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Holding A Late Lead, Packers’ Defense is Dominant

Andrew Chitko by Andrew Chitko
November 12, 2011
in Uncategorized
11
Charles Woodson
Git er done!

Let’s forget about all the yards. Hell… let’s even forget about all the points the Green Bay Packers defense has given up this year. Instead let’s focus on the positive. When the Packers defense is on the field late and needs to protect a lead, they’ve been staggeringly effective for a really long time.

Think about it. Can you name the last time the Packers defense gave up a lead in the closing minutes of a game?

Let’s look at this season.

Week 9, San Diego: As Shawn pointed out in TiVo Time the Packers defense did what they needed to do exactly when they needed to do it. Although they did seem to do relatively little the rest of the game, you can’t argue with their performance late in the fourth quarter to hold on for the 45-38 win.

Week 7, Minnesota: The guys in purple got the ball with 5:26 left, down by six points. Christian Ponder and the Vikings marched from their own 2-yard line to the Packers’ 36. Green Bay’s defense was looking gassed and the crowd was going nuts. Coach Leslie Frazier took emotion out of the equation and made the mathematically correct decision to punt the ball. James Starks would go off and eventually convert on a 3rd and 7, allowing the Packers to kneel it and run out the clock.

Week 2, Carolina: With 7:20 left in the fourth quarter and trailing 23-16, the Panthers put together a nice drive that threatened the Packers’ lead. Facing 4th and four from the Packers’ 6 with 3:22 left, Clay Mathews made a huge tackle on a Cam Newton keeper, stopping the big QB for a gain of three. The teams would exchange late touchdowns and a Packers’ onside kick recovery with 37 seconds left ended it, 30-23.

Week 1, New Orleans: It irked me some how most of the mainstream media labeled this game as the Packers barely holding on. Rather, I would argue it was a largely improbable comeback that ended not only one yard short, but also a two-point conversion away from simply TYING the game. Once again, after Drew Brees had his way with the Packers in the fourth quarter, Green Bay’s defense kept their streak intact by securing the 42-34 win.

So how about last season?

Super Bowl XLV, Pittsburgh: Although I’m not proud to admit this, I was worried when the Steelers got the ball late in the Super Bowl. I was aware how many times the Packers defense had been in this situation and were successful, but dreaded the scenario of facing Ben Roethlisberger. His ability to engineer last-minute drives had me shaking, but the Packers defense refused to allow the situation to get even remotely dramatic and ended it quickly, needing not just one, but two kneel downs to ice it.

NFC Championship game, Chicago: What would have happened if Caleb Hanie finished that last drive with a TD? What if Sam Shields would have fumbled the game-clinching interception, giving the Bears another chance? Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder too much. The Packers defense did it again, late, to save the win in a 21-14 game in Chicago.

NFC Wild Card game, Philadelphia: Leading 21-16 with 1:45 remaining, Michael Vick & Co. put together a very nice drive. I recall seeing the season flash before my eyes when DeSean Jackson was running free on a pass from Vick. Out of nowhere, Desmond Bishop came and made a game-saving tackle. The Eagles would get to the Packers’ 27, when Vick decided to run a quick play instead of spiking it and regrouping. Tramon Williams’ interception and his pick six the following week at Atlanta began to make him a household name.

Week 17, Chicago: Although most of us suspected the Bears would phone it in, they decided to play their starters all the way through. Trailing 10-3 early in the fourth quarter, the Bears offense would get the ball three times with a chance to tie. They would get as close as the Packers’ 32, before Nick Collins picked off a sailing Jay Cutler pass in the final minute. In retrospect, maybe the Bears would have been fresher in the NFC Championship game had they phoned this game in.

Week 15, New England: Although one could argue this game ends the streak (or is where the streak starts), when the Patriots took the 31-27 lead there was still 7:14 left and the Packers offense got two possessions after that score. This, the Dan Connolly debacle, and Matt Flynn starting at QB makes this one an asterisk at best.

Week 8, New York Jets: The Packers shut the Jets out 9-0 in their crib when they were coming off the bye week. That’s not even on this list, but semi-cancels out the asterisk above.

Week 4, Detroit: The Shaun Hill-led Lions were worthy adversaries and the Packers held on, 28-26. The Lions would got only one possession the entire fourth quarter. With 11:34 left, they took the ball from their own 29 all the way to the Packers’ 37. Being just out of Jason Hanson’s field goal range on a windy day in Green Bay, the Lions punted with 6:39 remaining. The Packers proceeded to drive the ball down the Lions’ throat and ended it with a Rodgers’ knee on the Lions’ 14.

So let’s go back to 2009.

Week 15, Pittsburgh: Perhaps this is why I was concerned about the Super Bowl. It was this game, held on December 20th, 2009 at Heinz Field, when the Packers defense last gave up the lead to lose a game. It was an amazing game that could and likely will get replayed for many years to come. Big Ben marched the Steelers 86 yards in 2:06 and broke the hearts of Packers fans everywhere by hitting Mike Wallace in the end zone as time expired. Steelers 37, Packers 36.

Interestingly, while the Packers defense has been awesome at defending leads during this time period, the team lost all four games when the defense was required to buckle down and hold when the game was tied late — all of them in the 2010 regular season (Chicago, Miami, Washington, and Atlanta). However, other factors contributed to these loses — special teams breakdowns and one Aaron Rodgers’ interception led to short fields for the opposing offenses.

The long and short of it is the Packers have successfully defended leads late in games a remarkable nine times in a row!

I would rather the Packers blow teams out and not require the defense to come up with such crucial stops, but when it comes down to crunch time, take solace in the fact that your defense is about to show you what they’re truly made of.

In the meantime, let’s hope the Packers defense steps up their play earlier in the game and are never in a situation to add to this list. At least for a couple seasons or so, right?

Go Pack Go!

Tags: Cerebral FootballdefenseGreen Bay Packers
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Comments 11

  1. Avatar for MexicanpackFan MexicanpackFan says:
    12 years ago

    I think our D is getting spoiled by our offense and don’t play as good as they can because they know our offense can’t be stopped.

  2. Avatar for Xavier Xavier says:
    12 years ago

    MexicanpackFan

    I dont think so. They seemed pretty pissed off that they gave up 38 points to the Chargers.

  3. Avatar for mxz600 mxz600 says:
    12 years ago

    lol…Love you guys, talking about the Packers defense…being “dominating”?…Dat dare is funny, i dont care who ya r!!!!…Defense is 30th..cant tackle, gets lost in coverage, receivers always seem wide open, Cant get u[p front pressure…….Yea, be POSITIVE. I positively know…without Rodgers saving this defense ass, They’d be lynched.

  4. Avatar for Vijay Vijay says:
    12 years ago

    This still would be a dominant team in all phases with an effective pass rush. Let’s hope Mike ‘Harrell’ Neal will provide some help there in the coming weeks.

  5. Avatar for Hacksaw Hacksaw says:
    12 years ago

    Mxz 600, take your buttfucking ass back to Purple Jesus Diaries. Someone simple like you doesn’t belong here. Why don’t you use your real name Lockout 2011. Then move out of Wisconsin. I thought I smelled trash when I was driving there last weekend, so move out. I enjoy the clean air, but instead all I could smell was gay butt sex coming from your vacinity. Fuck off Lockout 2011.

  6. Avatar for I Got Woodson I Got Woodson says:
    12 years ago

    Mxz600 —

    Did you even read the article (assuming you can read, that is)? At no point does it claim that our defense is dominant. All it’s saying is that the defense has played well when the game’s on the line.

  7. Avatar for iltarion iltarion says:
    12 years ago

    I expect the Packers to play better defense starting this week against Minny.

    Burnett getting his cast off will give the Packers 11 tacklers instead of 10. Tramon is getting healthier, and Matthews is due for a big game.

    • Avatar for ay hombre ay hombre says:
      12 years ago

      I hope you’re right. I must say I’m pretty surprised the Packers are -14 with the Vikings coming off the bye. That line feels off. It’s as if the oddsmakers have drawn a line in the sand and are forcing people to pay a premium if they want to take the Packers. I’m not saying it’s impossible for them to cover, but to me the spread should be no more than 11.

  8. Avatar for Eric Eric says:
    12 years ago

    Man am I sick of everyone talking about our defense in a bad way. Did we all forget that the team with the most points wins and that has been us going back to last year ? Yards dont mean shit! What ifs dont mean shit! We actually have the highest point differential between points allowed and points scored. Why is no one talking about that? Thank you for this article to prove that when it matters we get it done. I could care less if we go down with the worse pass defense in the league with all the wins and the eventual championship.

  9. Avatar for rebelgb rebelgb says:
    12 years ago

    The Packers defense sucks and im sick of fanbois trying to sugar coat it.

    Has anyone ffing mentioned the fact that had the DEFENSE NOT GIVEN up so many points in the first place they wouldnt have to ffing HOLD the lead?? Jesus Christ man, logic for the win.

    Still love the Pack.

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