Last night’s opening game, the Saints at Packers, was a fine one that took until the final play to be decided. Even that was not enough. A pass interference call in the end zone on the final play of regulation kept the Saints last drive, and their nearly perfect and perpetual comeback, alive. Drew Brees would get one last attempt, unfettered by a clock winding down, from the one-yard line, to put his team in a position to win. His number wasn’t called though, the Saints decided to run, handing the fate of week one over to their running back and offensive line. It may have been a bad call, but as any Pop Warner coach will testify, if the team can’t gain a yard on a rush, the team has more problems than just that play.
Because I cannot and will not summarize a game, for two reasons (one: an NFL games takes literally forever light years and two: this is cable friends, when I see is what I get), and I do want to talk about football briefly each week, I will pick whatever I think is interesting about a game and tell you why. If you like it, then you’ll read again, if you don’t, then I’ll be working hard for your acceptance until you do.
Here is an interesting thing: At the 9:30 mark of the 2nd Quarter, the Packers offense came out on 1st down at their own 20 (after a touchback). They were up 21-10 after a Saints field goal capped a smart drive. The Green Bay home crowd had settled after the riot of 1st quarter offense. An eleven point difference between these two (offense heavy) teams is at most marginal, at least insignificant. 1st down, Rogers finds Driver coming over the middle at 15 yards where Driver nearly pulls it down, but is popped a half a second too soon by a Saints safety, incomplete. It is the first good hit of the game, the first of a much anticipated season. The Packer crowd cools down, the Packer offense huddles, the Saints Defense rev up. Now 2nd down and 10, at their own 20, Rodgers playing like a three-winged swan but the Saints are bubbling… And the Packers run an inside draw to the fullback, gain of one-half yard. Now the Saints see red, and the odds of Rodgers completing a first down are quite low. Most likely he won’t convert, the Packers will punt (their first three-and-out of the game) and the Saints will bring back in a poised Brees with good field position and plenty of momentum. What happened was actually worse. Rodgers did not complete his 3rd down attempt, and the punting unit did come in, but Brees never saw the ball that possession. The punt was returned for a touchdown by a very short and very fast, tree-trunk legged man named Sproles. 21-17, new game.
What I find fascinating, as much as boring, is that 2nd down call for an inside handoff to the fullback. The best thing that can come of that play is a touchdown of a very long, slow and lucky variety. Most likely though, that plays goes for 2 yards and sets up a 3rd and eight. At worst, what happened, happens, a nothing gain for a nothing play, effectively a loss of down. I saw these calls happen with the 49ers a few years ago (the last time I watched regular season football until last night). Watching them (the Niners), I would see Alex Smith throw a short incomplete pass on 1st down, followed by a handoff for a short gain, followed by another incomplete short pass from Smith on 3rd down. Then a punt. I was a shocked. I grew up playing football (and virtual football in Madden) and would never fathom calling such an uninspired series of plays. I turned off the NFL for a while, moved to New York and thought I’d give it a shot again now that I am surrounded by people who have teams to get behind (sorry Bills), you know, some enthusiasm! And then last night, from the defending league champions with the current best quarterback, one of those odd series just happens at a seemingly important part of the game.
NFL rosters are large and coaching staffs are extensive. Why are plays like that 2nd down still being called by very good teams when any 8 year old with a Russell Athletic sweatshirt knows better? Why compromise a game, or even a series, when it is easy enough not to? I think there could be a few reasons: the head coach thinks that type of play will work (statistically naïve); the offensive coordinator was not ready to make a risky call on their own 20 still early in the game and with a lead (too conservative and inconsiderate of the opponent); Rodgers checked off and called the play at the line himself (acceptable, but then that should never once be repeated this season, which it will be); football is still very traditional in its play calling. It could be that 2nd down call was a combination of a few of those things, or none at all.
My point is, these types of plays are what are going to make football interesting for me again. The moments when good teams play with elegance and poise are numerous; the times when they lapse can negate it all. After an opening night of beautiful performances, I am glad to be watching football again, this time with an eye on failure and optimism because of it.
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