Having just watched the entire game again on my DVR (and with good use of the slow-motion feature).
I think the facts speak for themselves. This was a game that -- despite a an interception that gave a short field and the punt block -- was pretty much in control.
In looking at the film what I see is a breakdown at all the wrong times. Early in the fourth quarter we are mixing the run and pass well, moving the ball, and capping a drive with a Rodgers TD run and an 11-point lead. Then we give up a huge return and a TD.
We get the ball back. We start pounding the rock -- with runs by Grant and Green both converting third downs. We get to a 3rd down, Rodgers gets pressured and has to rush a throw to Havner (on the play Jackson and Jennings are on quick hitting routes, but are covered). The throw is a little high, Havner tips it, end of possession.
Then our defense gives up a sustained drive capped by a touchdown wherein Jarrett Bush gets ookied on a slant-corner route by the receiver. Easy touchdown.
We get the ball back and Rodgers gets virtually no time, takes a sack. We put together a few nice plays -- negated by a Colledge holding penalty. Boom. Third and sixteen, nothing downfield (not usually a high percentage conversion with that down and distance).
Four of the six sacks came in the final quarter. The special teams allowed a punt block TD, a long kickoff return, and a punt return into Green Bay territory with 2:07 left in the game.
Plain and simple -- we gave the game away. The playcalling was actually quite balanced. We had established the run throughout the contest. Grant and Green did a nice job. Unfortunately, on the a few of the play action plays we ended up with interceptions. One is on Rodgers -- didn't look off the safety on the backside. The other is split between Rodgers and Jennings. Rodgers probably should not have thrown it into all the coverage, but to his credit it hit Jennings on the hands. Two plays where we force it downfield -- both are intercepted. That's a tough break. It isn't inexcusable playcalling. There were instances where the downfield passing was paramount to our moving the ball -- as in the fourth quarter on a deep comeback route to Driver.
I paid special attention to the second half. If you want to argue that we forced it downfield too much in the first half, all I'll add is that it wasn't the first half that lost the game. It was the final 13 minutes. Eleven point lead in the fourth quarter.
It's shitty to lose to an 0-7 team. But it's understandable when you watch it again. We allowed relatively few yards on defense, but our special teams routinely gave up short fields. Rodgers was sacked at the worst possible times and a 3rd and 6 holding penalty doesn't help either.
A series of mistakes were compounded by bad breaks. It sucks. But the blame goes everywhere. This is a game that was taken right out from underneath us. You can't save your worst football for the final minutes of the game. The momentum shift with the special teams plays is probably the crucial moment of the game.
*edit -- a note I forgot to add is that the illegal contact/defensive holding penalty on Hawk's interception was a pretty bogus call. The contact was made at four yards past the line of scrimmage. More importantly, it wasn't a hold. We could have won the game if we took away a few big gaffes, no doubt. Blown call here doesn't help, though.
William Henderson didn't have to run people over. His preferred method was levitation.
"I'm a reasonable man, get off my case."