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PD Packer Review: Week 13/Ravens
I went to Lambeau Field on Monday night and a flag football game broke out.
The Green Bay Packers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-14 in a sluggish affair in which the teams combined for 310 yards of penalties on 23 infractions. Since the Packers and Ravens are two of the more penalized teams in the league, we should have expected to hear some whistles. But 9 pass interference calls?! Maybe two or three were legitimate. The rest involved marginal contact or else were plays in which both receiver and defender were pushing off on each other. In either case, penalties shouldn’t be called on plays where neither player gains an advantage. This game also featured the return of an old pet peeve: what I not so affectionately refer to as the “Point & Shoot Flag” in which the penalty isn’t called until 2 or 3 seconds after the play ends when someone complains about being held. Note to all NFL officials: If you don’t see fit to call a penalty as the play happens, keep the flag in your pocket.
Given the way the game was officiated, it was difficult for either team to get into any kind of rhythm. That left it to the respective defenses to dictate the tempo of the contest. The Packers got a major break when both safety Ed Reed and linebacker Terrell Suggs, two all-pro caliber defenders for the Ravens, were unfit to play because of injuries. But while Baltimore may not be the dominating defense it once was, they were still more than respectable even without their two stars.
The Packers drew first blood by taking the opening possession down to the Baltimore 10 yard line but, as has happened all season, were unable to finish the drive and settled for a 28 yard field goal by Mason Crosby. The offense was also plagued by a number of dropped passes yet still managed to take a 17-0 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to touchdown passes to tight end Jermichael Finley and wideout Donald Driver. For their part, the defense kept Baltimore off the scoreboard with a fumble recovery and interception after the Ravens had driven well into Packer territory.
The game should have been in the Packers’ control by then but they couldn’t stand prosperity. On consecutive possessions in the third quarter, Driver twice turned the ball over on a fumble and then a bizarre interception off his foot. Baltimore converted both miscues into touchdowns, the second aided by the ubiquitous pass interference penalty, to close to 17-14.
From there, it was left to the Packers continually shaky special teams to provide a few additional anxious moments. First, Crosby missed a 38 yard field goal when holder Matt Flynn mishandled the placement. Then, after quarterback Aaron Rodgers found Finley for his second TD reception of the night, the Packers again allowed a long return on the ensuing kickoff. All evening the Packers had success kicking toward the sideline yet inexplicably chose to send this one down the middle, which the Ravens returned to the Packers’ 26 yard line. Fortunately, cornerback Tramon Williams intercepted Baltimore QB Joe Flacco in the end zone to preserve the victory and the Packers tacked on another Crosby field goal for the final score.
This game may have been the key to the Packers playoff run. Despite the disjointed performance, the Packers seem to be hitting their stride at the right time with their fourth straight victory. The only dark clouds on the horizon are the special teams play, which I’m still afraid could cost the Packers a game or two down the stretch, and their continued penchant for drawing penalty flags.
While I’m at it, it’s time to throw some props to Packers General Manager Ted Thompson. I’ve taken Thompson to task many times for his failure to address certain shortcomings on the team; notably the well documented deficiencies of the offensive line. But if he is to be criticized for his mistakes, he also deserves to be lauded for his successes. Rookies Clay Matthews, B.J. Raji and Brad Jones are playing well and figure to have prominent roles the rest of the season. Finley has become a major weapon providing a tough matchup for opposing defenses. Thompson must also be credited for the signing of defensive MVP candidate Charles Woodson, and yes, the drafting of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Funny how the play of Rodgers has quieted the talk of Cal QBs not being equipped to perform in the NFL.
At 8-4, the Packers now have the inside track to the NFC Wild Card spot in the playoffs. If they can even gain a split in their final four games, 10 wins should put them in position. They still have a hard road ahead and will have to overcome their own collective team demons. But for the first time since the debacle in Tampa, they control their own destiny. Considering how they got to this point, that’s all anyone can ask.
2 Comments
Great points about TT and AR. What do you think the chances are that Ted’s detractors will recant should the team’s upward arc continue and they find themselves in the playoffs?
Another solid, well modulated piece.
I suspect they’ll simply look harder for his failures. And ‘well modulated’ is what I strive for.