Despite a myriad of injuries, the Green Bay Packers were dominating the Chicago Bears to start their wild-card game on Saturday.
Jordan Love was wheeling and dealing, the defense was getting stops and the table was set for an easy Packers win. Then, head coach Matt LaFleur went away from what worked, took the foot off the gas and left the door wide open for a Bears comeback. That’s why, following the loss, the Packers head coach took the blame for how things went down.
Matt LaFleur says he’s “disappointed and humbled”
“This is the greatest organization in the world, in my opinion, and it’s very humbling. I’m certainly disappointed right now. I’m disappointed mostly for—well, not mostly,” LaFleur said, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “I’m disappointed for everybody that’s associated with the Green Bay Packers. I’m disappointed for our locker room, disappointed for our fans, our leadership. Everyone involved with the Green Bay Packers right now.”
Of course, kicker Brandon McManus missed two field goals and one PAT in a four-point loss, so it’s not like all the blame is on LaFleur. Nevertheless, this has been the story of the team since he took the reins.
As great a play designer as he is, LaFleur tends to get way too conservative when he’s up, failing to succeed in offensive efficiency for all four quarters. It’s not that the Packers couldn’t lose that game, especially with so many key players out. They just couldn’t lose it that way, not after being up 21-3 at halftime.