By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
NFC, AFC Championships marred by 2 of NFL’s greatest recurring problem
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The NFC Championship Game was decided by a blown call. The AFC title game turned on a dime, or whatever the officials used to conduct the overtime coin toss.
What next?
How about a phantom roughing-the-quarterback penalty on the game’s decisive drive? Or a “no call” when a badly beaten defensive back blatantly blows up the intended receiver on a drive that would’ve sealed the victory?
Whatever the specifics, I suspect Super Bowl LIII’s outcome Feb. 3 will be determined in some like manner. If the NFL’s all-too-often farcical officiating doesn’t bury either the Rams or the Patriots, perhaps its arcane overtime rules will.
On a day when the NFC and AFC Championship Games should have been epic overtime battles, they disintegrated into one big question mark surrounding the refs and the rules.
CBS’s Tony Romo punctuated the point upon the Patriots’ overtime-winning touchdown drive when he blurted out, “What a critical coin toss that was.”
No kidding, Tony.
The Rams’ 26-23 victory in overtime Sunday at New Orleans left the Saints and their fans stunned, if not outraged. An obvious and game-sealing pass interference call was ignored, giving Los Angeles the opening it needed to KO the Saints.
The league has since offered a public apology. Isn’t that a bit like administering the morphine after losing the patient on the operating table? It does nothing to make the pain subside, or the outcome any less disastrous.
The Patriots’ 37-31 victory in overtime at Kansas City left the Chiefs and their fans with the question, “What if Kansas City had won the toss, and Patrick Mahomes had the football first instead of New England’s Tom Brady?”
Nobody will ever know because of an ineffective, unfair and outdated overtime rule.
So what are Packers’ fans to think?
Here are a few Packers-pertinent thoughts while watching the Rams and Patriots advance to Super Bowl LIII:
** In today’s NFL offense wins games. Defense can only lose them.
The Packers’ focus must be fairly distributed on both sides of the football. However, GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur need to take an “offense first” approach.
If Aaron Rodgers and the offense don’t regain their place among the NFL’s most potent attacks the rest won’t matter.
Let’s be real. The Chiefs’ defense did as well as might be expected against Brady and Co. It still wasn’t enough. It came down to a coin toss, and whether Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense would get one final chance to KO the Patriots.
It didn’t happen.
Overtime rules aside, the Packers need to rebuild the right side of their offensive line, add a tight end, and draft a third-down running back and a slot receiver.
Then, LaFleur and his staff need to coach them up fast.
The expectation here is simple: LaFleur and Rodgers need to have the offense clicking at a dynamic rate early and often.
The Rams were 4-12 two years ago. There is no reason to think the Packers (6-9-1) can’t reach double-digit wins in 2019.
** The Rams’ defense does many things well. Perhaps its finest attribute is its tackling. Even though Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense moved the football between the 20s it bogged down mightily in the red zone.
The Saints had a chance to demoralize the Rams early, but lost the opportunity when touchdowns turned to field goals. One reason is because the Rams’ defense tackled so well in the red zone. Another reason it tackled so well it didn’t allow any big plays. The Saints had to earn everything they got.
LaFleur’s description of his preferred defense included something to this effect: “I don’t want to give up the big play.” Translation: Tackle so well they have to earn it.”
The Rams did exactly that.
** With the Saints’ loss, the Packers’ first-round draft picks will be the 12th and the 30th overall.
Packers’ GM Brian Gutekunst owns six of the top 112 selections, in addition to an expected $50 million-plus in space beneath the salary cap.
That should be plenty of ammo to restock/rebuild the roster.
** Special teams’ play can’t be underestimated.
The Rams’ fake punt – something Packers’ fans could relate to – totally hoodwinked the Saints’ punt coverage unit. That shouldn’t happen, and especially not on fourth-and-5 near midfield when the opposing offense is struggling mightily.
It’s that type of play that has killed the Packers all too often.
** The Rams’ Corey Littleton and the Rams’ Demario Davis are the type of linebackers the Packers need to find between now and training camp. There is nobody on the roster like either of those two impact players. Clearly, Blake Martinez is a tackling machine, but this isn’t meant to criticize him. It’s more about raising the question, “How good could Martinez be with a Littleton or a Davis on the field next to him?”
I’m just saying. …
** Finally, I will make my Super Bowl LIII prediction next week. Today, I’m making a Packers-related prediction: If Green Bay follows the Rams’ blueprint, which includes running the football and playing in free agency, there is no reason to believe they won’t be in this year’s NFC Championship Game.
Then, if it comes down to a coin toss or a blown call so be it.
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"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
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As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
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-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
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-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly