Packers coach Matt LaFleur tries something new and it worked, plus other takeaways from Sunday's win
GREEN BAY − Following are four bonus takeaways from the Green Bay Packers 18-17 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday:
Matt LaFleur’s decision to go for 2 paid off in the end
Packers coach Matt LaFleur joined the growing number of NFL coaches who go for 2-point conversions when they score a touchdown late in the game to cut into a 14-point deficit. Analytics say it’s a good decision because the odds on converting 2-point conversions are about 50-50, and if they don’t convert, they’ll get another shot to tie the game with a 2-pointer if they score another touchdown. If they convert the first one, they’ll be in position to win the game by kicking an extra point if they score another touchdown.
Jordan Love converted the 2-point play when, after not finding an open receiver, he started to scramble up the middle for the goal line, then at the last instant threw across his body to his left while on the run to Samori Toure.
The person who advises LaFleur on game-management decisions is assistant quarterbacks coach Connor Lewis.
“I’ve got this guy Connor Lewis in my ear nonstop going, ‘Go for 2, go for 2,’” LaFleur said. “To be honest with you, I didn’t feel great about the play call, and the execution was definitely not how we practiced it. But I had a lot of belief in just the way our quarterback was playing. He was making off-schedule plays, and I thought our offensive line, I know the run game wasn’t always pretty, there were some bad play calls in there certainly. But the way we were pass protecting, I thought if the initial read isn’t there, we’ve got a guy that can go off-schedule.”
Was Jordan Love or Patrick Taylor to blame for failed fourth-down pass?
It was still unclear after the game whether Love or Patrick Taylor was more responsible for the Packers’ big fourth-and-2 incompletion on the first play of the fourth quarter and the Packers down 17-0, though at least at first blush it looked like the mistake was Love’s.
LaFleur said the play was designed to get a favorable matchup for tight end Luke Musgrave, but that Love saw Taylor lined up wide with linebacker Demario Davis playing 7 or 8 yards off him. So Love threw a quick pass to Taylor. It appeared Taylor was right to stop his route after about three steps instead of taking it into Davis. Love, though, led him another step downfield, so the pass sailed incomplete.
“It was just miscommunication between both of us, so we’ll have to see it on film and see what happened exactly,” Love said.
Said LaFleur: “I have to go back and look at the timing of it, but it is a three-step route. Quite honestly, I was looking the other way and I saw the ball go flying incomplete. In that situation what I told Jordan was, if you like the matchup, you can take it, if not take the delay (penalty) and we’ll get the three points. I can’t fault him for the decision he made. As far as the execution, again I’ve got to go back and look at it.”
Keisean Nixon makes an impact on offense for the first time
Keisean Nixon, the Packers’ nickel cornerback and kickoff returner, had been asking to play on offense going back to last season. With the Packers two most dynamic players on offense (Aaron Jones and Christian Watson) out with hamstring injuries, Nixon finally got his chance. In the second quarter, Nixon lined up as a slot receiver for one play and took an end around for 11 yards.
Not much time to enjoy the victory
Most weeks, NFL teams say they’ll enjoy a Sunday win for the rest of that night before focusing on the next opponent beginning Monday. The Packers likely were in an especially celebratory mood after scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter for an 18-17 comeback win over the Saints. But with a Thursday night game this week against Detroit, the Packers said they would take about an hour to enjoy their win before turning to preparations for Thursday.
Analysis: The Packers kept throwing fade routes even though they weren't working; then, everything changed
As he stood at the podium for his postgame news conference, LaFleur said it was already like a Wednesday on a regular game week: “Our guys are in the (cold) tubs right now doing some recovery. We’ll give them tomorrow to try to get their bodies back. It’s a grind from here on out until Thursday. That’s the way Thursday night football rolls.”
Said Love: “It’s a great win, it feels good, but obviously we’ve got a really short week ahead of us and we are playing an NFC North opponent who’s really good as well. So we’ve got to go enjoy this one like we do all wins, but just know that we’ve got a tight turnaround and got to get ready for this week coming up.”