IMO it's a very telling sign......this team used to do it more than anyone and it was for a reason.....they were needy in other areas. Last night it was done because they could not match up in intensity and or physicality.....This team is not physical, they are not mentality set to play physical. They have players on the team who can play that way, but it looks like the game plans do not really want to go in that direction.
Playing a run game and sticking to it is a sign, having a 3rd down stop and giving it up on a penalty is a sign, allowing 2 90+ yard drives is a sign......I think the fake was done because quite simply they had no answer to the smash mouth game....
They had chances galore to stay in the game..a team starts out on their own 5? They start the 2nd drive on their 10? 2 TD's....they gave up as many yards in 2 drives as they did all of the last game. The drops on the O side were sickening....another sign of mental toughness IMO, but was weird is Higs and Cooper are known for tough plays, runs after catch....
I guess the whiners just have their number....sometimes it's just that way....How tough can they be in the outside in the cold? There chances seem good right now for the playoffs, but every week could easily put us looking in...it could happen.