Gut Reactions: 2014 Week 14 vs The Falcons

Gut reactions to the Green Bay Packers' 43-37 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.

Aaron Rodgers connects with Jordy Nelson by Jeff Hanisch—USA TODAY Sports.

Aaron Rodgers connects with Jordy Nelson by Jeff Hanisch—USA TODAY Sports.

  • The Packers were leading this game 31-7 at halftime. 
  • Before we get all hot and bothered about the defense, and we will, let's pause and recognize that the offense did score 43 points and march off 502 yards.
  • I was having flashbacks to Plaxico Burress torching Al Harris and Mike McCarthy refusing to do anything about it. 
  • Very interesting to see James Starks get the bulk of the carries late in the game. Lacy apparently injured his hip. 
  • Speaking of Starks, does he have fresh legs or what? Fantastic burst on nearly every carry. 
  • Love that play where Jordy Nelson makes the safety look foolish. You give him a free release off the line and you're just begging for trouble. 
  • Julio Jones put up 11 catches for 259 yards and a touchdown. 
  • Are we sure Sam Shields passed the concussion protocol? 
  • The offensive line was just outstanding. A hiccup here and there, but overall, those guys did work. 
  • That 3rd and 17 that ended up going to Quarless down the seam? Yeah. That. 
  • I was glad ESPN showed a close up of Julius Peppers late in the game, because I wasn't sure if he was playing. 
  • Obviously, it's disheartening to see the defense pretty much fall apart in the second half. It echoes what we saw down in Miami. But don't forget, this is a Falcons offense that destroyed the Cardinals last week, who have a very good defense. Matt Ryan is no slouch. 
  • The disappointing thing is watching our supposedly deep secondary get exposed again and again. 
  • I will say, mad props to Davon House. He gave up the one play on 4th down, but otherwise he was the only guy, not Shields, not Tramon, not Hayward - who played well against Jones. 
  • Rodgers extending plays is going to take the Packers a long way this year. It's nearly unstoppable. He's just so damn good. 
  • That last field goal, while not a great decision to kick there, was big time from Crosby. That's a tough kick. 
  • Will be interesting to see the mood from Packers fans this week. Just remember, it's still one win. No more, no less. Yes, there's lots to fix coming out of this one, but this team has shown it can do it. 
  • Bring on the Bills. 
  • Go Pack Go. 

 

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Comments (64)

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Bearmeat's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:09 pm

Julio Jones is great. Matt Ryan is good. Shields didn't look himself. The Falcons are bad. The Packers were disinterested.

The week after the biggest win they've had in 3 years, Green Bay was up 31-7 at Halftime. It was a blowout and they checked out on both sides of the ball. The stats (nor the scoring) in the 2nd half just plain old don't matter.

It's not like ATL exposed a physical or gameplanning deficiency that is dogging GBs D... they just stopped....trying until it got close again. GBs secondary is very, very good. I'd be much more worried if it were the run D again.

Bring on the Bills with a renewed sense of urgency. Any given day could have bitten GB in the butt tonight.

What a boring game. Did anyone else even notice that this was a shootout?

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Idiot Fan's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:27 pm

I'm pretty much in agreement. My only real concern is that the Dline couldn't get ANY pressure on a mediocre Oline. Even the hits/sacks were coverage-related.

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4thand1's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:33 pm

The Packers o-line won this game

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murphy's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:36 pm

Let's hope Dom was dialing up the Vanilla Wafer package to keep all the good plays under wraps until the playoffs.

Honestly, though, Jones has been phenomenal of late, and Atlanta is vying for the division title. They had every reason to play their hearts out tonight, and did. This shouldn't surprise anyone.

Wasn't it the big scary Lions who needed a last second comeback to beat the Falcons in London?

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D.D.Driver's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:47 pm

Bring on the Bills, indeed. That has "trap game" all over it. (Short week, on the road, against a quality opponent in a "must win" situation). I'll be very happy if the Packers get the win, but can we all agree not to jump out the window if the Bills sneak a win?

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@ballark's picture

December 09, 2014 at 04:01 am

Nailed it. Made me laugh too. +1

I will add:

Eddie Lacy was positively crazy tonight. Trucking people. Spin moves. Crowd chanting, "ED-DIE, ED-DIE". Unreal...most exciting NFC North back since Barry.

I'll amplify what people are saying (including on this website) with this statement: Aaron Rodgers is doing to football what Michael Jordan did to basketball. The best I've seen in my lifetime. The most accurate passer I've ever seen. His awareness in the pocket, also, the best I've seen. I'm not sure if his line communicates with him, but he seems to know, at all times, what's collapsing, what lanes are free. And like Jordan, he seems to be the most competitive guy on the field. His focus, fire, mental state seems a notch above.

The O-line. This week, few if anyone talked about the fact that Sitton (still) has a torn toe and Lang (still) had a shitty ankle. These guys just play through it and say nothing. Animals. Loved Gruden calling out Bakhtiari on the Lacy TD ("he's STILL blocking an Atlanta Falcon..."). All five guys are playing totally out of their heads.

Kudos to ESPN for the camera shots showing how Lambeau Field is across the street from people's back yards. I love everything about this team, its city, its fans. Go Pack Go.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

December 09, 2014 at 07:54 am

I just wish Eddie did/attempted more trucking. It seems (to me, at least) that he's looking for a juke/spin/stiff arm most of the time.

If that were to happen I think the plan to have James Starks come in as an even quicker/faster bruiser would work even better.

This is not a complaint.

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Lphill's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:11 pm

I figured a close game, I felt the Defense wore out a bit from the Pats game, but shields was not good tonight, House made plays when he took over. cant always win by 25.

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Nerd's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:10 am

House matches up physically with Julio Jones.

Jones has about 1.5 feet and 80 lbs on Shields.

House is always tough. He battles and has a short memory, but he always gives up one or two big plays.

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murphy's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:12 pm

Jones put up more yards against the Pack than against the Cards, but fewer wins. I'll take it.

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4thand1's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:13 pm

Not every game will be a blow out. It was for a half and that's what won the game for the Packers. I've seen enough football to see momentum swing. The Packers did enough to win. They R-L-X-A-X-E-D a little to much tonight.

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barutanseijin's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:16 pm

House looked good. Shields did not.

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4thand1's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:16 pm

House had a sure int with good coverage. Also Shields had a 100 yard pick 6, but Hyde knocked the ball down.

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Nerd's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:10 am

Ryan threw us a number of them, but we only got one.

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lebowski's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:17 pm

Too bad that it's been almost two years since Hayward was relevant. Was excited to see his jump but he's pretty much a non factor at this point.

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Nerd's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:12 am

He's getting back to where he was imo.

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Farts_After_Wins's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:18 pm

*poot*

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murphy's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:25 pm

It's always a pleasure to hear from you.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

December 09, 2014 at 07:59 am

Ha!

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:25 pm

We obviously needed to put Datone on Julio earlier in the game.

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:30 pm

Also, anyone else notice how few "dislikes" there are now days. Seems like every comment got an immediate dislike before but not so much any more. Did someone mooove off this page?

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Bohj's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:30 pm

- As a friend of mine said tonight...... Hope Megatron wasn't taking notes.
- In any given season there is usually a late season let down by hot teams. If this is the "let down"........ We will all take it.
- Get the d refocused and shore up a few key plays. I'm sure capers will go into a diatribe about adversity football....like all the fourth down conversions. But ultimately this will be good for December and January football.
- Don't care how we do it.. Just keep getting " W"s
- This team knows how to win. One week its the offense....one week its the defense...some weeks its both. I like that we're getting contributions from all squads.
- Slocum.....props where props are deserved.
- That jordy post thing seems to keep killing cover 2s
- Stay one game ahead of those chicken hawks
- This team is fun to watch

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Nerd's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:14 am

I honestly felt like the defense was exposed.

Dom figured out how to do it with smoke and mirrors during the bye. It lasted about a month. Now it's been figured out and put on film for the rest of the league.

Julio Jones uncovered over the middle? Wow.

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4thand1's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:30 pm

The Packers lulled themselves to sleep.
Reminder 10-3. Cow must be chomping at the bit to post something, go ahead skippy, we know you're reading this.

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badaxed's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:49 pm

Cow jumped over the moon.

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4thand1's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:36 pm

Dam barnburner, I was going to go to bed after halftime but the game got close and couldn't stop watching it. 5 hours of shut eye now. G'nite.
GOPACKGO

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Otto's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:36 pm

This is an incredible new wrinkle from Capers. Let their premier receiver catch so many passes and get so much yardage, his body breaks down by their 3rd qtr.

I'm not sure I'm totally on board with it, but that's why he's a defensive genius. I would have double covered him, but what do I know?

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Nerd's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:15 am

I thought the "let them run as much as they want, you have to throw to win in today's NFL" philosophy was crazy. But, damn!

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jbromusic's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:51 am

good one otto. glad i wasn't drinking anything when i read your capers comment! LOL

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

December 09, 2014 at 06:10 am

Julius Peppers (IIRC) hit Julio Jones on his last reception and Jones left the game and did not return after that. Actually, it was one of the few things I saw Peppers do all night.

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

December 09, 2014 at 07:12 am

That was Datone, not Peppers. So Peppers really didn't accomplish much of note.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

December 10, 2014 at 01:49 am

Oops! Yeah, it was Datone.

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D.D.Driver's picture

December 09, 2014 at 10:47 am

The old rope-a-dope. Jones punched himself out.

Genius.

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Jeff Bercovici's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:38 pm

Peppers takes plays/quarters/games off. It was always the knock against him at Carolina and Chicago and it's very much the case now. If he gave the kind of effort Matthews and Daniels do, he could take over practically any game, but if he were that kind of guy maybe he would't have as much left in the tank at 34. I guess that's the deal with him. Let's just hope he doesn't loaf in January.

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sonomaca's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:56 pm

I think Peppers is getting a bit tired. Has had many snaps this year. A first round bye would certainly be helpful.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

December 09, 2014 at 06:14 am

Peppers played 623 snaps (74.2% of defensive snaps) going into this game with Atlanta. CMIII had played 650. That is too many snaps for Peppers. Need a healthy Perry and Neal (maybe Elliott as a situational player) to step up some.

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aj's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:02 am

If you've ever played sports at any level, you would understand how difficult it is to play football like Clay. I'm really not worried about him taking plays off in the playoffs as that's why he came here.

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Nerd's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:16 am

It's easier when you juice.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

December 09, 2014 at 08:04 am

"I'm really not worried about him taking plays off in the playoffs as that's why he came here."

That's what I'm hoping for. I knew I wasn't the only 1 noticing his lack of effort. This has been going on since pre-season. He chooses his games/plays, but when he brings it - he really brings it.

Also, I think it's up to Neal/Perry to push for even more snaps. Can we really blame the coaches for playing Peppers as much over any other OLB not named Matthews?

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Klincker's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:38 pm

The Eagles game had a similar score at halftime, as this game tonight. I figured the Eagles woulda came back and put up a fight, the way the Falcons did tonight. Albeit, Sanchez doesnt really scare me. However, what I expected a few weeks ago, happened tonight, and the result, sort of evens itself out. You cant blow out a team at half-time and expect to coast in the 2nd half all the time. Tonight it caught up with us. Put it in the bank, live and learn, on to Buffalo.

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Zub's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:43 pm

Looks like Brad Jones played more than Hawk. If you are Hawk, I would be making plans for a new team next year

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lucky953's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:46 pm

I dunno. Did you see Jones play? I think he should be looking for a new home next year.

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PackerAaron's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:59 pm

They'll both be gone.

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NickPerry's picture

December 09, 2014 at 06:44 am

Best comment of the night so far.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

December 09, 2014 at 08:06 am

Who will be the MLBs in that case???

That's rolling the dice.

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Otto's picture

December 11, 2014 at 12:29 am

Rodgers said Hawk has been playing injured this year. (Tues w/Aaron) That's why he's had such a bad year.

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sonomaca's picture

December 08, 2014 at 11:55 pm

Matt Ryan is a top 5 QB and Julio Jones may be the best receiver in football (at worst #2), so please don't beat up on Pack secondary too much, especially since Shields wasn't himself.

No one worried about Lacy's injury?

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TommyG's picture

December 09, 2014 at 05:04 am

Nobody should be too surprised that Atlanta's passing combo ate up the secondary like that.

Not too worried about the injury... yet. Let's wait and see what the report is when that comes out. I am optimistic. What ever it was that happened to his hip was not bad enough that he was taken off the field early. Or was it? I can't remember. That game ended at nearly 1am here!

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Mojo's picture

December 09, 2014 at 12:05 am

First of all I'm glad we got the W. The o-line has been outstanding as well as numbers 12, 87 & 18. Starks showed great burst tonight. What speed around the edges. But he's got to keep the ball tighter or he'll eventually get in trouble. Still great game from him.

Now on to the negatives. As Idiot mentioned, the pass rush was a disappointment. Especially against a patchwork o-line for Atlanta.

Barrington looked lost at times. And with predominately nickel & dime coverage how could they connect on so many slants and crossing routes. At times there wasn't a defender in sight. And this with Julio in single coverage much of the time. As someone said this D reminds me of the 2011 version.

Can we win the whole thing with this D? If we do it's because ARod and the o-line are playing lights out. Else, we're in trouble.

The D last week was one step forward, this week two steps back.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

December 09, 2014 at 03:39 am

You judge Matt Ryan all wrong, he is a terrific slouch.....

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@ballark's picture

December 09, 2014 at 03:57 am

Packers need to be very careful against the Bills. Best front four in football.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

December 10, 2014 at 07:51 am

But that offense though...

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TommyG's picture

December 09, 2014 at 05:11 am

- The "Hangover" from last week played out tonight in the second half.
- The O-Line is playing out of their minds, and allowing AR to do the same.
- For a moment I thought we might see two 100 running backs. Lacy and Starks both looked incredible running behind our line and the great downfield blocks.
- Toss play to lacy, please go away.
- Jordy is playing like his contract is up at the end of the year!
- Special teams showed up tonight. Blocking a FG and taking care of that onside attempt were difference makers.
- Players love the week leading to a MNF game because they get an extra day off. Well, now we have a short week to get ready for an away game. Thankfully the bills do not pass like the Pats and the Falcons are want to do.
- Hadn't seen a shootout in a while that Packers ended up winning.
- If a team loses for a different reason each week, that is the mark of a bad team. A team that wins each week for a different reason, that's a complete package.

GO PACK GO!!!

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TommyG's picture

December 09, 2014 at 05:23 am

Blocked extra point.

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RCPackerFan's picture

December 09, 2014 at 06:33 am

Great first half. Not so great second half.

Pretty much felt like to me that they felt they had the game won and just lost focus.

I'm not really concerned with anything from the game, except for the lack of a pass rush. To me that is what killed the defense in the 2nd half. They couldn't get any pressure on Ryan.

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MarkinMadison's picture

December 09, 2014 at 06:38 am

Davante Adams kind of disappeared last night.

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RCPackerFan's picture

December 09, 2014 at 07:12 am

I brought it up last week, but I wonder if Adams (right now) is the type of WR that needs to get touches early to get in rhythm with Rodgers.

His 2 biggest games this year have been when he was involved early in the games.

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Bohj's picture

December 09, 2014 at 08:29 am

The kid has 423 yards on the season. I know he only had one catch last night and a few missed route assignments, but the kid is playing as well as to be expected for a rookie. The game plan didn't need to shift to him as much because guys were open all over the field and Aaron was clearly nailing them. This is one of those offenses where different guys are going to get there's. There is hardly enough to go around with all the playmakers. Reminds me of 2011 when some days it was Jennings.... Some days it was Jones and some days it was Nelson. We will see this type of output depending on coverage going forward.

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MarkinMadison's picture

December 09, 2014 at 01:13 pm

One catch on four targets is what I'm talking about. I get that this is a very diverse offense.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

December 10, 2014 at 07:53 am

Some of those targets were off. Similar to a few of his targets against the Patriots.

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White92's picture

December 09, 2014 at 08:53 am

Love me some D House. Dude has a high ceiling.

Seemed like very little pressure on Ryan. The few times they did, he panicked.

Not too concerned about this one. Atlanta's offense is good, and my guess is that with a big lead, Capers didn't want to put too many unscouted looks on tape.

Keep rolling!

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lucky953's picture

December 09, 2014 at 09:10 am

That's a good point. I don't spend a lot of time analyzing packages and coverages, but I had a feeling it was pretty "vanilla" in the second half. When other teams look at the tape, I imagine they'll be saying, "where's our Julius Jones?"

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lou's picture

December 09, 2014 at 09:30 am

This could have been "the trap game" but it was not fortunately. Shields even when healthy has not played to his $9M salary this season. House has only 2 problems, he can look like a top cover corner one week (this week) and disappear the next (makes it hard for Ted to decide on his 2015 status), and he obviously never played WR, just can't catch the ball when it is thrown to him. Even with overall sub normal CB play, Dom has to shoulder the blame, he did not EVEN ATTEMPT TO ADJUST TO JONES (excluding benching Shields very late in the game). At least pressing him at the line of scrimmage may have given the pass rush a better chance to get to Ryan.

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Tundraboy's picture

December 09, 2014 at 04:01 pm

Hey 10- 3 is 10- 3 but talk about mixed emotions. First half was great of course and seemed almost boring (I hate to say that) and second half was beyond aggravating to watch. Guess it's good we got that out of our system and I hope it was just perhaps because of the reasons everyone is mentioning, Players coasted, Capers vanilla D and the whole scouted concept. Still it was hard not to see that there was no inside pressure at all. Pass rush was like years past, always arriving from the outside and a moment too late. D was so predictable at times you could see Ryan had a comfortable pocket the entire second half and he took advantage of it. Never thought we would see the D back to being predictable.

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