The first major coaching statement of the NFC playoffs belongs to Matt LaFleur.
While he’s been to the playoffs before, this time the Green Bay Packers head coach entered AT&T Stadium without Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback or Davante Adams as his top wide receiving option. LaFleur ended up rewriting the Packers’ postseason history books in the impressive 48-32 rout of the favored Dallas Cowboys without both.
Matt LaFleur Delivered ‘No Mercy’ in Rout of Dallas Cowboys
The way LaFleur called plays and got the Pack to execute got PFN’s David Bearman thinking about this famous Karate Kid line.
Matt LaFleur right now. #GBvsDAL pic.twitter.com/JgzVjDdLTo
— David Bearman (@DavidBearmanPFN) January 15, 2024
That wasn’t the only movie-themed description attached to LaFleur. Steve Wyche of the NFL Network believed he was seeing “Hustle and Flow” out of LaFleur’s play calling.
Me watching Matt LaFleur dialing up this offensive masterpiece pic.twitter.com/e7OgIh36Nv
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) January 15, 2024
Others, though, used simple but strong descriptions for LaFleur’s coaching.
“We are witnessing Matt LaFleur’s masterpiece,” posted CBS Sports’ Eli Berkovits on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Meanwhile, Sirius XM radio personality Jeff Mans sent out a fact check involving LaFleur and Rodgers.
“Wait…I thought Aaron Rodgers was the reason the Packers had success under Matt LaFleur?!?!” Mans asked.
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But, even Packers beat reporter for The Athletic, Matt Scheidman, was stunned by the masterclass coaching job LaFleur put forth in Dallas. Especially after a fourth-down decision on LaFleur’s end.
“Matt LaFleur goes for it on fourth and goal up 25 against his former boss Dan Quinn. And Love finds Romeo Doubs for six. Packers 48, Cowboys 16. I can’t believe what I’m watching,” Schneidman posted.
Examples of the ‘Masterclass’ Outing From LaFleur
Green Bay wasted little time with scoring right away.
The Packers put together a 12-play drive that ended with Aaron Jones punching it in from three yards out to open things up 7-0 in favor of Green Bay. But from there, LaFleur showed clear trust in his first-time playoff quarterback Jordan Love to attack the Cowboys.
LaFleur allowed Love to roll out against a fierce Cowboys pass rush led by Micah Parsons. Still, LaFleur and Love discovered the spacing Dallas created.
Great poise and what a throw by Jordan Love 🎯#GoPackGo
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 14, 2024
LaFleur then got creative against Dallas. He motioned Dontayvion Wicks, but before he reached the right side of the line, Wicks instead sprinted upfield and drew the 1-on-1. LaFleur drew up the perfect play against a six-man rush, and Love discovered no safety help in the end zone.
Jordan Love throws a STRIKE to Dontayvion Wicks 🤯
The #Packers are ROLLING!
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 14, 2024
Wicks wasn’t the only one who beat the Cowboys’ coverage. Romeo Doubs, who was drafted to help replace Adams, found lots of green attacking the soft zone Dallas was playing.
Romeo Doubs is COOKING 🔥#GoPackGo
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 14, 2024
Lastly, LaFleur again outsmarted the heavy rush, and Love lobbed this one to a wide-open Luke Musgrave.
How do you let Luke Musgrave get THIS wide open? 🥴#GoPackGo | #DallasCowboys
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 15, 2024
Packers End Up With This Trio of Accolades Through LaFleur
Here’s when Packer fans — let alone NFL fans — knew when LaFleur was in his coaching bag.
He produced a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard wideout, and his quarterback delivered the hat trick. Here’s the final tally:
- Love: 16 of 21, 272 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Perfect passer rating.
- Jones: 21 carries for 118 yards, three rushing scores.
- Doubs: six catches, 151 yards, one touchdown.
LaFleur was brought in to ignite an offense that had gone stale by Packers fan standards during the tail end of the Mike McCarthy era. McCarthy became the recipient of one more playoff embarrassment in front of his current team. LaFleur, meanwhile, proved he can be masterful without two past Packer icons — and helped create some new ones in Dallas.
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