Packers HC Matt LaFleur blames 'execution' for wild-card loss to Bears

On Sunday, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur gave his thoughts on the team's 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears in Saturday night's wild-card matchup at Soldier Field.

The Packers started the game off hot, taking a 21-3 lead into halftime. LaFleur preached to his team all week that the Bears would fight for 60 minutes and were capable of making a dramatic comeback, but Green Bay wound up being outscored 25-6 in the fourth quarter.

With the benefit of watching the tape, LaFleur, wearing a black hoodie without a Packers' logo, voiced his frustrations with the team's execution, saying coaches and players were to blame for the loss.

"I think it was more lack of execution than lack of composure, just looking at the tape, and this is why you got to be careful what you say, I think, especially emotionally after a game," LaFleur said. 

"But when I look at it, it's just, don't get me wrong there. I mean, it's execution, whether it's from the guys on the field or... from a coaching decision."

Part of the reason why the game changed in the second half was that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen brought more pressure. Chicago was able to disrupt the rhythm of quarterback Jordan Love. 

LaFleur thought the offensive line didn't "block it the right way" in the second half, allowing a free rusher during four pivotal plays.

The Green Bay Packers had opportunities

LaFleur thought his players had plenty of opportunities to shut the door on Chicago.

"It just was not executed the way the plan should have," LaFleur said. "I don't want to, I don't ever want to put that all on our players. There was certainly some calls that you'd love to have back. But I also thought we had a lot of opportunities there too."

LaFleur ultimately understands that the outcome of the loss falls on him. The devastating collapse of the Packers’ main NFC North rival should cause president Ed Policy to pause in offering the head coach a contract extension this offseason. 

LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst are under contract through the end of the 2026 season.

Green Bay needs to explore potentially moving on from LaFleur. Policy would be wise to send feelers out to former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to see if he wants the task of getting better execution out of the Packers.