Defensive 4th Quarter Breakdowns

[DerkontheOS]

Hi I am a relatively new player and have been playing SP to get a hang of the player management side of things.

Anyway I'm playing as the Packers and in my last two games my defense has blown a huge lead in the 4th quarter. Against the Bears I was up 23-6 and they ended up winning 32-24, against the Eagles I was up 23-10 and ended up losing 27-23 after a 17 point 4th quarter by the Eagles...

I just don't know whats wrong with my defense, they play great for three quarters.

[Vaevictis_386]

Does your defense game plan give your opponent lots of different looks? If your defense is calling too many of the same plays the offense starts to figure it out.

[The Orange Man]

I played about four seasons in my initial career and then decided to start over after having a bit of an idea of the game.

Then I started my new career with another dispersal draft and like previously, won the Super Bowl in my first season.

Anyway, in the AFC Championship was down 17-0 at Miami before Denver came back for a 30-27 win.

More to the point though, led Detroit 23-7 and was completely dominating at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. They drive down the field but we force them to kick a FG with about 11 minutes to go so we're probably good, right?

Nope, in these situations the offense seems to run the ball every single play and three-and-outs often come fast and furious when that happens. With 8 minutes to go they close to within 23-17 and we proceed to run the ball every play again.

They convert a 4th and 11 from midfield with about 3 minutes to go and move inside our 30 yard line but fortunately a tipped pass is intercepted by my best corner at the 2 minute warning.

Game over, but for the fact Detroit has all time outs left and we run the ball three straight times against a defense looking only for the run and they have the ball with 1:19 remaining but 70 yards away with no timeouts.

Of course, the first play from there was like a 37 yard gain and it comes down to a 4th and 1 from our 12 yard line with :08 to go. Thank God, a pass rush from my RDE forces an errant throw and the ball goes over on downs with :02 to go.

[NawlinsFan]

I have seen it happen a lot. The power gurus around here will likely say to try and make gameplan adjustments, never worked for me. The 4th quarter miracle come backs and the 3rd and long high percentage of 1st downs makes make insane. Caused me to drop 2 leagues and almost a 3rd.

[aston217]

I guess there's just enough 4th quarter magic in the NFL that Jim has replicated that with the game. This probably happens less to dominant teams, or against poor teams, but anybody can mount a comeback. That's why you play all 60 minutes!

[BishopMVP]

Nope, in these situations the offense seems to run the ball every single play and three-and-outs often come fast and furious when that happens. With 8 minutes to go they close to within 23-17 and we proceed to run the ball every play again.
Is Mike McCarthy your head coach?

[PackerFanatic]

Is Mike McCarthy your head coach?

Harsh, but true.