Another playoff appearance, another heartbreak.
After two seasons of regular-season dominance and NFC Championship game losses, the Green Bay Packers didn’t even make it that far. Despite having the most complete team of the Matt LaFleur era, the Packers lost in the divisional round, their first (and only) playoff game of the 2021 season. After three straight 13-win seasons and back-to-back years where the NFC playoffs went through Lambeau Field, the Packers will again watch the biggest game of the year from their homes.
Saturday night’s performance against the San Francisco 49ers was nothing short of a disaster. In a highly winnable game, special teams mistakes and offensive regression ended Green Bay’s season.
Blame is thrown around after a playoff loss, especially such a heartbreaker. It’s human nature to seek a reason for such a grim conclusion. And while Aaron Rodgers and Maurice Drayton deserve the lion’s share of the blame for their poor performances, the loss falls on LaFleur at the end of the day.
For once in a Rodgers-era playoff loss, the defense did its job. In the week leading up to the game, the talk of the town was the mismatch for the Packers, whose porous run defense would struggle against San Francisco’s rushing attack. There was a historical precedent.
But Joe Barry’s defense put on a true championship-level performance and held Kyle Shanahan’s offense to six points. For once, the defense dominated on the big stage.
Special teams ultimately caused this hellscape of a loss. It’s been a joke all season. Week 13 against the Bears looked like a peak special teams meltdown, but the unit saved its worst performance for the biggest game of the year. Should anyone be surprised?
In Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams’ rankings, the Packers finished dead last. Even that, somehow, seems generous after watching this unit flounder week after week.
I liked Mo Drayton’s interviews and philosophies throughout the season, and he gave us reason to believe he could turn things around. But that never translated to a remotely competent on-field product. Drayton’s unit got worse week after week, but ultimately the man who hired him and stuck with him is at fault.
After an awful — but slightly less so — special teams performance last season, LaFleur changed to a new coordinator. Yet he chose to promote from within that poorly performing unit, and that decision cost the Packers a chance at a Super Bowl.
Following Saturday’s loss, LaFleur acknowledged this. “These are things I’ve got to do a better job and be more involved to make sure those things don’t happen,” he said.
Would a mid-season coordinator change fix things? Probably not. But LaFleur knew special teams was a problem all season, and, from an outside point of view, nothing changed.
Special teams’ woes cost the Packers a 10-point swing in a three-point game. But after a momentous opening drive, LaFleur’s offense stalled. A.J. Dillon‘s early touchdown would be the only time the Packers crossed the plane.
Despite an MVP-caliber regular season, Rodgers played poorly at the worst time. He missed open receivers as he constantly forced the ball to Davante Adams, neglecting any option besides Adams and Aaron Jones. The 49ers are one of the worst teams in the league at defending deep passes, but Rodgers’ tunnel vision and refusal to play in rhythm left this weakness unexploited.
The offensive game plan had other answers, and Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Josiah Deguara were open on multiple passing plays. But the play-caller and quarterback weren’t on the same page most of the game. Regardless of the reason for this disconnect, an offensive guru with an MVP quarterback needs to find a way to score more than 10 points in a playoff game.
LaFleur is a fantastic coach, and I still believe he deserved Coach of the Year for the regular season. He’s created a truly wonderful culture in Green Bay, and he re-energized Rodgers’ career when it looked to be trending the wrong way. But his regular-season dominance turns back into a pumpkin every postseason, and his hiring track record leaves a lot to be desired.
This season, Barry has had his ups and downs, but Saturday’s performance was excellent. However, LaFleur chose to keep Mike Pettine from the previous regime, costing him two trips to the Super Bowl. He hired both Drayton and his predecessor, Shawn Mennenga, neither of whom could field a remotely watchable special teams unit.
Maybe Green Bay’s disdain of special teams comes from the top, as suggested by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. But the coordinators haven’t inspired much confidence, and that falls on LaFleur. Mike Pettine’s playoff blunders fall on LaFleur. And the offense stalling in the postseason falls on LaFleur.
As the leader of the team, failure will always rest with the head coach. Matt LaFleur is an enthralling coach, willing to own these mistakes and learn from them. He’s publicly taken the blame for everything mentioned above. There’s reason to believe he’ll correct these mistakes in the future. But Saturday night’s loss will remain a blemish on his record for some time.
