Matt LaFleur Questions NFL Official Carl Cheffers’ Crucial Decision As Packers HC Throws Locker Room Under the Bus

Well, it’s not easy to stay quiet when the stakes are high and the calls go against you, is it? And the Packers HC Matt LaFleur spoke his heart out after the razor-thin 25-27 loss to the Vikings. For the coach, the loss wasn’t just about his team’s struggles, but also a decision that didn’t sit right with him.

It was a controversial offside penalty before halftime that handed Minnesota a critical three points. And LaFleur’s frustration boiled over in the post-game presser when asked about the penalty. To put it into context, the penalty call turned a missed fifty-five-yard field goal into a successful fifty-yarder. “I was standing right down the line. I didn’t see it that way,” LaFleur said post-game. “But I’m not an official.” And replays did seem to back the HC.

The replays showed no clear evidence of Green Bay’s Edgerrin Cooper being offside as the field goal loomed large in a game decided by just two points. However, the penalty was just one misstep in a sloppy first half for the Packers. Green Bay fumbled on its opening drive. To make things worse, they committed a costly 12-men-in-the-huddle penalty and were further flagged for two illegal formations. These key mistakes helped the Vikings build a 13-3 halftime lead. And the defense didn’t do LaFleur any favors, either.

The Packers’ pass rush was nearly nonexistent. They recorded just one sack on forty-three attempts. Just one! Doesn’t paint a good picture, does it? On the other hand, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was surgical. He threw for 377 yards while managing to score three touchdowns. Reflecting on the game, LaFleur emphasized the importance of building pressure. “You’ve got to get pressure on these guys,” he said. “If you don’t, it’s going to be a long day.” That proved to be the case, as even a spirited fourth-quarter rally couldn’t save them the game.

The Packers eventually failed to erase the 17-point deficit, going into the last quarter. Their comeback bid fell short as the Vikings converted a third-and-three to run out the clock. The loss underscored a painful reality about the team’s readiness for high-pressure games.

Locker room tensions flare as LaFleur points fingers

Post-game, LaFleur’s discontent was not just with the officials. He didn’t shy away from calling out his own team. “[We] obviously dug ourselves too deep of a hole,” LaFleur admitted while taking some of the blame to himself. “I don’t think we were at our best, but that’s a credit to them and our slow start. And that’s on me as much as anybody.” The blunt comments about missed opportunities hint at deeper issues within the Packers’ locker room.

“You can’t get down against good football teams,” LaFleur mentioned. A critique that seems to be aimed at his players’ execution. Having key players like Jaire Alexander sidelined, the secondary was stretched thin. The defense seemed to look clueless against the Vikings’ aerial attack. And LaFleur’s comments suggested he expects more. “They’ve got weapons… ultimately, collectively as a unit, everybody got to play a little bit better,” he said. The disappointing defensive outing also made things difficult for the offense.

QB Jordan Love faced constant pressure, taking three sacks and several hits. The Packers’ inability to adjust to the Vikings’ man coverage until late in the game simply made the Vikings’ outing easier. Love also acknowledged the team’s struggles. “It’s hard to get out of that hole,” he said. “When it’s a good team like the Vikings, that makes it even tougher.”

The loss has also caused a severe hit to Green Bay’s playoff seeding. Whether LaFleur’s criticism sparks improvement or creates division remains to be seen. For now, the Packers must regroup, reflect, and focus on righting the wrongs as they move to the postseason.