The Packers enjoyed their unbelievable Hail Mary win over the Lions, but they will need to figure out their ground game, as they will need consistency if they want to compete in the postseason.
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During Thursday’s postgame press conference, Jim Caldwell admitted that they did not expect the Packers to attempt the Hail Mary on the final play, but rather to toss the ball around the field similar to what they did on the previous play. That’s the worst way for an offense to go out. Stafford connected with Eric Ebron in the end zone for a three-yard score and a 10-0 lead with 1:53 to play in the first quarter.
The Packers got one more shot to win after Detroit defensive end Devin Taylor was called for grabbing Aaron Rodgers’ facemask on a tackle on what would’ve been the last play. If the Vikings win and tie the Packers, the season series would be tied (first tiebreaker) and they would have the division record tiebreaker. The rookie from Gadsden City High School was released by Green Bay on Thursday, with his place on the roster taken by running back John Crockett from the Packers’ practice squad.
“The arc on the ball was critical to the success of the play”, McCarthy said, adding that Rodgers’ ability to buy time and escape pressure was just as important.
“It’s the greatest feeling”.
“This one obviously ranks up there as one of the greatest joys on the field that we’ve had together as a team and personally”, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. The Lions have won exactly one playoff game in the Super Bowl era. Ngata never really got off the line of scrimmage and was a non-factor in the play.
Even if they thought it was going to be a lateral play, what is the harm in putting Johnson at the goal line just in case? If he falls short, who knows? “Try to have one jumper and everyone else form a triangle around him, try to box out some guys, try to be prepared for a tip”, said Nelson. Even some that were similar to the play in question. But according to research published by Thomas Barrabi for Fox Business, NFL referees are getting 96 percent of the calls right, the same average it has been over the last five years. You’re jockeying for position as this thing’s happening to get in front of the receiver. “We’ll see as the season goes on”.
And for Lacy, he’s fortunate he built up enough credibility in his first two seasons that he didn’t get the Alonzo Harris treatment.
COMPLAINTS: Caldwell disputed the facemask call. That gave the Packers another play with time expired. All the Lions defenders were behind him and therefore unable to challenge him for the ball, a costly move. The members of the Mara family, co-owners of the team, like Coughlin and his old-school approach and values. “I felt good about throwing it to the end zone from the 40, so I was just kind of looking at the rush and moving around”. Not as hard to do now as it was in the 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s.
-McCarthy wouldn’t say Friday who would have been the Packers’ emergency offensive lineman had another setback occurred by the end of Thursday’s game.
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But at least fans got to see an awesome Thursday Night Football game for once.
