Getty Image / Patrick McDermott
The Green Bay Packers had close to a must-win game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their push for a wild-card berth in the NFC. But, a downright terrible defensive performance doomed them in a 34-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even after the disappointing performance and despite calls for his firing or demotion, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is sticking with defensive coordinator Joe Berry.
But, he didn’t absolve Berry, himself, or other assistant coaches of blame. Here’s more, courtesy of ESPN.
“If I thought that was the best solution today, then we’d make that decision,” LaFleur said Monday. “But when you’re having basic communication problems and you’re supposed to be in a certain coverage or a certain rotation and we’re not getting that communication, that’s what’s so disappointing to me is the fact that it was poor communication.
“And it always starts with us. It starts with myself, and it goes to all our assistant coaches. So obviously the coaching wasn’t up to the standard and our performance on the field definitely showed that as well.”
Something was definitely not being communicated correctly on Sunday. They let Baker Mayfield absolutely shred them to the tune of 381 yards and 4 touchdowns while completing over 75% of passes. Again, it’s a solid Buccaneers offense, but there’s no way a defense that has as much invested in it as Green Bay’s does should be getting torched like that against anyone.
The team was at 6-6 two weeks ago, and in the driver’s seat for an NFC Wild Card spot. But, after two bad losses to the Giants and the Bucs, the playoffs have become a much less sure proposition. They’re now a full game back of that final wild-card spot.
The ironic thing is that this rough patch on defense is coming at a time when first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love is playing some pretty good football the last few weeks. Had he have played like this during the first two months of the year, the team would comfortably be in a playoff spot.
Their schedule is favorable down the stretch. They’re on the road against Carolina and Minnesota the next two weeks and finish up with the Bears at home. But, they will likely have to win all three to get in. If not, Matt Lafleur could be out of a job.