Thursday, November 26, 2009

Halftime: Packers 13 - Lions 7

The Packers scored a touchdown on the first play of the 2nd quarter on a 7-yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers to TE Donald Lee. Packers 7 - Lions 7.

The Packers then held the Lions but, courtesy of yet another special teams' penalty, started inside their own 5-yard line. They put together a nice drive, based largely on passes. But the Packers were also aided by 2 penalties on the Lions, both of which occurred against TE Jermichael Finley. The Pack had 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line, and had to settle for a 20-yard field goal to go up 10-7. (Can someone please explain 3 consecutive passes, none of which are to the endzone?)

On the Lions' next possession, QB Matthew Stafford was flushed from the pocket and threw a pass to where he apparently thought a receiver would be. Result? Interception by Tramon Williams setting the Pack up at their own 46-yard line. The Pack took it down to have 1st-and-goal from the 9 and, for yet another time, could only muster 3 points.

So, to review, the Packers got within 5 yards of the redzone on their first possession of the game and came away without any points. A long drive in the second quarter got them a 1st-and-goal from the 8 and they could only manage 3 points. Another drive after an interception sets up the Pack with a 1st down inside the 10 and, again, they manage just 3 points. Three possessions, deep in Lions' territory, and a total of 6 points to show for that. OK, there was that 1st-and-goal from the 7 after the 68-yard toss to Donald Driver which got the Packers a TD. But really...4 possessions deep in Lions' territory, and all of 13 points to show for it. Not great. Missed opportunities. Where have we seen that before? It allows the other team to stay in the game with a chance to win long after that bus should have left town.

The Packers have dominated both sides of the ball in this half, yet the Lions could lead with just one play. This is what loses games to inferior teams. If the Packers don't turn it up a notch in the 2nd half and figure out a way to get in the endzone instead of settling for field goals, the Lions could pull out the upset.