You can't compare this game to the NFC Championship. So much was different. Two different games, two different settings, and two different game plans. It doesn't make any sense to compare the two.
New England played to their strength (Tom Brady) instead of worrying about what Seattle does. Brady is their best player and they put the ball in his hand. He wasn't flawless. He made missed some throws, but he rose to the occasion. His two fourth-quarter TD drives was a privileged to watch. Good stuff. Good football.
Regarding the call, sometimes a bad call is a bad call. Marshawn Lynch is the best red zone back in football. Feed him the rock in that situation. Seattle got too cute. That was the difference in the end. Pete Carroll was worrying about what New England would do. Bill Belichick was playing to his team's strength.
Originally Posted by: porky88
I got in a debate with someone on here 2 weeks ago complaining the Packers ran on 2nd, 3rd, and then kicked 4th and 1 from the goal.
My issue is that what I so often read here or elsewhere is analysis that essentially boils down to did the play work Y/N? If it worked and you ran/passed - your run/pass was brilliant. If it failed and you ran/passed - you're a moron or not aggressive enough. How bad would Carroll have looked if Wilson was sacked at the end of the 1st half and they didn't even get 3 points. Well it worked so he's smart now (or at least as of halftime).
On Mike and Mike this morning, I think they said Lynch had something like 9 1st and goal from the 1 attempts this year for 5 yards. As I said elsewhere, there were 109 1st and 1 pass attempts in the NFL this year....1 interception. Was the play really that risky?
As far as the put it in your best player's hands thoughts. I agree to an extent, but if you have a nice new Audi you don't drive it in the snowstorm just because it's your prettiest car. Lacy or Wilson aren't chopped liver. In the Packers' case, Lacy killed clock and timeouts in a 12 point game. I'm not saying a first down wouldn't have greatly helped the Packers, just that it's not as bad an approach as it's being made out to be. In the case of Wilson, although it was intended to be a snap decision, you still have the ball in the hands of one of the most elusive QBs in the NFL if the slant wasn't there.