One thing that DP highlighted a few times in press conferences is that the team failed to execute on first down too frequently and faced 2 and long far too often. So, let's check the stats:

First series of downs, Q1 (This series did well enough on first down)
* 1 yard run, 2nd and 9
* 17 yard pass, first and 10
* 4 yard run, 2nd and 6
* Punt ends the series

Second series, Q1 (Doh!)
* Incomplete, 2nd and 10
* Punt ends the series

Third series, Q2 (On the back foot every time)
* 2 yard run, 2nd and 8
* 1 yard run, 2nd and 9
* 0 yard run, 2nd and 10
*. Fumble ends the series

Fourth series, Q2 (2nd and long, missed opportunity to score more)
* 3 yard run, 2nd and 7
* FG ends the series

Fifth series, Q2 (Aborted before it started)
* Fumble on the first play to end the series

Sixth series, Q2 (Was prime until it wasn't)
* 5 yard run, 2nd and 5
* 5 yard run, 2nd and 5
* 8 yard run, 2nd and 2
* Incompletion, 2nd and 10
* Turnover on downs ends the series

Seventh series, Q2 (Was better than prime until time ran out)
* 11 yard pass, 1st and 10
* 26 yard pass, 1st and 10
* 4 yard pass, 2nd and 6
* FG ends the series

Eight series, Q3 (Good then bad)
* 9 yard run, 1st and 10
* Sacked, 2nd and 17
* Punt ends the series

Ninth series, Q3 (Didn't get started)
* 1 yard run, 2nd and 9
* Punt ends the series

Tenth series, Q4 (Great until a bad first down loses the points)
* 45 yard pass, 1st and 10
* 9 yard pass, 2nd and 1
* 5 yard run, 2nd and 5
* -3 yard run, 2nd and goal
* FG ends the series

Eleventh series, Q4 (Great until... not)
* Incompletion, 2nd and 10
* 11 yard pass, 1st and 10
* 18 yard run, 1st and 10
* 4 yard pass, 2nd and 6
* 11 yard pass, 1st and 10
* Incompletion, 2nd and 10
* Turnover on downs

A few observations:

* The offence got 11 chances with the ball but only managed three scores, all FGs.
* Of the 29 first downs, only 48% resulted in 2nd and 6 or less. 52% resulted in 2nd and long. (I counted the -3 yard run at the goal line as a 2nd and long sort of result).
* Every series was killed by a second and long set of downs except for the drive at the end of the first half which was killed by the clock.


Are those acceptable results in terms of 2nd and long or was the offence continually starting with it's back against the wall? I dunno, personally, but DP was not happy with them.

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