It seems to everything that occurs on the field these days fall squarely on the head coach’s shoulders and not on the execution of the players. That was the case with the Green Bay Packers as they are not headed to Super Bowl LV down in Tampa, Florida.
Instead, it will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which is going to be the first team in NFL history to play in the Super Bowl while it is being hosted in their city. But as for the Packers, they will be watching from the couch. They have missed out on a Super Bowl trip for the fourth time with Aaron Rodgers under center.
Dating back to yesterday’s conclusion of the NFC championship game, Packers Head Coach Matt Lafleur has received heavy criticism on social media from fans and analysts who cover the league daily. Rightfully so, Lafleur deserves some blame for what went down yesterday against Tampa Bay. But what about the execution on the field?
The situation that’s on everybody’s radar right now is when it was third and goal, and the Packers’ were deep into Buccaneers territory. There was 2:13 left in the fourth quarter when Aaron Rodgers decided to throw for the end zone and get a touchdown score. However, if you pay attention to the play, there was an opportunity for Rodgers to run it and score the touchdown himself. But overall, it was Coach Lafleur that is receiving the backlash right now.
So Who Deserves the Blame for What Occurred in the NFC Championship Game, Matt LaFleur or Aaron Rodgers?
Both LaFleur and Rodgers equally deserve their share of the blame yesterday regarding what transpired in the NFC championship game. Earlier in the contest, the Packers scored a touchdown inside the red zone to cut the Buccaneers lead by five (28-23) with 0:24 left in the third quarter. Coach LaFleur decided to go for a two-point conversion attempt instead of kicking the extra point.
Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown dropped an easy pass from Rodgers that would result in a failed two-point conversion attempt. Even though a Buccaneers defender tipped the pass, St. Brown still had the opportunity to make the play. But this is where LaFleur failed as a head coach; with Tom Brady on the other side, you take all the points you can get.
Going for two in this situation was a bit premature. As Aaron Rodgers goes, he deserves equal criticism for not capitalizing on Tom Brady’s three turnovers that occurred in Sunday’s game. If you told me that Brady threw three interceptions and Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback on the other side, I would bet money that Green Bay will win. However, that was not the case as Rodgers, and the Packers’ offense could not handle the Buccaneers’ opportunistic defense.
On top of that, Rodgers could run it and try to score the touchdown himself on the third and goal attempt. There was enough open grass in front of him to make it happen. So when everyone asks who deserves blame for Green Bay’s NFC championship game failure, the answer should be both. The quarterback and the head coach are the essential components of a football team. The tone of their relationship sets the atmosphere for the entire football team. LaFleur and Rodgers are still trying to figure each other out.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports.
