The Fall of the House of Green Bay

Many commentators around the net have bemoaned McNabb’s completion on 4th and 26. As the long-suffering progeny of a mixed Packers/Redskins marriage, I feel compelled to add my two cents.

The real problem was not the 4th down completion. A good quarterback will sometimes make those type of plays happen. What gave me heartburn, long before the tying and winning field goals, was the coach’s decision not to go for it on 4th and 1 on the 40-yard line with 90 seconds to go.

I had no quibble with the failed 4th and goal attempt that failed – a gutsy call that, unfortunately, did not work out. Perhaps this failed touchdown attempt led to the decision to punt the ball away when a conversion would have won the game.

I think that decision was asinine. The run was working pretty well. A punt was only going to get you twenty yards. Those twenty yards wouldn’t have made much of a difference to a pass-driven last-second drive. But more importantly, the Pack should have gone for it to KEEP THE BALL AWAY FROM MCNABB!

One bloody first down and the Pack could have run out the clock and reached the Conference Championship.