Packers HC confirms suspicion following loss to Giants
The Green Bay Packers (3-2) strolled into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as heavy favorites against the New York Giants (4-1), but left London with one of their worst losses during the Matt LaFleur era. The Packers led, 17-10, going into halftime, but never got things going in the second half thanks to a dominant Giants offense […]
The Green Bay Packers (3-2) strolled into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as heavy favorites against the New York Giants (4-1), but left London with one of their worst losses during the Matt LaFleur era.
The Packers led, 17-10, going into halftime, but never got things going in the second half thanks to a dominant Giants offense and defense that completely shut the Packers out points-wise. Said defense almost limited Aaron Rodgers and co. to 101 total net yards, eight first downs, and a 2-of-6 conversion rate on third down in the second half.
It was clear as day on TV and the numbers backed up the Giant's second half dominance, as well.
An overwhelming majority of the reason why the Giants were so dominant is because it looked as if they had answers for anything and everything the Packers tried to do. And, the Packers made awful mistakes themselves -such as throwing three straight times after the Giants offense had been on the field for 30 plays in the second half, compared to the Packers' eight.
Many suspected the coaching staff is to blame for the debacle and sure enough, LaFleur confirmed that suspicion after the game.
"It wasn't just one person. It was a collective effort and that starts with myself," LaFleur told reporters."… I gotta be better."
But it wasn't just coach-speak. LaFleur went deeper into the subject a little later.
"Give credit, Wink's [Giants DC Wink Martindale] a guy I have a lot of respect for," said LaFleur. "And he out-coached us in the second half and they [the Giants] outplayed us.
"… The playcalls I gave weren't good enough."
LaFleur also gave his respects to the Giants coaching staff.
"Give New York all the credit," said LaFleur. "Mike Kafka, head coachBrian Daboll, the players. [They] came up with a good plan and went out there and out-executed us.
"It's not that we didn't come ready to play, but they obviously out-executed us in the second half."
It's a big disappointment to see this team so out-of-whack. One of the Packers' strengths coming into the season was their continuity among the coaching staff and their players. Especially on defense, as nearly every single starter from the 2021 roster returned in 2022.
The Packers need to get their issues ironed out, fast. Because as Rodgers said after the narrow win over the New England Patriots, the team is playing with fire on a weekly basis by deploying this strategy.
You can check out LaFleur's entire presser below:
Featured image via Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
