RODGERS OVER AND OUT

Motor City Miracle Heave by Rodgers to Rodgers

Saves Uneven W for Pack

George Carlin once did a great routine regarding the difference between baseball and football. Baseball was, in his lilting voice, a timeless, carefree pastime that could be played in any amount of time. But when describing football his firm, stern voice depicted a militaristic march in a tightly measured unit of time that did not, would not and could not exceed 60 minutes… unless it went to sudden death.

Football is tightly measured game. Unless there is a tie it always ends after 60 minutes. Typically the Green bay Packers keep their fans around for the full 60 minutes. No matter what the Pack makes you watch for 60. Full. Minutes. No matter what, no matter the opponent.

But last night it was not overtime and it was not 60 minutes either. It was 60 minutes PLUS one play. One glorious, outrageous, ridiculous, heart stopping, mind numbing exhilarating play that salvaged a much needed win despite a horrible effort by the Pack in the first half.

It will become legend. It will be played over and over and over again. It will probably be ESPN’s “Play of the Year” and will live on into the future long after Aaron Rodgers and his golden right arm has retired. Rodgers desperation 61 yard (officially) Hail Mary, a pass that travelled at least 70 yards in the air and was so high it came down with snow was caught by the 6’4” Richard Rodgers who tracked the ball and outleapt 5 Detroit Lions to corral the toss that finally secured a 27 – 23 win in front of a stunned nation.

The Hail Mary was set up by what will be a much discussed facemask penalty against the Lions Devin Taylor with no time left on the clock. As Green Bay lined up with 6 seconds left and no time outs deep in their own territory Rodgers tossed it to his left to James Jones who in turn lateralled to Richard Rodgers who then hit Aaron Rodgers well behind everyone else. With no lateral option Rodgers took off but Taylor’s desperate grab saw his thumb and forefinger get enough of Rodgers grill to draw two flags.

Detroit fans will scream endlessly it was no foul. The NFL’s guru of officiating Dean Blandino thinks otherwise. “Whenever there is contact with an opponent’s facemask and head that play will draw a flag every time” Blandino said. The penalty itself is not reviewable and it gave the Packers one last shot, a shot Rodgers made with the pass of his life. The ball was launched from the Packer 39 and went at least 3 yards into the end zone making the straight line distance close to 70 yards… and that is without counting the height of the heave. The NFL has to be giddy along with television execs. The last 3 games played in the NFL – all national TV affairs (Denver/ New England Sunday, Baltimore/ Cleveland Monday night and Green Bay Detroit) – all ended on a spectacular walk off score each more improbable than the one before it.

Denver started the highlight reel montage with an overtime run by C.J. Anderson to put the first ding on the Patriots’ unbeaten season. The ante was upped the next night as Cleveland attempted an end of game field goal to put away Baltimore. The kick was blocked and Will Hill ran the length of the field to give Baltimore the W and then there was this, the Motor City Miracle, an instant NFL classic.

There is always a “but” when it comes to Green Bay football of late. Once the euphoria and giddiness of the miracle victory washes away the truth is the Packers offense was as Rodgers said and McCarthy concurred “…terrible…” in the first half. For the record the Lions took a 17 – 0 lead into the half and extended the lead to 20 – 0 with just under 22 minutes to go before the Packers began their improbable march to a much needed win. How important was the win? Had Green Bay lost this game, and they certainly looked for 60 mutes as if that was the case, the Packers chances to make the playoffs would have dropped to 66%. The win turned that number on its head and now the Packers are at a statistical 92% to make the playoffs.

“Statistics are for losers” an emphatic McCarthy said after the game. Some tell a story that can’t be avoided. Eddie Lacy had an awful outing and found a place in McCarthy’s doghouse and on the bench. McCarthy tends to speak in staccato bursts of half sentences and declarations and when he was asked why freshly signed from the practice squad RB John Crockett was in and Lacy wasn’t McCarthy brusquely responded by saying about his bell cow in Lacy “Didn’t have a very good week.” According to NFL Network Lacy and RB Alonso Harris had both violated curfew the night before the game and McCarthy blew his stack. Harris was released, Crockett was signed, Lacy was benched and Green Bay has brought in former Bronco RB Montee Ball for a workout.

Green Bay opened flatter than an open week-old bottle of beer. The defense played nobly and McCarthy showed some moxie by inserting rookie LB Jake Ryan into the starting lineup. Both Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis also saw playing time and although they didn’t connect Rodgers took a few shots deep to the speedy Janis. But the Pack was sluggish, lethargic and so outplayed a furious John Kuhn was seen in a rant at his offensive mates on the bench.

Ironically it was touchdown that landed Green Bay’s other back on the bench along with Lacy. In the 3^rd quarter after driving the Pack to the Lions 8 James Starks took the handoff and promptly fumbled the ball forward. An alert Randall Cobb jumped on it to give the Packers an ugly TD. At this point style points are out the window and as McCarthy said – “Stats are for losers.” Catching a small break had this play occurred on 4^th down the forward fumble would not have been allowed. No matter how ugly it was 7 points were recorded and gave the Packers the first beat in a heart many had considered this team was lacking.

After kicking off on the Lions first play after the Pack scored Julius Peppers beat his man on an outside rush, grabbed Lion QB Matthew Stafford’s hand and forced a fumble that was pounced upon by rookie Jake Ryan. The Packers fortunes began to turn when Rodgers targeted and found the much maligned and widely criticized Davante Adams over the middle on a skinny post route. Adams did not drop the ball and the Packers heartbeat grew louder.

The Lions extended their lead to 23 – 14 on a Matt Prater field goal.

Who knows what causes momentum swings? How does a team so thoroughly whipped in one half can suddenly find the mojo it had been missing for over a month? It’s difficult to label the Lions effort as a collapse; Green Bay made their own breaks and took advantage of every one.

It helps when one their best player suddenly catches fire. Aaron Rodgers capped an 11 play drive with a 17 yard sprint to the end zone to make a game of it. The drive was extended when Rodgers hit Randall Cobb on a sideline sprint on 4^th down to keep the Pack’s hopes alive. The drive looked like a drive associated with the Packers and the score had momentum clearly on the Pack’s side. The Packers turned the ball over to the defense with just over 3 minutes left and a full complement of time outs.

Once again the Packers forced another 3^rd and long situation. Yet once again the defense allowed a 3^rd and 12 pass by Stafford to TJ Jones for 29 yards up the middle and the Detroit faithful was delirious. Green Bay burnt all of its timeouts along the way and the Lions were able to squeeze the clock down to 23 seconds before giving Rodgers and co. one last shot.

Over the years Packer Nation and the rest of the NFL has grown accustomed to Rodgers leading Green Bay to bog wins. Even the most diehard fans had this one buttoned up in despair. But 23 seconds plus one play is all a plyer like Rodgers needs. On his first two throws the Lions countered with solid defense. They had the Packers out the door and their first sweep of Green Bay in two decades in their pockets. The cheering was already in place as Rodgers was tossed like a rag doll to the turf with the Lions the apparent victors.

Until.

Taylor’s body language gave it all away. As soon as Rodgers hit the turf Taylor’s head and eyes went skyward as his arms flapped in helpless frustration with himself for the gaffe. Not one but two flags hit the turf and the call by referee Carl Sheffers was almost immediate.

In order for the Packers to pull off the play of the year Detroit had to put out as poor a defense as imaginable. The Lions aided the packers by rushing only 3 and thankfully kept 2 men outside thinking the Packers were going to attempt another multi-lateral play. They also kept their best player – and tallest player – Calvin Johnson on the bench and not in the middle of the bomb’s target. Davante Adams had already begun to box out his man and as the Lions aided the Packers’ cause by playing behind the Pack’s receivers and leaving Richard Rodgers alone to set up for the grand finale.

“Greatest play I’ve ever seen since I’ve been here” said a drained McCarthy. Rodgers was so out of breath he could barely speak afterwards. Green Bay can now enjoy a 10 day break to heal and enjoy the win. They have a ton of work to do to keep their ship in the right direction. The Pack is not out of the woods yet and still far from it. Lacy’s issues need to be worked out. The offensive linemen – 4 of the starting 5 were out collectively at one point – and the passing game needs to re-establish itself. A play like this can be the catalyst they have been seeking. They’ll take the win…but… It’s only one game.

But it was one helluva finish to that game.