Game-Changing Play of the Week: Early Stop Proves Crucial at End of Game
A fourth-down hold by the defense was a key difference maker against the Ravens.
By TimBackes
You don't often see a game-changing sequence of plays on the first drive of the game.
But in a contest between the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens that came down to a two-point conversion try, a Packers defense that struggled all game long changed the complexion of the game by getting off the field on an early fourth-down conversion attempt.
REJECTED ON FOURTH DOWN!#Packers ball. #GBvsBAL | #GoPackGo
FOX pic.twitter.com/DjQHqjxdp7
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 19, 2021
The Ravens came out with an extremely efficient and methodical offense, slowly working their way down the field thanks in large part to the contributions of their all-world tight end Mark Andrews, for whom the Packers (and particularly Darnell Savage) had no answer all game long.
Baltimore managed to eat about half of the first quarter clock and got all the way down the field. Sensing the team would need to pull out all the stops to beat Aaron Rodgers while dealing with a hampered roster, Ravens coach John Harbaugh made the aggressive move to go for it on fourth and goal from the Packers' five yard line rather than kick the field goal.
That decision (one I agree with, by the way) ended up being one of the key differences in the game.
The Ravens attempted to get into the endzone on a designed quarterback draw with backup QB Tyler Huntley. But there wasn't a whole lot of space for Huntley to go with the football.
The Packers' defensive line got some okay push up the middle, but the real difference maker here was that both Packer ILBs Krys Barnes and De'Vondre Campbell were clearly prepared for the draw attempt. Neither one turned to a receiver, and both reacted immediately when Huntley made the move to take the ball up the middle.
With Huntley's path to the endzone clearly sealed off, he tried to bounce to the outside but never was able to get the edge as Campbell followed him all the way.
The Packers promptly went three and out on offense immediately following this, but this result was huge in the overall scheme of the game. The Ravens wasted an eighth of the game on a drive that ended in no points--that in a game decided by a single point at the end.
Despite the uncharacteristically bad performance by the defense, this single stop was a huge difference maker in the outcome.
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Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.
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Comments (13)
Lphill
December 20, 2021 at 04:17 pm
Campbell had a decent game but with Clark out Lowery and Lancaster were letting blockers get to him .
pacman
December 20, 2021 at 04:47 pm
One can make the argument that since they were 'comfortably' ahead, they abandoned smart play calling in q4 that led to the much discussed 3 and out. If it was closer, maybe they wouldn't have been so cavalier about it and the ending would have been less dramatic.
Either way, it was great to see them make the stop. As it was to make them stop the 2 point conversion.
bjkdad44
December 21, 2021 at 05:32 am
Mike ball…
packer132
December 20, 2021 at 05:13 pm
It's easy to Monday morning quarterback and say good play or bad play. But, not sure why Harbaugh went on 4th down from the 3 in a scoreless game with only 7 minutes played. You take the 3 points and there are 3 1/2 quarters left. He went for it 2 or 3 more times on 4th down and failed. In a league of parity, logic says take points early in the game as you don't know how turnovers or injuries will affect the last part of a game. I am happy for the win, but feel lucky with a few of the calls by the Ravens coach.
barutanseijin
December 20, 2021 at 05:25 pm
There’s s logic to Harbaugh being so aggressive: he’s up against a good team with an injury depleted roster. If you put pressure on the other guys and keep it up, there maybe you can win if you get a good bounce or a lucky call or the other guys just have an off night. It didn’t work out, but you gotta admit he came pretty close to pulling it off.
Minniman
December 20, 2021 at 09:52 pm
I see your point, but coming back from 2 TD’s down in the 4th should cause a rethink.
Towards the end they were getting stops and running at will by playing methodical football - they didn’t need to chance their arm.
bjkdad44
December 21, 2021 at 05:33 am
But also… game could have been different if a certain an doesn’t try to get a certain record… imho
bjkdad44
December 21, 2021 at 05:34 am
qb (not “an”)
JohnnyLogan
December 20, 2021 at 05:35 pm
They made the stop but not many afterward until the final play. The defense is a worry again. Clark missing was big but shouldn't have been that big and they have been giving up 30 points a game lately even with Clark.
Barry may have been reading his reviews but the D better get back making stops. Everyone gushes over Gary's pressures but the QB's keep getting away and making plays. A few sacks would be nice so the D can get off the field.
Minniman
December 20, 2021 at 09:55 pm
Yes, very unusual from the D. They beat better and more mobile QB’d teams by playing methodical football.
bjkdad44
December 21, 2021 at 05:36 am
Luck?
Coldworld
December 21, 2021 at 08:12 am
They also played them differently, except Fields, whom I think they were content to allow the chance to run. They seemed to view Huntley the same way, but he’s actually better when flushed not worse. He needed to be pinned in the pocket. They got that wrong and I doubt they’d repeat that approach in a rematch. They’re treat him more like Murray.
croatpackfan
December 21, 2021 at 10:48 am
TGR, if you'll go to this article, I would like to point the moment Lowry batted the Ravens pass - 1 Q, 6:02 on the clock. Thank you!