had they not run on that first down. This makes a lot more sense than getting conservative, blowing a comfortable lead, letting the other team hang around, and having to hold on or lose.
Now, to the Carolina-bear game. Carolina proved, like every other team in the NFL, that they don’t understand strategy. The papers had the score at 34-29 bears, but Carolina did win the game since the refs took away a Jeremy Shockey TD pass by calling offensive pass interference, which was clearly a terrible call. Without that bad call, Carolina probably wins, as this would have given them the lead and they kept moving the ball. However, let’s ignore that for the moment and look at various plays by Carolina, each of which on its own cost them the game:
1. Carolina ran on first down deep in its territory, which resulted in an interception return for a TD. This play alone cost them the game.
2. Carolina punted to Devin Hester allowing a return instead of punting high for a fair catch or punting out of bounds, and he returned it for a TD. This was right after he returned a kick 73 yards. This play alone cost them the game.
3. Carolina had a short field-goal attempt blocked. I’ve always said the bears are good at blocking field goals, and when the kick is short, the kicker needs to take a short run-up and chip the ball instead of kicking low. This play contributed to the loss.
4. Carolina got to the bear 17 and ran on first down, resulting in a field goal. This play alone cost them the game.
5. In a tie game, they kicked off to Hester, who returned it 73 yards, resulting in an eventual TD. I didn’t see this play, so if they did deep-squib kick it, this point can be removed. However, if they did kick it to him so he could return it, this play alone cost them the game.
6. The Panthers had a first down at the bear 25, ran on first down, and kicked a field goal. This play alone cost them the game.
7. With 6:41 left in the game, down 27-23, the Panthers ran on first down for 2 yards and punted. This play alone cost them the game.
All of these plays were plays I’ve always said you DON’T do, yet the Panthers, like every other bear opponent, just don’t get it. People talk about the bear defense tightening up, but it’s because teams get deep in their territory and run on first down when they have 7 guys in the box playing the run. I don’t know how much more evidence is necessary for opposing teams to get this. I said walking into the opening game in Lambeau Field in 2006, BEFORE HESTER’S FIRST GAME, that anyone who kicked or punted to him is an idiot. They did punt to him that game, and he returned one for a TD. Here we are 6 years later, and teams are still losing games because they kicked and/or punted to him.