"Greg C." wrote:

I knew this thread was coming, especially with Brian Billick, the king of the coachspeak announcers, calling the game. He was harping on the difference in the running games all day long, and yet, with less than one minute left, the score was tied, and that was with the Packers having committed the game's only turnover--a fumble at the Falcons' one yard line.

So the lesson we get from this is that the Falcons won the game because they have a better running game? Give me a break. This is not the 1970s, folks. The pass-happy Packers moved the ball more effectively today then the Falcons did. The Falcons won because they made a couple of big plays and the Packers kickoff coverage team made the big mistake.

"Greg C." wrote:

"Greg C." wrote:

"Greg C." wrote:

"Greg C." wrote:

...
That rate might not doom the Packers, but in three of their four losses, the result might have been different had they gotten another yard. For example:

Washington, 16-13, OT: The offense failed threw times to score from the 1 in the second quarter, giving up the ball on downs, and in the third quarter failed on third-and-2 at the Washington 18, settling for a field goal. Later in the quarter, it failed on third-and-1 at the Washington 29, settling for a 48-yard field goal, which Mason Crosby missed.

Miami, 23-20, OT: In the fourth quarter, it failed to convert a third-and-3 at the Dolphins 8, settling for a field goal, and gave up a sack on third-and-2 at its 30 with the game tied.

Atlanta, 20-17: Failed twice on quarterback sneaks near the end zone in the second quarter, losing the ball on Aaron Rodgers' fumble on the second one, and failed to complete passes on third and fourth downs with 1 yard to go inside Atlanta territory in the fourth quarter.

The loss to the Falcons has brought those short-yardage failures to light.

"Obviously, I'm not happy with our production from our group," offensive line coach James Campen said. "Last week was not acceptable."