When the Ravens scored, I was afraid that they would go for 2, get the 2 points, and win the game. I would rather have taken my chances in overtime. So that suggests that maybe Harbaugh made the right call; it just didn't work out. It wasn't a great play call, however. They had backup QB Huntley roll right, which as many have pointed out, took away half the field. Marquise Brown was open in the back of the end zone, but Huntley apparently did not see him because of the roll to the right. And after the great day TE Mark Andrews had, I suppose everybody including the Packers suspected they would go to him on the 2 point attempt. And they did. Darnell Savage immediately broke for Andrews as soon as Huntley rolled right, and tipped the ball just slightly and it fell incomplete. The throw looked off to me, so I am not sure it would have been completed even without the tip. But consider the overtime option. The Ravens have one of the best kickers in the league in Justin Tucker, while the Packers' Mason Crosby has had some "issues" this year. The Ravens were at home, with some momentum after tying up the game if they had kicked the extra point. So I come back to the conclusion that Harbaugh should have taken the point to tie the game, and rely on overtime.
But back to my being torn about the game. On the one hand, the Packers won a game against a pretty tough opponent, on the road, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff berth and they also won the NFC North. So that is all to the good. And, the Packers got some help with both the Cardinals and the Buccaneers losing. This gives the Packers a one game cushion for the first seed in the playoffs, leading the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Cardinals and Rams by a full game. In case they manage to lose one of the next three games, they might still get the first seed, depending on tie-breakers.
But I can't just ignore the negative parts of the game. More special teams miscues. Plus, what is the deal with the Packers practically making a back up quarterback look like a sure Hall of Famer? I noticed this phenomenon almost 20 years ago, and started calling it the Brad Hoover syndrome. It seems as if the Packers are rarely able to overcome the “good fortune“ of facing a back up quarterback. On Sunday, they did, but just barely.
Anyway, I am trying to savor the win on this short week, and look forward to the Christmas day game against the Browns, and to the playoffs (with all apologies due to Jim Mora). I will be at the game on Saturday, hoping that the Packers just keep winning and end all consideration of tie-breakers. But these last three games against the Browns, Vikings and Lions have "trap game" written all over them. If the Packers continue to play like they have, I just don’t see how they are going to win most playoff games. Something needs to improve. It would help if Rodgers were getting some practice, so that the first quarter of each game isn’t a scoreless wasteland while he settles into a rhythm. And it would help if we could get Za'Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander, David Bakhtiari, and Kenny Clark back as soon as possible. As of today's press conference, it doesn't sound like Smith, Alexander or Bakhtiari will be back this week, so let's hope that at least Kenny Clark can return. And it would really help if we can figure something out and improve on the special teams problems. I normally hate to see starters playing special teams, out of a concern for getting starters injured. But A.J. Dillon was the one to secure the onside kick, with Davante Adams lined up on the same side, to effectively end the game on Sunday. And I noticed in tonight's Rams game that superstar receiver Cooper Kupp is occasionally still returning kicks. So maybe we need to go with at least some more experienced players on special teams.
Go Pack! And Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it!
