The NFC title game had no shortage of controversial moments and questionable decisions. But it seems one is flying under the radar.
Yes, Green Bay Packers coach Mike LaFleur should have decided to go for it on fourth down — rather than settle for the field goal — with roughly two minutes left in the game. That was clearly the biggest error. The play before that field goal, however, was also worth second guessing.
On a third-and-goal from the 8-yard line, quarterback Aaron Rodgers fired the ball incomplete for receiver Davante Adams, who had two defenders nearby, with one of them deflecting the pass for an incompletion. The odd part about the play? Rodgers looked like he had a clear path to the end zone. Watch the play.
Even if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t run this all the way into the end zone, he at least gets Matt LaFleur to go for it on 4th down. pic.twitter.com/eGIHVcyHiT
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) January 24, 2021
Even Rodgers wondered if he could have made it.
Rodgers says "I felt like I had a chance, maybe, to run it" into the end zone on that third down.
"I thought maybe we were gonna have four chances to go."
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) January 25, 2021
Sometimes, the broadcast provides an angle that’s deceiving. The TV makes it look like Rodgers could pick up the yardage when, in reality, he couldn’t. So let’s dive deeper. Here are two angles of what Rodgers saw on the play.
Aaron Rodgers missed this TD, or at least setting up 4th and goal from the 2-3 pic.twitter.com/O5PBweIrKB
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) January 24, 2021
Do y'all think Aaron Rodgers could have run this in???? pic.twitter.com/sA9bUATSUY
— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) January 24, 2021
Honestly, it’s still unclear.
The ambiguity led to speculation about whether Rodgers would have been better off running the ball. Even if he didn’t get into the end zone — with Bucs defenders Jason Pierre Paul, Shaquil Barrett and Ndamukong Suh in pursuit — Rodgers might have picked up enough yardage to give LaFluer the confidence to go for it on the following down. A fourth-and-3 is friendlier than a fourth-and-8 (even if, again, the Packers should have gone for it, no matter what).
But alas, Rodgers threw and it fell incomplete. The Packers offense didn’t get the ball back, with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers running out the clock and clinching their Super Bowl berth while logging adorable moments in the process.
Here’s what Twitter was saying about Rodgers’ decision on that third down.
Oh no Rodgers just run that in….
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) January 24, 2021
Rodgers throwing instead of running on third down changed everything. Even if he doesn’t get in, maybe they go for it on fourth with a shorter distance to go than 8 yards.
— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) January 24, 2021
THANK YOU, AARON RODGERS, FOR DECIDING NOT TO RUNON 3RD AND GOAL WHEN YOU COULD'VE SCORED AND FORCED AN INCOMPLETION TO DAVANTE. YOU ARE NOW 1-4 IN NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. AND SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE THE GOAT??????????????????
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 24, 2021
ESPN gotta bring back Sports Science to see if Rodgers could’ve made it to that pylon. Pierre-Paul ain’t a slow poke
NOTE: that 40-time on Rodgers is from 2005. pic.twitter.com/FUYnHt3VTj
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) January 24, 2021
Don't take your attention away from the fact that with the game on the line, Rodgers didn't run and his coach didn't go for it on the subsequent 4th down.
That's where the game was decided.
— KD Drummond (@KDDrummondNFL) January 24, 2021
Rodgers could’ve run for that 3rd down TD right???
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 24, 2021
A brutal ending for Rodgers and the Packers.
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