Matt LaFleur has come under fire this season, even facing questions about his Green Bay Packers future after a brutal loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. But his team has responded emphatically, capped off with their biggest win of the season on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions.
Forget the conservative play-calling. Forget the playing not to lose. LaFleur out-Dan Campbelled the Lions, going all-out for the victory. He went for it on fourth down on three occasions, including a brave call to ice the game late in the fourth at risk of surrendering great field position. LaFleur could've punted and trusted his defense, but he instead put the ball in Jordan Love's hands and let him end it.
Tom Brady had nothing but praise for LaFleur on the FOX broadcast.
"Good for them," Brady said after the Packers' game-winning fourth-down conversion. "Going on the road, tough environment, huge game. Answered the bell. You feel it, too, Coach LaFleur."
"Coach LaFleur said it felt choppy with everyone in and out of the lineup at the line, secondary, Jayden Reed still out. Tucker Kraft," Brady added. "They've got to figure out a weird year, and they did today going on the road against Detroit. Led by Love. Led by (Micah) Parsons."
Tom Brady heaps praise on Matt LaFleur after overcoming adversity in Packers' statement win
Brady is right. LaFleur has had to overcome the loss of Tucker Kraft, who is impossible to replace. Add in the injuries to Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed, plus Josh Jacobs playing hurt, and the Packers haven't had it easy. Green Bay's offensive line has also struggled in the run game all year but took a big step forward against the Lions.
LaFleur didn't play scared or worry about failure. He played the kind of gutsy game Campbell and the Lions love, attempting three fourth downs and converting all of them. That was the difference in this game.
It's the "all gas, no brakes" mantra we haven't seen enough of this season.
LaFleur didn't become a bad coach during the Packers' tough run this season. The offense put in back-to-back ugly games against the Carolina Panthers and Eagles, scoring a combined 20 points, but he's proven he can figure things out. We've seen it repeatedly from his Packers teams over the years.
LaFleur has shown the necessary adjustments after a brutal stretch for the offense. He made a tough call to bench 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan in favor of Anthony Belton. While Belton is still adjusting to an unfamiliar position at right guard, his run-blocking potential is undeniable.
The Packers moved the ball on the ground with far more consistency against the Lions, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt. Josh Jacobs had 83 yards at a 4.9 average, with an explosive 29-yard rush we've seen precious few of this season.
LaFleur played to win. We haven't been able to say that in every game, but his shift in approach shows a willingness to adapt. For all the criticism he (understandably) faced earlier this season, LaFleur deserves just as much credit now for his role in a monumental divisional victory. Brady is 100 percent correct.
LaFleur had to overcome a ton of adversity, but his brave decision-making set the tone for a crucial win.