The Predators came into this game knowing a win would put them in great position of making the playoffs. They also knew a loss would put them on the outside looking in. The Predators lost the game 21-30 and fell to 5th place in the standings. They fell behind early and ran out of time, pushing to get back into the game. The game started rocky when the Predators turned the ball over on the first possession and the Green Footballs capitalized going up 0-6. On the next drive the Predators answered when #11 Brown made a circus TD catch on the right side of the field. The ball was tipped a couple times and #11 Brown grabbed it and tipped toed both feet in bounds. #11 Brown had a good game and showed great effort from start to finish. The Predators tied the game 6-6, but was unfortunately the only time they were close to leading. After that the Green Footballs QB dissected the Predator defense. Recognizing man and zone defenses after the snap and constantly making smart decisions placing the football in the best possible situation. The Predators struggled making flag pulls and plays on passes the entire night. The Green Footballs gave the Predators many gifts early on by dropping numerous passes. If not for those the Predators may have gotten blow out. #33 Price, who got 2 sacks in the game, played well early pulling the Green Football QB's flags but was just a split second late time after time after time. #33 had two misses on the QB the entire night and both were very costly. One turned into a huge TD early in the second half that put the Green footballs up 24-6.
Then the Predators started their push. They moved the ball well the entire night with all Predator receivers contributing. #8 Wagar found #45 Price on a deep throw down the middle where it looked like a possible INT, but #45 bear clawed the pass out of the defenders grasp and found a way to scored. The play really ignited the Predators and started the come back push. #8 Wagar, who had a monster breakout game, threw a TD, caught a lateral for a TD and also had an interception. He's getting stronger as the weeks go by and is really starting to look comfortable wearing the red and gold. #45 Price, who had the outstanding circus catch, also made a couple other great catches. One in the first half down the sideline and he nearly took it to the house. It would have been good if he did because later on the series #7 Brown's pass to #2 Long was intercepted in the end zone. The Predators struggled getting #2 Long involved in the game, and for the last couple weeks. He made one mistake early that hurt the Predators, but they need to get him more involved. His defensive play has been solid. Anyone who attends Predator games should try to remember when the last time a pass has even been thrown down the deep left half of the field. It is difficult.
On the next defensive series after the #8 Wagar to #45 Price TD, the Predators caused their only turnover for the game when #8 Wagar intercepted a Green Footballs pass. The Predators answered on the next series when #11 Brown made a great call in the huddle suggesting the hook and ladder. #2 Long and #8 Wagar made it happen when #2 Long caught it clean and placed it perfectly in #8 Wagar's gut and #8 Wagar made one defender miss and took it for a score.
At this point the Predators cut the deficit to 21-24, but the defense couldn't make the stop. There were a number of defensive breakdowns in the game. In the first half two Predators missed flag pulls and the Green Footballs had a long catch and run for a TD. In the second half the Predators forced the Green Footballs into a fourth and long situation and appeared to have made the stop, but a receiver got behind the Predators secondary and made a nice diving catch that kept the drive alive. On the final defensive series the Predators forced the Green Footballs into a fourth and one and couldn't make the stop. The Green Footballs then continued the drive getting within five yards of a score with two plays to go. After a sack on 3rd down, the Predators gave themselves a chance forcing the Green Footballs into a 4th and 10-15. Down 21-24 with a little more than one minute to play the Green Footballs threw a long pass back across to the other side of the field into a crowd of players and the Predators couldn't knock it down.
The game ended and the Predators were disappointed. They made some uncharacteristic mistakes on defense that hurt them. Offensively they moved the ball pretty good, but the deep passes against man that worked so well earlier in the year didn't work as well in this game. They were a little off at times and couldn't take advantage.
At this point in the season the Predators are now on the outside looking in. After a 0-9 franchise start the Predators are just 10-9 since, playing .500 ball. Management knows it's important to stay positive and build on the things you do well, but sometimes you have to look in the mirror and be realistic. The Predators want to be a top team but you are what you record is and that is a sub .500 squad. And by no means is it from a lack of not trying. The Predators have good players that want to win but something is not right. Management hasn't got the job done and if the Predators want to go to the next level changes need to be made. That goes for decision making and personnel on the field. The Predators show flashes of excellent play, but numbers don't lie and they are currently a 3-4 team and 10-9 over their last 19. We know the Predators will never give up and they love playing together, but how long is too long when you do the same thing over and over and expect a different result, but the result remains the same?
As a team the Predators will move on from this difficult loss and put it behind them. They must do it quickly because they face the Gunners (7-0) on Monday night.
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