First of all, I’ll admit I was really hard on this team during most of the GDT. I can get quite emotional with this team.
Speaking of emotion, I was damn proud of how this team didn’t tuck its tail and battled back. No, I don’t accept losing or moral victories, but this team needs to find something in itself. A spark. Confidence. Swagger. Something to get off the mat and salvage this once promising season. If they turn it around and get the wins they should to close the season, we may look back at this game as that moment.
Josh is a damn warrior. The way this year has gone, I was really starting to wonder whether Allen had the ability to drag his team back when getting down by multiple scores. Not only did he show he can do it, he came this close to pulling off the win. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, it’s really comforting knowing that this is really only the beginning. As long as we have Josh, we should be in it every year with a shot to go the distance. That’s exciting to think about.
Things I hated:
1. Brady (will always be #1 on this list).
2. Head coaching decisions (thought he coached scared most of the game and that decision to punt at midfield almost prevented the time necessary to get back in it. I thought it was pretty gutless at the time, and I still do. You could also argue the first field goal was a fairly wimpy call, but I get the desire to get points there psychologically).
3. First half (as well as late red zone and OT series) offensive play calling. (Daboll was awful in the first half. Came alive in the second half, only to squander the late red zone trip and the first possession in OT to win).
4. Referees (Come on…at least try to make it look less obvious).
5. Run defense (Seems like we have at least one big brain fart play a game lately. You could argue pass defense didn’t have a great game, particularly based on Brady’s stat line and that last play, but I thought they held their own down Tre and with that group of pass catchers. I think Dane will be fine. Would’ve liked to come up with one of those interceptions though).