By Flint Wheeler
When historians remember the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field, what should it be called? “The Big Choke” would be appropriate.
How else to describe a game in which the Packers, perhaps the league’s healthiest team this season, were in total control for about 57 minutes against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks before they threw it all away?
Coaches, executives, players, staff, everyone in that locker room were walking around like zombies after the Packers collapsed, 28-22, in overtime.
“It’s terrible,” said tackle David Bakhtiari. “I’m still in shock.”
Seattle (14-4), the top-seeded team in the NFC, will meet the New England Patriots (14-4) Feb. 1 in Super Bowl XLIX. Green Bay (13-5), the second seed in the NFC, will watch from home wondering what might have been.
“That’s football,” general manager Ted Thompson said. “We felt we had a chance to add more to this organization. That’s why it’s so disappointing to lose a game like this.”
The Packers beat the Patriots on Nov. 30. Given an additional week for Aaron Rodgers to treat his injured calf and the fact they appeared to exit yet another Sunday with no new injuries, the Packers would have been in prime position to win a second Super Bowl under Thompson, Coach Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers.
The Seahawks turned the ball over five times, were penalized constantly and played neither with strength nor poise for almost the entire game.
Seattle won the overtime toss. Seattle started backed up at its 13 and, oh ya, then went 87 yards in six plays. It ended suddenly, as many overtimes do, on Russell Wilson’s 35-yard pass to Doug Baldwin behind Casey Hayward and, on the very next play, his 35-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse against Tramon Williams.
A powerful team with designs on becoming the first Super Bowl repeat champion since New England in 2003-’04, the Seahawks were flat, loosely prepared and obviously missing several key performers lost to injury.
Wilson’s passer rating at the half was 0.0. Yep, that’s not a type-o. The passing game was null and void.
The Seahawks looked inept.
“Well, for the fans in the northwest, this has got to be one for the ages,” said Coach Pete Carroll. “This is an extraordinary win because of who the Packers are.
The Packers led, 16-0, at halftime and 19-7 with just under 4 minutes remaining. Those in the record crowd of 68,538 hadn’t left, but the handwriting certainly was on the wall.
“It’s a tough situation, but something we thrived in,” guard T.J. Lang said. “We had a couple wasted possessions in the third quarter. We let them hang around. Against a team like that they’re going to cash in.”
Green Bay’s D in the 4th quarter caved. Four plays gained 60 yards. Wilson’s 1-yard TD made it 19-14. Just 2:09 remained.
“We felt good getting the ball back with 2 minutes left,” said Lang. “Then they recovered the onside kick.”
Brandon Bostick butchered his assignment to block and whiffed on the ball. The Seahawks were in the end zone four plays later, and when Wilson rainbowed a crazy-quilt conversion pass to Luke Willson Seattle was ahead, 22-19.
Rodgers, in the midst of another one of his ordinary playoff performances, moved the team 42 yards. He had three plays to win the game from the 35 at the same location and end of the field that Wilson would win it from a few minutes later.
A back-handed incompletion. A botched back-shoulder fade to Richard Rodgers. A scramble and 6-yard pass to Jordy Nelson left it up to Mason Crosby.
What a field goal it was, 48 yards dead-center perfect.
There was life in the Packers. Then came the extra session.
After the bomb to Baldwin, Seattle deployed two running backs, two tight ends and Kearse wide right. On cue, safety Sean Richardson replaced Sam Shields.
“In that formation, they go either way,” defensive end Datone Jones said. “It was 50-50 run-pass.”
Rodgers had all day to throw countless times against the NFL’s finest secondary but his passer rating was 55.8 and longest completion was merely 23 yards. The inability to strike downfield was critical to why the Packers had to settle for field goals three times in the first half.
How does one sum up a defeat of such catastrophic, appalling dimensions?
“I don’t regret anything,” Coach McCarthy said. “Hell, I expected to win the game. We were positioned to win the game.
“I thought clearly there were two championship teams playing today. It was an incredible game to compete in. It is a very difficult loss to swallow.”
It’s also one that will never, ever be forgotten in NFL all-time comebacks and especially throughout Packerland.
Founder of Silex Strategies L.L.C. providing sales and consulting in Insurance, Retirement, Real Estate and Taxes through A.I.G./Valic. PGA Class A Member and T.P.I. Certified Golf Trainer. Host of “The Tilted Sports Radio Show” on Fox Sports 1270 from 3-7pm on Thursdays, Live from The Kilt. Contact at 760-409-4612 www.flintwheeler.com
