Georgia football receives gigantic dose of reality from Alabama

Dec 4, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) looks for an interference call against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half during the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) looks for an interference call against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half during the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After starting the game so strong, Georgia football got punched in the mouth and let Alabama play their game, resulting in the Dawgs’ first loss of the season. It was an ugly loss that made Georgia look vulnerable as the Tide beat Georgia 41-24.

Alabama put together a fantastic game plan and stunned the Dawgs. Georgia’s defense couldn’t get any pressure on Bryce Young. There was no spark or aggressive edge out of Georgia, and they looked sluggish.

Losses are never fun, and they suck worse when it comes to Alabama, but the Dawgs were not on their A-game on Saturday.

The Dawgs let one of the worst offensive lines in the country make them look silly. Georgia got a hefty, and I mean hefty dose of reality Saturday night. They didn’t play like they were the undisputed No.1 team. Instead, they let Alabama run over them.

Georgia football got punched in the mouth and never recovered against the Tide.

Alabama’s defense stopped the run and made starting quarterback Stetson Bennett make mistakes while exposing the Dawgs defense’s back end. After starting the game decently, the senior fell apart in the second half with two interceptions, including one pick-six.

Georgia got the momentum taken away from them on the Tide’s first explosive touchdown, and after that, they were pulling at strings.

At first, Georgia’s offense was able to hang in there, but Bennett’s mistakes added up by the beginning of the fourth quarter, and the Dawgs didn’t have enough left in the tank to erase the deficit. Their elite defense didn’t get the job done either.  After the pick-six, it would have been great to see Daniels, but that’s not Smart’s style.

Then you throw in Georgia’s defense getting stuffed over and over — this game was beyond frustrating.

This defense hasn’t played like this all season, and it was wild how they couldn’t get any pressure. When you can’t get pressure on a quarterback like Young, it’s going to be a long day.

Sometimes great teams need to get punched in the mouth to give them a reality check, and well, the Dawgs got it. Bryce Young needed a Heisman game, and he got it. Of course, it came against Georgia, but they were the better team.

Is this defense still one of the best in the country? Maybe, but they’ve got some soul searching to do. This Alabama team knows how to prepare for teams, and head coach Kirby Smart should know that by now.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and his staff do such a good job putting together a game plan when it matters, and well, he has the Dawgs’ number. There is a reason he is one of the greatest coaches of all time, and Smart still has a lot to learn from him.

Give the Tide some credit, they did a lot of work in the last week, and they played better, so they deserved to win. Georgia looked terrible at times, but they also had flashes of bright moments.

While it’s going to be hard not to feel like the last12 games were just a fluke and Georgia wasn’t playing anyone, Alabama did their homework. That statement will make no one feel better as, once again, Dawg fans were let down by their team coming up short to Alabama.

It’s hard to put into words what this loss feels like after seeing a team dominate opponents for the last few months. We were confident in the Dawgs, and while it sucks, we will eat crow.  Georgia fans will talk a ton about Smart not being enough, but that narrative needs to be put to bed until after the championship.

Georgia attempted to come back in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. Brock Bowers did a great job making big catches, and that is what you want to see out of your top wideout.

It just wasn’t Georgia’s day, and there will be plenty of work to do ahead of the playoffs.

Remember that Dawg fans, Georgia will be in the playoffs regardless of Saturday’s outcome. So while it sucks to lose, going undefeated is one of the hardest things to do. Now the Dawgs will potentially get the opportunity for a rematch in the national title.

There is a lot left to do, but it isn’t over yet for Georgia. They still have a path to the title game, and while this loss is a gut-punch, the Dawgs are still alive.