Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was reportedly unhappy with one answer Joe Barry had for the Las Vegas offense during their loss on Monday Night Football.
Make no mistake; the Packers’ 17-13 loss to the Raiders was not on the troubled defensive coordinator. LaFleur even said in his press conference Monday night that the Packers’ offense needs to do enough to give Green Bay a win if the defense holds an opponent’s to 17 points.
But one decision by Barry and the defense was bizarre.
Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams lined up in the slot on a key offensive drive in the second half. The Packers decided to have 265-pound linebacker Preston Smith lined up across from Adams.
The result was what you’d expect. Adams ran a slant across Smith and caught the pass for a 21-yard gain, taking the ball inside the red zone.
Not sure why Packers’ DC Joe Barry has LB Preston Smith on Raiders’ WR Davante Adams.pic.twitter.com/gDHaPzFdm3
— NFL Talk (@NFL_Talk_Sports) October 10, 2023
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur didn’t like one Joe Bary answer
Matt Schniedman with The Athletic asked LaFleur about that play after the game. LaFleur said the Packers used Adams like that when he was in Green Bay. LaFleur added that he wanted the Packers defense to have “better answers than that.”
I asked Matt LaFleur about this postgame and he said the Packers did that with Davante a lot from 2019-2021 while explaining how the Raiders out-schemed Green Bay on this play.
“Obviously want to have better answers than that,” LaFleur said of having Preston on Davante. https://t.co/X9ItQ7obTC
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 10, 2023
That was a bad answer. And costly, as the Packers gave up the game-deciding touchdown on that drive.
One lousy answer didn’t cost the Packers the game.
The Packers’ defense overcame three Jordan Love interceptions only to surrender 17 points. Adams finished with just 45 yards on four receptions. The Packers defense held the Raiders to fewer than 100 rushing yards.
But still, one has to wonder if that play hadn’t happened…
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