Sadly I was relegated to listening to the game on WFAN, with gamecast on the monitor. Just a few thoughts on the game from a listener's point of view.
1. It was a good game and lived up to the hype of one of the 2 or 3 most important games of the season. It is a crime of omission that this was not available nationally and both cable companies and NFL are guilty of greed and coercion....
2. The game showed both team's strengths and more glaringly their weaknesses. Both teams are good going forward and both have problems in the secondary (GB more because of lack of depth without Woodson). I expected GB to have a pass rush, but none was evident in the game and Romo was left to do his thing unchallenged.
3. TO had spectacular numbers in the first half but continues to drop important balls and stop drives. His oopsie in the end zone cost an interception which handed the ball back to GB to score points. Somehow I am still waiting for the new TO to regress. At the moment he is being pandered to by Dudley Dursley (aka Wade Phillips), and his ego is being massaged with all the attention and acclaim he is getting. But a few more drops and poor second halves, especially on the losing end, might just exhaust the goodwill he is getting. Then I expect the petulance to return. Just a thought and I got the feeling for the first time this season in this game.
4. I wish I had seen the controversial penalties, because it seems to me that the refereeing crew is guilty again of poor decisions. More importantly they are decisions which affect the momentum of the game. The Al Harris interaction with TO sounded dubious, and although I cant comment on it because I didn't see it, it was obvious that Dallas was fired up by the play/decision while GB were knocked off kilter. The second one was the long PI call that led to Romo's fourth TD. Again I didnt see it and so can only comment on the reaction. This time Dallas needed the big play to stem the tide of GB's comeback (kudos to Rogers), and it restored their confidence and allowed them to contain the dispirited Packers. More than ever I wish and hope the PI penalty is reviewed in the off-season. 15 yards should be the maximum for the infraction and avoids 50/50 plays turning a game around.
5. I still think that the AFC can beat the NFC in the SB with either of these teams in the final. Patriots, Colts and Steelers would be able to handle both relatively easily - as a good defense will take away their strengths.
