Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur took full blame for the playcall that resulted in a game-changing touchdown by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late in the first half of the NFC Championship Game.
On the play, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady connected with Scotty Miller for a 39-yard touchdown against a questionable coverage call with six seconds left in the first half.
LaFleur pointed to a communication break down.
“That was just a flat out miscommunication. Ultimately, any time something like that occurs, that 100 percent falls squarely on my shoulders. I have to make sure I’m crystal clear with our communication. Those mistakes cannot happen especially when the stakes are so big,” LaFleur said Monday.
Facing single coverage on the perimeter, Miller ran past Packers cornerback Kevin King and got behind the defense for the touchdown, which gave the Buccaneers a 21-10 lead going into halftime.
Tampa Bay did not have a timeout and faced limited options on the final play. Instead of protecting the end zone, the Packers concentrated coverage on the middle of the field and left both perimeter cornerbacks one-on-one without safety help. Miller won on his route against King, and the Buccaneers secured a game-changing score.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that LaFleur wanted a two-high safety defense, but defensive coordinator Mike Pettine misinterpreted his request and called man coverage.
The Packers had a timeout and could have used it before the play to make sure the call was right. In the end, LaFleur let the play go and the Buccaneers took full advantage.
“Bottom line is, all calls go through me,” LaFleur said. I don’t care who makes the call, it’s all my fault. Bottom line. I’m responsible for every playcall, offense, defense, special teams. Every call goes through me. If I’m ever unhappy with a call, I have the ability to do something about it. That’s all I’m really going to say about that.”
Packers safety Adrian Amos told the “Man to Man Pod” that he regretted not calling timeout to make sure the coverage was right.
LaFleur and the Packers moved on from Pettine, who spent three years as the team’s defensive coordinator.
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