Game 5: Pack at Dallas - 3:25 FOX

[thomchatt3rton]

The "previously maddening call" was a run-pass-option. Rodgers chose to run.

Yep yep.

In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I believe Rodgers is running the offense and calling the plays that entire drive (and he does for all 2-minute drill/time-crunch situations lately).

[Lippo]

Facing third-and-8, the snap from center Corey Linsley was low

This is friggin' annoying too. Not only is every damn snap low, there's also nothing on it so Rodgers has to look down to get the snap and wait forever for the ball to get there. Not saying you have to fire a missile at him but you have to do better than snapping every ball at his shins.

Yeah like 3x, I wonder if he was told to keep it down due to the sun...

[WeekapaugGroove]

Lane Taylor is a hell of a find. Just wanted to re-iterate that one.

Yeah he's been the mvp of the line so far this year. He got beat a couple times yesterday but overall he's stabilized the left tackle spot. Pretty amazing for a guy who never played tackle on any level (its wild to me he wasn't a T in HS).

Props to McCray too. I didn't focus on him too much but he seemed to hold his own at guard. He's had his struggles out at tackle but maybe he's a serviceable backup inside.

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[thomchatt3rton]

Definitely a great win but lost in the glory is the 9-minute drive the defense surrendered to lose the game in most cases. Really, that pass on 2nd down from Dallas is why they lost. The defense had to get off the field and once again, did not. That needs to be a takeaway here. I was screaming at them to give up the TD with 3-4 minutes left because I knew they would, eventually. I was glad Dallas had the ball with as much time left at the start of the drive because I thought we'd get it back, and we nearly didn't.

In the end, it's a huge win because of the potential seeding implications. The Packers have a long stretch of very winnable games now. They need to pad their record because I don't want to visit Atlanta again, and I also think it's vital to be up multiple games on Detroit going into the final week. Maybe neither will matter in the end but this is why they need to win these games. They need HFA or at least a bye to make things easier on themselves for once. This defense needs all the intangible advantages it can get. Yes, it's injured, but I doubt it's ever going to be healthy. At this rate that bye will provide much-needed rest.

But either Dallas managing the clock properly or Rodgers not performing another miracle, and the conversation today is all about firing Dom Capers.

Not bad to beat a decent desperate team at their home.

IDK that DAL mismanaged the clock.

It's easy to say they would've inevitably scored a TD running the ball, but scoring a go-ahead TD with under 2 minutes left is never a guarantee.
Remember- they have to have a TD there or they lose. So from their perspective, taking a shot throwing the ball one time isn't some egregious clock mismanagement. They have to prioritize scoring the TD.
You can't overly worry about how much time you're leaving the other guy after you score before you've even scored.

Hell, DAL burned 9 minutes on that drive and scored a go-ahead TD with just over a minute left on the clock! I'm not sure you can ask for an offense to execute better than that in that situation.

(Besides, how can DAL have not "managed the clock properly" if it requires "a miracle" from Rodgers for them to lose? If you leave the other team in need of a miracle, you haven't mismanaged anything ).

[thomchatt3rton]

Facing third-and-8, the snap from center Corey Linsley was low

This is friggin' annoying too. Not only is every damn snap low, there's also nothing on it so Rodgers has to look down to get the snap and wait forever for the ball to get there. Not saying you have to fire a missile at him but you have to do better than snapping every ball at his shins.

Yeah like 3x, I wonder if he was told to keep it down due to the sun...

Thats an interesting theory regarding the sun- it's possible they did try to err on the side of keeping it low because even a slightly high snap could easily end up 12 yards behind Rodgers. Could account for how soft the snaps were too.

I wonder- does DAL put down some giant blinds in that fricking window if they're the ones driving in that direction?

[GBPackers47]

He could drop the next 3 and I'd still believe he can catch the ball after that reception today.

Am I being too hard on Jones? I feel like I'm being reasonable and everybody else is getting ahead of themselves after only one game. Oh well.

I could have phrased that better- "I want to see more of him and know what he's like in the passing game, which includes, but is not limited to, just his ability to catch the ball- how is he at screens? If we motion him out, can he run a good route? Does he understand the offense well enough to do some of these things or not yet?". Something more like that.

My whole point is that I want to see more before I evaluate him too much. That was a great catch though.

I'm with you. I think he is legit but I want to see some more. I have idiot friends in Facebook saying Monty is done and Jones should be the starter.

It's not unreasonable to want to see more. My excitement for Jones is more my excitement for the fact that we're 4-1 and first in the North, while our backups are getting real reps early in the season, and performing. Don't want to get ahead of myself since it's still early, but the experience this entire team's getting as a whole can't be underestimated.

[dools644]

Definitely a great win but lost in the glory is the 9-minute drive the defense surrendered to lose the game in most cases. Really, that pass on 2nd down from Dallas is why they lost. The defense had to get off the field and once again, did not. That needs to be a takeaway here. I was screaming at them to give up the TD with 3-4 minutes left because I knew they would, eventually. I was glad Dallas had the ball with as much time left at the start of the drive because I thought we'd get it back, and we nearly didn't.

In the end, it's a huge win because of the potential seeding implications. The Packers have a long stretch of very winnable games now. They need to pad their record because I don't want to visit Atlanta again, and I also think it's vital to be up multiple games on Detroit going into the final week. Maybe neither will matter in the end but this is why they need to win these games. They need HFA or at least a bye to make things easier on themselves for once. This defense needs all the intangible advantages it can get. Yes, it's injured, but I doubt it's ever going to be healthy. At this rate that bye will provide much-needed rest.

But either Dallas managing the clock properly or Rodgers not performing another miracle, and the conversation today is all about firing Dom Capers.

Not bad to beat a decent desperate team at their home.

IDK that DAL mismanaged the clock.

It's easy to say they would've inevitably scored a TD running the ball, but scoring a go-ahead TD with under 2 minutes left is never a guarantee.
Remember- they have to have a TD there or they lose. So from their perspective, taking a shot throwing the ball one time isn't some egregious clock mismanagement. They have to prioritize scoring the TD.
You can't overly worry about how much time you're leaving the other guy after you score before you've even scored.

Hell, DAL burned 9 minutes on that drive and scored a go-ahead TD with just over a minute left on the clock! I'm not sure you can ask for an offense to execute better than that in that situation.

(Besides, how can DAL have not "managed the clock properly" if it requires "a miracle" from Rodgers for them to lose? If you leave the other team in need of a miracle, you haven't mismanaged anything ).

You sure can ask an offense to hold the ball a little bit longer when Rodgers or Brady is on the other side of the field. This is just sportsspeak and one of the many ways coaches continue to do things they shouldn't, statistically. You just can't give Rodgers 73 seconds and a timeout - all he needed was a FG to tie.

[Profound23]

I wonder if McCarthy will ever publicly say what made him go for 2 at that point in the game. I have loved McCarthy's play-calling this year and haven't had much negative to say about a man coaching a mash unit to 4-1, but that two point conversion attempt was just strange and the risk outweighed the reward by a lot.

Also, credit to McCarthy for sticking with the run, even late on that last drive he (or maybe Aaron) called a run play when everyone was expecting pass. Usually in the past someone like Jones has a couple of good runs and Aaron is still throwing on every down.....nice to see some balance.

[rilamann]

I enjoyed the win but now that I've come back to reality, our defense might actually be worse than it was last season.

I don't think I have ever seen an NFL defense look more helpless and just plain terrible than the Packers looked on that 9 minute drive with the game on the line.Against a good ,but not great Dallas offense.

Thank God for Aaron Rodgers.

[dools644]

I wonder if McCarthy will ever publicly say what made him go for 2 at that point in the game. I have loved McCarthy's play-calling this year and haven't had much negative to say about a man coaching a mash unit to 4-1, but that two point conversion attempt was just strange and the risk outweighed the reward by a lot.

Also, credit to McCarthy for sticking with the run, even late on that last drive he (or maybe Aaron) called a run play when everyone was expecting pass. Usually in the past someone like Jones has a couple of good runs and Aaron is still throwing on every down.....nice to see some balance.

They did the exact same thing in a game last year, I believe, exact same scenario, and I didn't get it then. I think it was against Atlanta. Not quite sure. I just remember the exact same scenario and call. The "book" must say go for 2, and the book is wrong.

[M-C-G]

Definitely a great win but lost in the glory is the 9-minute drive the defense surrendered to lose the game in most cases. Really, that pass on 2nd down from Dallas is why they lost. The defense had to get off the field and once again, did not. That needs to be a takeaway here. I was screaming at them to give up the TD with 3-4 minutes left because I knew they would, eventually. I was glad Dallas had the ball with as much time left at the start of the drive because I thought we'd get it back, and we nearly didn't.

In the end, it's a huge win because of the potential seeding implications. The Packers have a long stretch of very winnable games now. They need to pad their record because I don't want to visit Atlanta again, and I also think it's vital to be up multiple games on Detroit going into the final week. Maybe neither will matter in the end but this is why they need to win these games. They need HFA or at least a bye to make things easier on themselves for once. This defense needs all the intangible advantages it can get. Yes, it's injured, but I doubt it's ever going to be healthy. At this rate that bye will provide much-needed rest.

But either Dallas managing the clock properly or Rodgers not performing another miracle, and the conversation today is all about firing Dom Capers.

IDK that DAL mismanaged the clock.

It's easy to say they would've inevitably scored a TD running the ball, but scoring a go-ahead TD with under 2 minutes left is never a guarantee.
Remember- they have to have a TD there or they lose. So from their perspective, taking a shot throwing the ball one time isn't some egregious clock mismanagement. They have to prioritize scoring the TD.
You can't overly worry about how much time you're leaving the other guy after you score before you've even scored.

Hell, DAL burned 9 minutes on that drive and scored a go-ahead TD with just over a minute left on the clock! I'm not sure you can ask for an offense to execute better than that in that situation.

(Besides, how can DAL have not "managed the clock properly" if it requires "a miracle" from Rodgers for them to lose? If you leave the other team in need of a miracle, you haven't mismanaged anything ).

You sure can ask an offense to hold the ball a little bit longer when Rodgers or Brady is on the other side of the field. This is just sportsspeak and one of the many ways coaches continue to do things they shouldn't, statistically. You just can't give Rodgers 73 seconds and a timeout - all he needed was a FG to tie.

Yeah Dak should have taken a knee at the one yard line instead of scoring the potential game winning touchdown with under two minutes. What is that clown thinking?

[rilamann]

Thank God for Aaron Jones as well, his runs were huge not only for our offense but also keeping our defense off the field.

On that 4th down toss to play to Jones in the 4th qtr, Aaron Jones and Ahman Green are probably the only 2 RBs on the Packer's roster in the past 15 years that make that play.

[MickeyDavis]

I laugh at the Dak should have taken a knee at the 1 "thinking".

[M-C-G]

I laugh at the Dak should have taken a knee at the 1 "thinking".

I hope I have been around here long enough to not have to use green font for something that stupid, because I won't do it, just won't.

[MickeyDavis]

Oh I know you weren't serious. But I've read and heard "analysis" online that was serious about that.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I wonder if McCarthy will ever publicly say what made him go for 2 at that point in the game. I have loved McCarthy's play-calling this year and haven't had much negative to say about a man coaching a mash unit to 4-1, but that two point conversion attempt was just strange and the risk outweighed the reward by a lot.

Also, credit to McCarthy for sticking with the run, even late on that last drive he (or maybe Aaron) called a run play when everyone was expecting pass. Usually in the past someone like Jones has a couple of good runs and Aaron is still throwing on every down.....nice to see some balance.

They did the exact same thing in a game last year, I believe, exact same scenario, and I didn't get it then. I think it was against Atlanta. Not quite sure. I just remember the exact same scenario and call. The "book" must say go for 2, and the book is wrong.

The decision to go for 2 is a simple equation and was the right move IMO. What you're betting on is your chances of getting the 2 on O is higher than your chance to stop a 2pt conversion on D. Had the packers kicked the extra point then Dallas would have 100% went for 2 on their next TD to try to make it a 3 pt game. If the packers had got that 2pt conversion that takes that option away from Dallas when they score. Rodgers missed the pass but it was the right call with the way the O and D were playing.

[M-C-G]

Thank God for Aaron Jones as well, his runs were huge not only for our offense but also keeping our defense off the field.

On that 4th down toss to play to Jones in the 4th qtr, Aaron Jones and Ahman Green are probably the only 2 RBs on the Packer's roster in the past 15 years that make that play.

He looks great, awesome vision. I compared him a lot to another Jones, Julius Jones

Watch on YouTube

[dools644]

IDK that DAL mismanaged the clock.

It's easy to say they would've inevitably scored a TD running the ball, but scoring a go-ahead TD with under 2 minutes left is never a guarantee.
Remember- they have to have a TD there or they lose. So from their perspective, taking a shot throwing the ball one time isn't some egregious clock mismanagement. They have to prioritize scoring the TD.
You can't overly worry about how much time you're leaving the other guy after you score before you've even scored.

Hell, DAL burned 9 minutes on that drive and scored a go-ahead TD with just over a minute left on the clock! I'm not sure you can ask for an offense to execute better than that in that situation.

(Besides, how can DAL have not "managed the clock properly" if it requires "a miracle" from Rodgers for them to lose? If you leave the other team in need of a miracle, you haven't mismanaged anything ).

You sure can ask an offense to hold the ball a little bit longer when Rodgers or Brady is on the other side of the field. This is just sportsspeak and one of the many ways coaches continue to do things they shouldn't, statistically. You just can't give Rodgers 73 seconds and a timeout - all he needed was a FG to tie.

Yeah Dak should have taken a knee at the one yard line instead of scoring the potential game winning touchdown with under two minutes. What is that clown thinking?

Had he done that, they win the game. But that wasn't the point, the criticism was of the 2nd down lob to the end zone, which was universally stupid because if it doesn't work, it stops the clock. The TD should have been run in with their horse. They had timeouts to stop the clock if they needed them.

Either they score or they don't and Elliott gets tackled. The clock keeps ticking. If they run into trouble they can choose to stop it on their own accord. They did GB a favor by passing the ball.

[Iheartfootball]

Don't need a full season, but you need more than 1.5 games. I want to know he's not a fumbler, that he knows his pass-protection assignments, see him catch some passes, see him vs a D that game plans for him a bit and has tape on him.

I agree the pure running looks legit and that he looks better than Williams. Not saying he isn't legit. Just that it's too early to know too much.

He could drop the next 3 and I'd still believe he can catch the ball after that reception today.

Am I being too hard on Jones? I feel like I'm being reasonable and everybody else is getting ahead of themselves after only one game. Oh well.

I could have phrased that better- "I want to see more of him and know what he's like in the passing game, which includes, but is not limited to, just his ability to catch the ball- how is he at screens? If we motion him out, can he run a good route? Does he understand the offense well enough to do some of these things or not yet?". Something more like that.

My whole point is that I want to see more before I evaluate him too much. That was a great catch though.

I'm with you. He's a rookie. Nothing wrong with holding him back while Montgomery, Nelson, Cobbs, Adams, Bennett, et al establish themselves first. It's kind of nice to throw a wrinkle out there mid season versus immediately. This also gives teams some tape to game plan on Jones. I'm sure he wasn't really on the Cowboys radar this week. It's way too early to crown him.

He looks legit though. Blocking looks good. Let's see if his small body can handle all the hits too.

[M-C-G]

You sure can ask an offense to hold the ball a little bit longer when Rodgers or Brady is on the other side of the field. This is just sportsspeak and one of the many ways coaches continue to do things they shouldn't, statistically. You just can't give Rodgers 73 seconds and a timeout - all he needed was a FG to tie.

Yeah Dak should have taken a knee at the one yard line instead of scoring the potential game winning touchdown with under two minutes. What is that clown thinking?

Had he done that, they win the game. .

Counterpoint, they false start or get called for holding, there is no guarantee what so ever they get a touchdown. Likely sure, but not guaranteed.