Honestly, The only thing I am happy about is that this was a throw away game.
Our players played their hearts out, but again when it counted, it wasnt enough. Losing to the Lions and losing to the Pats by the same stretch is solely on the COACH. The players obviously have the talent. they have the heart. The coaches have the talent and also the heart, which was apparent tonite. What they lack all around is the disipline to win a game when their nuts are out. When it is on the line. We have not won a single game that was against an even mediocre opponent when the game was on the line.
That last series, with the wasted timeouts, with the confusion on the final play just showed it in Prime-time. Say what you will about an inexperienced QB out there, but I saw 11 guys with no timeouts and precious seconds ticking off, all going back to a huddle. NOT one veteran player knew the gravity of the situation.
That is lack of discipline highlighted to its most finite of degrees.
That rests solely on coaching.
MM has shown he cannot coach up. His best he can put forward is coaching to an opponents degree, never past it.
Its was a great plan tonight that came up short. It was a horrible plan against the likes of WAS, DET (both win and loss) BUF, the Bears, the Falcons, etc. etc. etc.
Whenever I look at MM, I see a coach who has overachieved to the point of parody. You dont continue to suffer close game losses over the entire period of being a head coach by accident. I am sure MM will continue to, if he is allowed, give us years similar to this one and last.
Always on the brink. Think about other coaches who have done this in the modern era, with TALENTED teams around them:
Dennis Green
Dave Weihnstat
Mike Tice
Andy Reid
Wade Phillips
Marty Schottenheimer
Norv Turner
etc...
That can be seen in every game he coaches.
I have zero faith that he can coach a team PAST any opponent he faces, to take a team to a level that SURPASSES their ability.
That is what GREAT coaches do.
I think he has brought this team as far as he can. Injuries and other things non exempt. He isnt the guy to do it.
I am sure I will hear about how well he coached this game, but again, the decision he has made throughout the tenure he has here cost us again. Anything under a microscope will be overexamined, but his clutch games, with now 3 QBs, 1 a 1st ballot HOFer, 1 a rising, if not already star in the NFL, and the last a player that several NFL team scouts are saying they would trade a 1st round pick for, as he is a QB of the future ala Phillip Rivers, and NO CLOSE GAME WINS when trailing in the fourth quarter.
This is now 4 seasons running.
Im sorry, but Mike will never return our trophy to us.