We've lost so infrequently over the past couple years that I think we've forgotten how to do it. And how to cope with it as fans.
That defensive performance was about as pathetic as I can ever remember. Literally no saving grace on that front. And that's concerning. But we can acknowledge that these two matchups were particularly bad for this team and we've seen Spags' defenses look lost in the past only to make adjustments and find a way to improve to semi-respectable.
The reality is we played a NUMBER of close games like this last year and each and every time the ball bounced our way. Now, a lot of that is because we have Mahomes who has papered over endless deficiencies for the last few years, but even as a recently as last week, if Chubb doesn't fumble, do we win that game? What is the narrative like then?
Clyde looks bad. Like, even below the status of a normal JAG running back. But I don't think you can fault Andy for running the ball in that situation. It's not like the guy has a LeSean McCoy recent history of fumbling for you (or at all). It happened. It sucks.
Anyway, guys, this is no different from prior seasons. We can beat any team. We have Mahomes and 99% of the time Clyde isn't fumbling there, Butker kicks a FG, we end up winning the game, and we're all doing cartwheels and looking forward to the Chargers. It didn't happen here, but that doesn't make us materially worse as a football team.
This team ex-Mahomes has been soft. Hopefully this toughens us up. We'll be fine. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle:
We're already in field goal range. We don't need yards. We need to bleed every second possible off the clock considering how incredibly poorly our defense has performed.
Did you see how Minnesota lost yesterday?
Being in FG range means shit. Had CEH not fumbled, and Butker missed the kick, everyone here would be blaming Butker...
Instead of blaming the conservative play calling when you have the best QB on Earth and had been moving the ball at will, especially to the TE.
Christ, different situation, but we were more aggressive trying to close out a playoff game with CHAD HENNE under center than we were last night with the Half Billon Dollar Man. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15:
For a team that utilizes the passing game as an extension of the running game, who also has the best QB on the planet, when no one had covered Kelce all night, (or really anyone other than Tyreek) when you need to run the clock AND gain positive yardage...
And you give the ball to a RB who had gained precisely ONE yard in the previous 4? drives combined?
I just can't get on board with the call.
You can still do that on third down though. It was basically "burn their last timeout" playcall.
Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15:
Did you see how Minnesota lost yesterday?
Being in FG range means shit. Had CEH not fumbled, and Butker missed the kick, everyone here would be blaming Butker...
Instead of blaming the conservative play calling when you have the best QB on Earth and had been moving the ball at will, especially to the TE.
Christ, different situation, but we were more aggressive trying to close out a playoff game with CHAD HENNE under center than we were last night with the Half Billon Dollar Man.
Calling 1 run after 3 straight 1st down passes is not being conservative. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15:
Did you see how Minnesota lost yesterday?
Being in FG range means shit. Had CEH not fumbled, and Butker missed the kick, everyone here would be blaming Butker...
Instead of blaming the conservative play calling when you have the best QB on Earth and had been moving the ball at will, especially to the TE.
Christ, different situation, but we were more aggressive trying to close out a playoff game with CHAD HENNE under center than we were last night with the Half Billon Dollar Man.
Well, yeah, I was saying to my BIL at the time, just go score and then let them have to drive to score with not much time.
They just fuck around and don't put teams away. I realize you aren't going to score every possession and the other team is professional blah blah.
But this team is offensive based. I'm not expecting an 85 Bears defense, so when the D gives you the ball back up 2 scores, it's on you to go finish this fucker out. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
They just fuck around and don't put teams away. I realize you aren't going to score every possession and the other team is professional blah blah.
But this team is offensive based. I'm not expecting an 85 Bears defense, so when the D gives you the ball back up 2 scores, it's on you to go finish this fucker out.
Yeah. The defense shoulders a lot of the blame for last night but the offense needs to keep their foot on the pedal the entire game. They have the horses to do it. Start lighting teams up. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
Well, yeah, I was saying to my BIL at the time, just go score and then let them have to drive to score with not much time.
Its a delicate balance.
Score, and force the Ravens to drive the field by throwing the ball - which is their weakness - and score a TD with little time and no time outs, or...
Take the ball out of your best player's hands, give it to the guy who had gained a single yard on the previous 4 drives, and play for a 50 yard FG so they'll use their last timeout.
Very delicate. the Ravens attacked our weakness, and we didn't bother to attack theirs when it mattered most. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
They just fuck around and don't put teams away. I realize you aren't going to score every possession and the other team is professional blah blah.
But this team is offensive based. I'm not expecting an 85 Bears defense, so when the D gives you the ball back up 2 scores, it's on you to go finish this fucker out.
Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15:
Score, and force the Ravens to drive the field by throwing the ball - which is their weakness - and score a TD with little time and no time outs, or...
Take the ball out of your best player's hands, give it to the guy who had gained a single yard on the previous 4 drives, and play for a 50 yard FG so they'll use their last timeout.
Very delicate. the Ravens attacked our weakness, and we didn't bother to attack theirs when it mattered most.
It was 2nd down though on the run. If it were 3rd, I'd be more willing to agree. But it's 2nd down. You run it, they burn that TO, you can still have a down to throw if you want. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Yeah. The defense shoulders a lot of the blame for last night but the offense needs to keep their foot on the pedal the entire game. They have the horses to do it. Start lighting teams up.
I don't know what was up with Mahomes but he had a couple sub par at best drives there that probably put the nail in the coffin if we score. [Reply]