The Key to Why We Lost
 

Boy,

Stecker did a great job today! Seriously, If a regular fan like me knows that in a wet and muddy game you power run, why did Payton keep throwing? Chicago used the power run and won. Where was Deuce? He had what 5 carries and did well each one.

We should have used Stecker's roster spot for Jamaal Branch and run it with Karney down their throats like they did us and use the FG and field position to our advantage.

Prime example: The key drive where we lost was Cundiff's FG try. We threw the ball 3 times before that kick. If we would have run the ball for extra yardage, Cundiff would have had extra room for the kick and we would have gone up 17-16. The safety and all that afterwards would ahve not occured.

We beat Philly with Deuce and we didn't even TRY Deuce today. Branch and Deuce could have hammered them all game long.

In the first half we struggled and kept throwing. When you need positive momentum, you run the ball and get 3rd and short. Payton was totally pig headed to not go to Deuce when it was obvious we needed it.

Yibiddy Dibiddy turnovers, not pounding the rock is why we lost...period.

RE: The Key to Why We Lost
 

watch the papers tomorrow and see duce played hurt from the first quarter on. that is a big reason. we dumped the run and got pass happy against a great defense. end of story. I do not know if branch would have made a difference when shawn decided to dump the run.

Re: RE: The Key to Why We Lost
 

Dump the run? We never did run. That's my point. Even if Deuce was hurt he ran fine when he got the ball. Branch is 6-1 230 and would have gotten north-south yards for us like Benson. We abandoned the run on Monday knowing we were playing a tough D in a muddy, grass field with probability of snow. We had a great season and we'll improve our D for next year, but for the life of me I will never understand how something so basic as power running in a muddy, wet game was never considered or even left as an option. REDICULOUS!

If we would have used our power run more we would be in the Superbowl. That was a foolish gameplan.

RE: Re: RE: The Key to Why We Lost
 

It wasn't a foolish gameplan.

Coach Payton is a great coach and if he was passing all game then there was a good reason for it. Deuce was hurt so we had to adjust on the fly. Not only that we were playing from behind for the entire game. Power running wasn't a real option, expecially against a Bears offense that can score so quickly. We needed to be up on them. The turnovers were the reason we lost.

I hope that's just frustration talking and you really don't think it was a bad gameplan. The better team won today because of turnovers.

RE: Re: RE: The Key to Why We Lost
 

okay so in the second half we did not get away from the run? i do not know which game you were watching.
yes turn overs were key.

Re: RE: Re: RE: The Key to Why We Lost
 

http://blackandgold.net/site/themes/bandg/images/blox1.gif

No, not emotion...logic. I'm sure Payton wanted to create mismatches and that's great. Activating Branch and using him in Stecker's spot allows you to go to the power game and/or still have a power back in a muddy, wet game if Deuce does get hurt. If you keep in Stecker active and Deuce gets hurt, then you have Stecker and Bush and are forced to pass. Branch would have been an insurance policy. Additionally, when things were rocky in the first half we could have attempted to run the ball...at least try it...to get 1st downs or 3rd and short. Belive me, Bellichick would have not only tried to run, but would have a contingency plan in case power running was necessary. We weren't set up for it nor did we even test those waters and we lost.

Forgive me for being slow but I didn't know that Duece was injured. What happened?

he came up with a slight limp early in the first and never seemed the same. More than once i saw him go to the side line favoring that leg.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: The Key to Why We Lost
 

Three plays that broke the Saints backs: That fumble that wasn't a fumble by Lewis; the safety; and the sack that lead to a missed field goal.
As much as I hate to bring up the refs, only ONE flag thrown on Chi? We couldn't get a holding or pass interference for nothing! And of course that non-over turned call as BS. And seemed like everytime they got together and discussed a play, it was to the Bears benefit.
But it's over. Got a long off season (unless the Hornets pull a mircle of there assests), so this is gonna sting for a while (no pun intended).

Re: RE: Re: RE: The Key to Why We Lost
 

It's as simple as turnovers. Whether or not you think he had a good gameplan is really a moot point. Whatever gameplan he had, had to be adjusted after the turnovers. I'm quite sure he didn't mean for Drew to have to throw so many passes, but we weren't having trouble moving the ball. We were having trouble holding on to the ball. Coach Payton can't stop Drew, Colston, or the Beerman(although that one was questionable) from fumbling. That's where the game was lost, simple as that.

Payton could have had his power running going all he wanted. If we had fumbled 4 times we still would have lost.