One Botched Play Denies the Packers a Super Bowl Berth: An End Game Analysis

Seldom used TE Brandon Bostick, (No. 86)  muffs the key play of the game - recovery of an onside kick with 2:00 left.. He was only in there to block, not make the play - that was for "hands guy" Jordy Nelson!

Football humbug and pabulum for the weak-minded:

"It never comes down to just one play, it's always multiple ones that bring a loss."

"You win as a team and lose as a team"

"He did his best but if the rest of us had done our jobs his misplay wouldn't have mattered."

Save it for football know-nothings and Bozos. In the end, though the efforts of players to cover the colossal bonehead plays of certain teammates are noble they are misplaced and don't cut the mustard. So we can rightly ignore all the twaddle displayed above: the horrific 28-22  overtime loss yesterday of the Pack to the Seattle Seahawks is on one guy: Brandon Bostick.

Don't make excuses for him!

Yes, yes, I know there were multiple ways the game might not have come down to that colossal muff. We can always find a "target rich environment" for miscues and plays that could have been improved in retrospect. But none of those occurred at the most critical point in this game, e.g.

- If the Pack had gotten TDs instead of FGs on two early Seattle turnovers. (Giving another 8 pts.)

- Somehow, for some idiotic reason (maybe excess caution -which is the M.O. of losers)  Morgan Burnett - after an interception of a Wilson pass - just dives to the ground instead of going for daylight and a 'pick 6' with only green ahead. That would also have added another 7 to the Pack's tally.

- Mike McCarthy playing coy and conservative (we call it playing "not to lose")  in the Pack's penultimate  two 4th Q. possessions, ending up with two 3 and outs - instead of letting Aaron pass for first downs which might have sealed the game then and there.

In regard to the last, both wifey and I could see those two 3 and outs by the O had left the Packer D sucking fumes by having to get on the field so soon each time. It was stupid and ignorant at that point - with that display of play calling conservatism,  to stick to the run when it wasn't working. And  to blame the D for a 'collapse' when the O didn't help them. Look, the O has got to help the D - especially when the latter had been playing 'lights out' - but especially in the first half when the Pack dominated the time of possession.

Even so, even after Marshawn Lynch had gotten to the 9 with a thunderous 26 yard run after catch,  there was  2:33 left, the game was still in hand for the Pack to take. Every other play, series of plays, misplays or non-plays at that point became immaterial. It was win with a big fat 'W'  with  a  successful recovery of the ball.(Let us also bear in mind that as one approaches the end of a game the magnitude of the error increases exponentially - which is why Bostick's muff was so outrageous. Given it occurred just before the 2 minute warning, it literally paved the way for the Seattle comeback.)

Anyway,  as I told Janice at that point, before the Seahawks'  next snap:

"Doesn't matter! Let the %#*!*&  score!  Their plays will suck time off the clock down to the two minute warning. All we need to do then is recover the onside kick and retain time of possession with just one first down."

All they had to do, right? But who the hell would believe the Pack special team brain trust would put in a new -be tight end named Brandon Bostick for the most critical play of the whole game?  An onside kick, which recovery would lead either to a Packer end game possession, or Seahawks' possession that'd likely give them the go ahead score, given they had great field position.

Bostick, let's make it abundantly clear - was in there  for one assignment only - to block! It was not his job or duty to recover the *$&@!!  kick! (Even he admitted  that was his job in an interview after the game).

That recovery play was Jordy Nelson's job, and he is the official "hands player" in those situations, literal money in the bank.

But Jordy, alas, never got his big hands on it. Good ol' Bostick lost his composure at the worst time when the ball came toward him and tried to grab it himself. An unqualified guy reaching for his level of incompetence and achieving it in one fell swoop.

After the game, Bostick blabbed:

"I was supposed to block. I just ran to the ball. I thought I could get it. Obviously, I couldn't.
I felt like I had my hands on the ball. I just got hit and then I didn't have the ball."

He also moaned he was "only human" but ought to have added, "a dumbass human".

And so the Packers' dream of a 2nd Super Bowl appearance in 4 years came crashing down thanks to a relative greenhorn for onside kicks, on the field at the absolute wrong time, making the worst possible play while handing the game to the Seahawks - who could also see their TD would be easy, given the Pack D had nada left in the tank. Thanks to Brandon. If Bostick just does his damned job and lets Jordy make the play, there is NO Seattle "miracle" comeback and that is what pisses us off the most. (Wifey's theory is he was trying to be a "hero" by grabbing the onside and mucked it up, which means it wasn't a mistake but ego and arrogance at work.)

Let's not try to cover up this clown's misplay and spread the blame when the most proximate cause for the loss was THAT play, no other!  As even the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel reporter put it:

"Game over. Season over. Career over? For Bostick, in Green Bay, probably."

The Packers players deserved better than this snafu and so did their fans!
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Footnote on fans' hate reactions:

As one blogger-author (Pearlman) has observed, some fan reactions were over the top including tweeting "Go die!" and other hate-filled invective to the poor slob. Pearlman called these people "lunkheads" and also added he didn't expect such social media reactions to change anytime soon. He is correct in that!  So long as pro football retains center stage in American sports culture and "losers" are denigrated and despised while the "winner take all"  meme is extolled. Change that, and you will also change the discourse and also enable fans to be a little less hostile when a miscue of such magnitude occurs with their favorite team.

Yes, I deplore the hate reactions, but Bostick must not escape blame for making what he calls a "mistake". NO,  it was not a mistake but an ego-fed effort to seize glory by being the "hero" when he lacked the skill to do so. So, we are perfectly entitled to pile on to this guy - but at the same time, leave the hate in our inner Ids.

'Nuff said!

Packers Shine, Cowboys Whine: "We Wuz Robbed!" - Hardly!

Dez Bryant clearly loses control of the ball in making a move,  hence pass was incomplete - anyone not blind or totally biased could see that!

Let us accept as a provisional proposition that if an NFL team is a major beneficiary of an overturned call one week it cannot piss and whine the next when one goes against its expectations. To fix ideas, the Dallas Cowboys were the beneficiaries of an overturned call the week before vs. the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card Round. The call originally was a "PI" (pass interference) and the flag was thrown by a ref. Minutes later it was mysteriously picked up and what was to have been a Detroit first down suddenly become 4th and one. Had the original call not been reversed Detroit, which had momentum, likely would have scored a 7 and essentially put the game beyond the reach of the Cowpokes.

The refs at the time of the overturn, never explained their reasoning - as Detroit players went apoplectic. Only much later did one Zebra (obviously at the behest of the NFL cognoscenti) assert the Cowboy corner was only doing "face guarding" which wasn't a penalty. But reviews on "NFL AM" the next morning saw Eric Davis as well as Deion Sanders and Warren Sapp calling bollocks, noting it was certainly at least a defensive holding penalty which would still have awarded a Detroit first down and five yards advance.

With the momentum now altered at a critical phase, the Boyz went on to take the game, 24-20.

Now, flash to yesterday's hyped up "Ice Bowl II" (which really wasn't, nowhere as cold a the original) in which the Boyz faced a 4th and two with just over 5 minutes left and the Pack leading 26-21.  Cowboys coach Jason Garrett called for his team to go for it - as he did in a similar situation the week before. The play appeared to result in star receiver Dez Bryant snatching a Romo pass near the 1 yard line.

But hold strain! As soon as the replay was shown (including on the Lambeau Jumbotron) , wifey (who's become a real football guru) and I immediately saw that Bryant had bobbled the ball and lost control of it when he hit the ground.  As I said to her:

"No freaking way in hell is that a completion. While the ground can't cause a fumble it can certainly cause an incompletion". (Which was established five years ago with the "Calvin Johnson rule" in another Detroit game vs. the Chicago Bears).

Wifey agreed, adding: "Then McCarthy ought to challenge the ruling!"

No sooner had the words slipped from her lips than Coach Mike did toss the flag - well he brought it out in view. Upon further review, the head ref Gene Steratore and the NFL determined it was an incomplete pass. (See the image above) The ball possession reverted to the Pack with just over 4 minutes left and the Boyz were in a state of shock, especially Dez Bryant - who, like his teammates- clearly didn't know the rule.

Steratore said it was clear to him that the ball hit the ground before Bryant lost it and re-gained control. Had the ball not hit the ground it would have been a completed pass because it ended up in Bryant's hands at the end of the play.  As he put it:

"There were a couple of angles that showed the ball actually hitting the ground and the receiver losing possession of it as well,"

He added:

"It comes loose as the ball hits the ground, which would make that incomplete. Although he repossesses it, it does contact the ground when he reaches."

For reference:

NFL RULEBOOK

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3

Item 1: Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.

The Pack then went on to retain possession and won 26-21. Maybe Coach Garrett needs to teach his "boys" remedial football 101.

Just sayin'.  I also think all the Cowboy sympathizers that set the Twittersphere on fire after the play need to learn NFL Rules 101 instead of spouting their ignorance. Some of the tweets posted on the Dallas news site, including from the likes of Lebron James (a basketball player) and others were hilarious - all belching, like Josh Duhamel: "Sorry, Packers fans, that was a catch!" and the "Cowboys were robbed!"

At least Deion Sanders'  tweet was rational and sane, observing the call was correct but "I hate the rule!" Well, fine - hate the damned rule but then get the NFL Competition Committee to review it! But for god's sake don't lamely blame the overturned original completion call on the Boyz' loss. There were many ways they lost this game even before the Bryant incident, including DeMarco Murray's fumble at a key stage and then Rodgers and the Pack taking advantage to get 7 pts.

Now, alternative universe time: Let's assume the call was not overturned and Dallas went in for the TD to make it 28-26 with just over 4 minutes left. Would the Cowboys win? Hell no! Had it been upheld, and Dallas scored, the Packers would get the ball back with more than ample time left for a winning field goal. Indeed, Green Bay was successful moving the ball on the Cowboy's defense in the 4th. Packers had 425 yards of offense. And when Dallas needed to stop Green Bay to have a chance after "the call" they COULD NOT DO IT. Packers would then have won with a FG anyway, 29-28. (Ok, the Boyz likely would have tried for 2 but I don't believe they'd have made it. Even if they had, AR was on fire and would have gotten a final TD to ice it, 33- 29)

No more boo hoo hoo,  Boyz fans. You got a break last week but not this week. Suck it up. The football gods giveth and they taketh away.

If you hate the call, fine. Write the NFL honchos at HQ in New York and demand the rule be changed. In other words, grow up, do something constructive, and stop whining and moaning.

See also:

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/national-reaction-tweets-reveal-national-displeasure-with-reversed-dez-bryant-catch-in-fourth-quarter.html/

And:

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/nfl-competition-committee-likely-to-debate-controversial-dez-bryant-non-catch.html/

Ten Reasons the Packers Should Clean the Cowpokes' Clocks Today

Sitting with my 'Packer-whacker' at Lambeau Field in December, 2009.

A question on every Packer fan's mind is whether the Pack can dispatch the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field today. Make no mistake, this is a historic game, the first playoff meeting at Lambeau between the two teams since the infamous 'Ice Bowl'  47 years ago.  That game I saw in New Orleans, with the Pack winning 21-17 on a game ending quarterback sneak by Bart Starr. The game is still the coldest ever to be played with wind chills approaching minus 48.

What about the current game? Can the Pack win? Let us recall the past three playoff seasons the Pack were dismissed including a "one and done" after a 15-1 regular season record several years ago. But in those previous times there were critical injuries or a key piece (in the case of the 2011 SB defense) left out. (Cullen Jenkins not resigned so the 'D' was not up to the SB standard)

Anyway, here are ten reasons I believe the Pack will take care of business today:

1) The Pack are unbeatable at Lambeau this year and the crowd will be louder than ever when Dallas is on offense, even rivaling the 12th man in Seattle. Romo - amidst the noise- will make a slew of errors and look for lots of false starts.

2) Dallas RB DeMarco Murray still suffers from a broken bone in his left hand which will be magnified in pain in Lambeau where temperatures won't rise above 14F. One hard hit and he will likely be forced to leave, or at least fumble.

3) Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB rules at Lambeau as much or more than Brady at Gillette Stadium or Peyton Manning at Denver's Sports Authority Field. Look for Rodgers to make quick passes to Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb for long yards after the catch.

4) Clay Matthews, unlike in prior years, is now healthy and as he even said 2 days ago  "there are no excuses". Also, he will have former Bear LB Julius Peppers on the other side helping out to keep Romo off balance.

5) Romo will be 'twitchy' and gun shy after his already vulnerable back took several shots in the Lions' game last week. After several knockdowns, compliments of Sam Barrington, Clay Matthews and Peppers, look for Romo to make a number of wild throws - including two for picks.

6)  Look for Packers' coach Mike McCarthy to put more run plays in for Eddie Lacy - at least enough to match his 100+ yard effort vs. Detroit. This strategy will be good to help Aaron out (still nursing a calf injury - not helped by getting stepped on by Ndamukong Suh).  and also keep Dallas RB Dez Bryant off the field so he can't make as much trouble.

7) The Pack will make at least two big plays on special teams - likely a runback for TD (compliments of Micah Hyde)  and maybe a blocked punt.  The Pack's special teams have been taking heat all year for less than stellar play and are determined now to make a statement. I believe they will!

8) There are a lot of guys who weren't on the Packers' 2010 Super  Bowl champion season team and are hungry for that special title, and the ring. They have 5 to 7 guys left from that team to encourage them to go all out - leave it all on the field. No one and done!

9) Chris Christie's "good luck" orange sweater (worn when he sits with Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones in his box)  has an expiry date on it  - and that will be today!

10) S.I. picked the Packers to win, and also beat the Patriots in the SB.

Footnote:

Wifey is still reeling from the dastardly tricks played by the Patsies yesterday in not reporting Shane Vereen as an ineligible receiver. Ravens coach Harbaugh had to go out onto the field to seek some kind of explanation and his team was penalized for it.  Steve Mariucci, on NFL Game Day this morning, did say it was "within the rules" but also said an official ought to have pointed out the ineligible to allow the defense to set coverage before the play.

This is also something the competition committee will have to address and soon. Meanwhile, any team that might have to play NE better look at that game tape closely.