Sunday, October 25, 2009

End of 3rd quarter: Packers 24 - Browns 3

The story of the 3rd quarter for the Packers was, unfortunately, the reemergence of dropped passes, penalties and missed opportunities. Yes, deju vu all over again, kids.

For example, on the Packers first drive of the half, they converted a 3rd down play to a 1st down at roughly the Browns' 25-yard line. However, the play was negated by a holding penalty -- questionable -- on TE Donald Lee. On the next play, a 3rd and 20, Lee dropped the pass. This set up a 55-yard field goal attempt, which Mason Crosby proceeded to push wide left. Missed opportunity.

The Browns then started with their best field position of the day at their own 45. On a 3rd down pass to Joshua Cribbs, which would have been good for a first down, he fumbled the ball after making the catch and it was recovered by Brandon Chillar. The Packers eventually had 1st and goal from the 9-yard line and, yup, couldn't get the ball across the goal line. One run and 2 completed passes and still couldn't get it the endzone. (Reminder: the Packers rank a lousy 25th in redzone efficiency.) An 18-yard field goal by Crosby made the score 24-3.

On the Browns next series their best offense was penalties on the Packers: encroachment, pass interference and unnecessary roughness. This and a few good plays by the Browns eventually got them to 1st and goal at about the 1-yard line. The quarter ended with the Browns looking to score.