The Green Bay Packers faced a tough start to their season during Week 1 on Sunday. This marked their first significant game since a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears in the Wild-Card Round in January. In that game, the Bears outscored the Packers 25-6 in the fourth quarter, leading to a 31-27 defeat.
After their playoff exit, the Packers signed contract extensions with head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst. However, LaFleur’s capabilities came under scrutiny on Sunday when the Packers lost a 22-10 lead in the third quarter to the Vikings. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz led the Vikings to score the final 29 points, resulting in a 39-22 victory in front of 66,940 fans at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The defeat was part of a six-game losing streak for Green Bay. During this period, the Packers lost double-digit leads to the Bears twice, once to the Denver Broncos, and again to the Vikings. This series of losses has led to rising frustration among fans.
Steve “Homer” True, speaking on ESPN Madison, voiced a strong opinion on the situation. He called for consideration of firing LaFleur, despite his recent contract extension. “You are making a coach something he’s not,” True stated. He criticized LaFleur’s ability to maintain leads, suggesting the team could “never take a game for granted” with him as coach.
Despite the criticism, it seems premature to discuss LaFleur’s dismissal before Week 2. The Packers have several areas to improve early this season. Optimism remains, especially with the expected return of Micah Parsons after his ACL injury and the potential activation of Josh Jacobs from the commissioner exempt list.
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