The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Green Bay Packers in Sunday afternoon’s NFC championship game by a 31-26 final score, bringing their season that saw them win 13 regular season games to a screeching halt.
And Packers head coach Matt Lafleur will have some explaining to do for a head-scratching decision that came late in the 4th quarter.
With his team down by eight points and facing a 4th-and-goal from the 8 yard line with 2:05 remaining, Lafleur instead elected to trot out kicker Mason Crosby for a field goal. The Packers weren’t able to get a stop after that, as the Bucs prevailed by a 31-26 final score, sending Tom Brady to his 10th Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, it’s now been 10 years since Green Bay participated in the Big Game.
Afterwards, Lafleur was being put through the wringer by angry fans and puzzled media members alike. Take a look at a sampling of the reactions below.
I actually think — given the stakes — Matt LaFleur kicking that field goal is the worst coaching decision I've ever seen.
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) January 24, 2021
matt lafleur walking into the locker room pic.twitter.com/7ssh11I19y
— Chaps (@UncleChaps) January 24, 2021
Packers fans: “We need 8 points to tie!”
Matt LaFleur: pic.twitter.com/r5Q8VaLE09
— Hopeful Patriots Fan (@nick_sund) January 24, 2021
Matt LaFleur worked his whole life to have a chance to coach a team to the Super Bowl, and he just kicked a field goal down 8 with two minutes left. Never have dreams. Never care about anything
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) January 24, 2021
Why did Matt LaFleur forfeit the NFC Conference Championship football game?
— House (@HousefromDC) January 24, 2021
https://twitter.com/DavisMattek/status/1353483726915858433?s=20
“Did you seriously kick a FG on 4th and goal down by 8 with two minutes left?”
Matt LaFleur: pic.twitter.com/1Lf4VPElYD
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) January 24, 2021
Matt Lafleur deciding to kick a field goal pic.twitter.com/WhkwLgk157
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 24, 2021
Matt Lafleur: “Okay field goal unit get out there.”
Packer’s kicker: pic.twitter.com/PyAkxeUvkh
— On Pace For Guy (@onpaceforguy) January 24, 2021
coach we need 8 points. how many should we go for?
matt lafleur: pic.twitter.com/3QpKh8p30a
— Ryan Perry (@rynprry) January 24, 2021
