Goliath Wins With a Fortunate Punch
On Sunday, David stood as much as Goliath, in his personal yard, and walked throughout him… till Goliath landed a fortunate punch and put David down for the depend.
It was nearly the proper circumstances to write down an amazing David vs Goliath story, and I used to be mentally formatting it as I watched Matt Flynn lead the Packers right down to the Patriot finish zone for the game profitable landing… till he obtained sacked with no time left, and it might change the theme of the story I used to be formulating in my head.
Who? Matt Flynn… Oh, that is proper… until you’re an LSU or a giant School Football fan, you most likely would not acknowledge his name. He was, for some motive that a number of NFL scouts now need to reply for, drafted all the way in which down at number 209 within the seventh spherical of the NFL draft of 2008.
Sunday was Flynn’s very first begin within the NFL. Coming in as a backup to Aaron Rogers, who was out with a second concussion, he was the primary backup quarterback to start out a game for the Packers since… 1992. Sure… since Brett Favre. For practically 20 years, if you happen to have been on the Packer’s roster as a backup quarterback, you needed to spend money on bench cushions, good lengthy books, and have your agent preserve his ear open for a trade… ASAP… as a result of in any other case, you were not getting on the sector anytime quickly. The NFL’s personal “Iron Man,” Favre, simply missed his first begin final week as a member of the Minnesota Vikings towards the New York Giants, breaking a streak of 297 games. Rogers took over for Favre when he went to the Jets three seasons in the past earlier than becoming a member of the Vikings after one season.
On the opposite aspect of the sector going through Matt Flynn was none aside from Tom Brady. That is proper… The 2-time Tremendous Bowl MVP that even most non-sports fans know for his movie-star attractiveness and supermodel spouse, and is without doubt one of the few athletes to turn out to be paparazzi bait. He additionally occurs to be… as laborious as it’s for me to say this… probably the most profitable, if not among the finest, quarterbacks in NFL historical past. Feels like a quite lopsided battle… would not it?
Tom Brady has carved the hearts out of many opposing football fans during the last ten years, beginning with my Rams again in Tremendous Bowl XXXVI. He was the topic of the now-infamous “Tuck Rule,” which saved the Patriots towards the Raiders that season. He is NFL royalty… the “Golden Boy,”…and many others. No person was giving Flynn and the Packers a lot of an opportunity on this game, for apparent causes. The Patriots have been coming in with an 11-2 document, and had gained most of their games decisively. The Packers, at 8-5, boasted the #1 protection within the league to go towards the Patriots #1 offense, however irrespective of how good your protection is, you are taking a look at having to place up at the very least three or 4 touchdowns to beat the Patriots. How is that this 25-year-old, inexperienced, number 209 draft choose going to try this (satirically, Tom Brady himself was choose #199)?
Effectively, it began with a really dangerous on-side kick after the Packers deferred the wining coin toss to the Patriots. They recovered, however have been solely in a position to put up three factors in consequence. Not getting a landing on that first drive would show to be their undoing. Regardless, the Packers punched the Patriots proper within the mouth… laborious. Flynn was unflappable, and led the Packers to at least one rating after one other like a seasoned veteran… and if not for just a little little bit of confusion on the a part of your complete offensive line on whether or not they had a outing left or not, they may have gained of the largest upsets in NFL historical past.
With about twenty seconds left, they got here up a yard short of a primary down, taking away the prospect to spike the ball and cease the clock with sufficient time to run at the very least two extra thought-out performs. This younger quarterback’s likelihood to shock the world by beating the perfect crew within the league on their very own subject got here right down to clock management… they usually did not handle it nicely. Flynn obtained sacked with no time left, they usually misplaced 27-31. However regardless of dropping the game, Flynn did not again down an inch from the mighty Patriots. He threw for 251 yards on 24 of 37 passing, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception (a cross the receiver ought to have caught). Brady threw for 163 yards on 15/24 passing, 2 TD’s, and no INT’s. Massive performs on protection and particular groups helped make up for Brady’s comparatively low numbers.
Flynn’s composure was wonderful, contemplating the circumstances, nearly like he was merely taking part in ball with buddies in his old playground of Robert E. Lee Excessive Faculty in Tyler, Texas. Even after getting sacked at one essential level within the second half, Flynn obtained up with a smirk on his face as if to say, “okay, no matter…” and promptly handed for a primary down on third and lengthy slot.
I appear to recollect a man again in 1999 by the name of Kurt Warner who needed to step in with an analogous degree of expertise and take control of a St. Louis Rams crew that had put excessive hopes on their new quarterback, Trent Inexperienced. No person was giving him a lot likelihood, both. Warner’s stats in his first begin that season? 28 of 44 for 309 yards, three TD’s, and two INT’s. Kurt’s passing share was rather less than Matt’s and he threw yet one more interception, however he had 58 extra yards and the win. Nonetheless, Matt got here very near the identical numbers because the projected First-Poll Corridor of Famer, towards a a lot stronger opponent. Warner gained the Tremendous Bowl on the finish of that season, and broke many passing and landing data, together with lots of Dan Marino’s data.
Warner saved the job on account of Inexperienced’s season-skipping knee injury by the hands of Rodney Harrison, then on the Chargers. The Packers are nonetheless combating for an NFC Wild Card spot, however Aaron Rogers goes to return, doubtless subsequent week, so the following time we’re more likely to see Matt Flynn may not be for some time, barring one other concussion or injury to Rogers. Flynn is in the course of a four-year, $1.8 million contract, however now that he has been “uncovered” in such a method, little doubt his agent is already fielding calls from groups ought to the Packers select to money in on Flynn’s skyrocketing worth and trade for some veteran assist in different areas. It occurs on a regular basis.
The one method Flynn would doubtless stay a Packer past subsequent season is that if they really feel that Rogers’ a number of concussions, (with the eye that concussion accidents are getting recently), could lead to a shortened profession… or at the very least the necessity for a starting-caliber backup. But when Flynn will get on the sector and has any extra games this, he’ll be getting a number of good gives from a number of groups in want of a QB when his contract is up, and the Packers should pay him loads to maintain him. They often will not pay two quarterbacks that a lot cash.
So I’ve a brand new favourite quarterback, (apart from present Rams QB, Sam Bradford)… and no matter crew Matt Flynn lands on, I will be rooting for him.