The Green Bay Packers had no business even having a chance to win Monday night. After an uneven, sloppy affair (especially on offense, according to Jaire Alexander) against the Las Vegas Raiders, though, the Packers found themselves with a game-deciding possession after the two-minute warning.
And they still wasted it — much to head coach Matt LaFleur’s chagrin.
With just over a minute to go, the Packers were deep in Raiders territory, looking for that glorious, decisive moment on a third-and-long. When Christian Watson came open on a deep route, it sure seemed like Green Bay was about to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. Most teams (read: good teams) don’t miss opportunities like this.
Folks, the Packers are not a good team.
Via a video from The Ringer’s Benjamin Solak, LaFleur was so excited seeing Watson come open that he started jumping up and down on the sideline. That’s what you call excellent play design and trust in your players’ abilities, right? Right? LaFleur probably felt so deflated then when Jordan Love waited way too long to pull the trigger, eventually throwing a horrific game-losing interception:
Look at Matt LaFleur (gray shirt) on the sideline jumping up and down when he sees Watson open pic.twitter.com/5JKwYV23gP
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 10, 2023
Oof. That’s brutal to watch. LaFleur got a great reminder on this sequence. Even when you dial up a great play, you’re still at the mercy of your players’ successful execution of your vision.