Al I agree the Packers must clean up the little things. Clock management is very important. Teams that go to and win the Superbowl do not make those little mistakes. I agree that they won by 17 points but they did that playing the backup QB who has little experience and is not very good. Once again it seemed like the Packers were sitting on their lead in the second half. They need to keep playing all 60 minutes. I wonder what would have happened if Smith played the whole game.

"I totally mismanaged the end of the half, that was 100% on me," LaFleur said. "Just being too indecisive, putting it on Jordan (Love), giving him a call at the line of scrimmage, just took far too long. That's something that can't happen, that can cost us if it was a tighter game. That was on me."

I could give a flying crap if MLF takes responsibility...THIS has happened too many times. Clock management, timeouts, challenges, ALL of this STILL shouldn't be happening after 97 regular season games as a HC! As great of a play designer and play caller he is, he's equally BAD at those 3 things. It's a bit embarrassing at this point.

This type of thing will get you beat in the playoffs against the better teams. LaFleur needs to put his ego aside and devise a system to assist him in these situations. Otherwise clock management, bad use of timeouts, and challenges will be just another reason why the Packers lose in the playoffs. Just like ST was in 2021.

I agree! After a pretty convincing win with lots of positives I still stew over certain themes that I see happen over and over again!
* Offensive lulls after building a lead. WHY? Is there a script of conservative play calls that LeFleur is contractually obligated to follow? Murphy/Gute conspiracy? It seems to be a Packer thing but CMON Man! All gas! No brakes....
* Challenges from the 'Outer Limits'! WHY? It is like a slow motion car crash, two or three times a game we fans, en masse, start muttering "don't do it". The clock ticks down you start thinking we're home free and BANG, there goes the challenge flag. This too seems to go back a long way for Packers fans but McCarthy often DID'NT throw it when he should have. Maybe LeFleur was hired with the promise of 'changing things???
* Finally clock management in pressure situations. With few exceptions (Mahommes) this is an epidemic! My guess is too much control from coaches, thus extending communication issues and removing the tactical responsibility from the general on the field (QB). At the risk of revealing my ancient origins, in the old days (big collective sigh) QB's actually ran all the action in two minute drills and the success rate, excitement and tactics were much, much better. Even now, veteran QB's tend to fare better than any of the young guys. I really think that in this case LeFleur was trying to coax Love into taking over and it didn't work. So LeFleur took the blame. Something similar happened in Chicago but, well, the Bears.
Great win though!!!! GPG!

Ugh . Another "that guy" is the last thing this site needed. The criticisms of the clock management and replay challenge are legit, but I'll have to look elsewhere for analysis of how the Packers easily beat a good team on the road.

Great Job JerseyAl, Yes the before half time clock management was terrible not to mention another lucky pass interference call off another underthrown long pass from Love. While were in the negatives who ( the !!!! ) is directing LaFleur to throw the red flag?? he should be fired they are 0=7 and some are not even close. One more item Lafleur brow beats the reporters at his press conferences they seem to be afraid to ask him tough questions they do not to piss him off ....

I have to say the second challenge was legitimate. The ball came out of his hand by the direct result of contact to his arm. It didn't just slip out when his arm was going forward. If that was a good call, when Jacobs's arm was hit, and he fumbled, it should have been called an illegal forward pass because he was downfield.

I think the commenters above are correct and Love should have risked the coach's ire and taken over if the play doesn't come in on time or is wrong for the way the D is set up. I think he's getting more backbone every game and have to realize he's only been starting for a short time relatively speaking and may learn different things at a different pace than others. What do they call it? "The game is slowing down"?

Running out of shotgun directly into Leonard Williams on fourth down had me flabbergasted.

The thought that occurred to me was the possible need for an Assistant HC, preferably one older with playoff experience who could advise MLF on wisdom of some of the questionable decisions he struggles with. At the risk of resorting to cliches, sometimes he can’t see the forest for the trees in crunch time.

This game was over when G. Smith went out.
So I'm going to cut MLF a lot of slack.
MLF is a winner.
"Every coach" makes mistakes.

Coaches screw -up.
Usually to get their players/Team to play better.
And it also takes away from the critical times, when
players fuck up.
And for some, it's a common sight.
We aren't a juggernaut.
TEAM First . Chemistry, and in MLF we Trust.
The packers never lost control of this game.

A win is a win. No matter what.

I don’t usually agree with SH, but I do here. It was a blowout. As long as the bad process isn’t repeated, I’m glad they learned their lesson.

It was great to get a road win in a far away hostile galaxy. Like many of you, I am looking for a little more execution from the players and coaches. Love has another gear to get into playoff mode. And, I am wondering what happened to Jayden Reed. Ultimately, I am waiting for the team that can beat the Vikings, Lions and Eagles. As Kevin Greene would say "now is the time"

"The Packers defense is a different animal when Edgerrin Cooper is in the game."

Very true Al. And think how good the D would be if they would have added Cooper DeJean in the draft instead of drafting an 'offensive guard' in the first round!

From the beginning, I continually raved (with downvotes from many) about Jacobs being an upgrade over A. Jones. And much like Paul Hornung, he can smell the goal line.
…if our pass rush continues this current breakthrough—lookout!
…I continue to petition for more screen plays.
I believe the Packers sweep our remaining games.
Go Packers!!!

Thanks, Al. This is still (along with "3 things" and the Dusty/Kuhn breakdowns) my favorite column to read each week. I remember reading (somewhere) that MLF's system for the play call is by its nature very, very long (i.e. takes a lot more words to designate all of the call). I think it was something about how Shanahan did his calls as well (well, he did it first). After reading that I can understand why Love has that play call arm band on his arm to refer to. I suspect part of the slow reaction to getting the play moving is due to this. I wonder if MLF and Love have ever tried some sort of "shorthand" for the calls during two-minute crunch time? I would think a call that takes that long to even say must be a handicap when going to "hurry up".

Yes, Cooper makes more of an impact than Walker. And yes, the OL played very well, especially in the first half, opening big lanes for Jacobs, but that was reversed the second half. Perhaps the play calling, especially running right at the best player on defense, was a bad decision. And no sacks? That was also because Love was mobile enough to move around and avoid being tackled, and very often making good throws from unusual angles.
LaFleur has been with the team long enough for his strengths and weaknesses to be shown, and unless he has a real head slapping "C'mon, man!" moment, he's not going to change. He needs to do an in-depth analysis of his strengths and weaknesses, make some tweaks in his coaching style.

Take the red flag away from MLF. One problem solved. Secondly, find out who, in the booth, is telling him to throw the red flag and get him some glasses, or a new prescription. It is usually very clear to the fans, watching at home, whether challenging a play/call, is going to work, or not.

The biggest negative from the game to me was the clock management at the end of the first half.

Now LaFleur took all the blame. But I think we need to put more blame on Love. He has to know they can't tick the clock down that much. I feel like LaFleur was covering for Love in that 2 minute drill. Now that being said LaFleur needs to see what is going on and call timeout to reset everything. They absolutely should have came away with 4 more points there.

"Staying on the LaFleur negativity theme (yes, I know they won by 17 points, but still...), can the Packers please do something about the play challenge decision process? "
I get that its bad on these challenges. This one I had no problem with challenging. The play was a lot closer then it originally looked and honestly, I am not 100% positive the ball wasn't loose going forward.

"The Packers defense is a different animal when Edgerrin Cooper is in the game. That's all that needs to be said."
He is flat out a stud. He should have had 2 interceptions. When he is on the field he is all over. He is great at everything. The only thing we need to get back is Jaire and our defense is going to look really freaking good come playoff time.

Matt has too much on his plate. I wish the Packers had a really sharp OC who could step in or @ least act as a knowledgeable consultant when Matt gets indecisive/ overwhelmed. I don't think Stenavich is that guy. Even Shanahan needs more input. Hafley has a young assistant who seems invaluable.

Rodgers used to manage the clock, not MLF.

Edgerrin Cooper and Josh Jacobs can't carry the team. It worries me that we rely on their presence so much.
When Cooper is out the team is compromised too much.

Stokes: Well, there was that issue with the mouthpiece, causing him to be a second late for a block on the Seattle TD. But would it have made a difference anyway in asking him to block an offensive lineman?

MLF: A more stoic and calmer demeanor during game time would serve him well. It's worth noting, though, that many well-known and successful head coaches have a fairly poor record when it comes to challenges (Bill Belichick, for example).

McManus: I hope the stress point will be removed for a good while by re-signing him. Don't fix what isn't broken by bringing in a hodgepodge of unproven kickers next season.

Must not let perfection get in the way of great...that was a great win Sunday night. The first half, until the last possession (when they gorged on the clock) was near perfection.

The O moved the chains on long, clock chewing, scoring drives. 4 scoring drives, zero punts in the first half. The D got off the field and held Seattle to 3 points.

The halftime adjustments slowed things down for both teams, yet the Packers still controlled the game...running 61 plays to the Seahawks 49. And the Defense that seemed to be jelling up to the Dophins game before relapsing into Barry Ball for a few games, finally brought the heat and pressed receivers with more man coverage. Valentine needs to start...but Stokes showed he can still play.

Cooper and Williams added so much synergy to the D...a chain reaction of everyone upping their game.

Packers are a dangerous team.

Watching Good Morning Football today and Peter Schrager has a weekly 'top 5 rookies' series--he called out Edgerrin Cooper as the #3 rookie of the week

The thing which most enraged me about the time wasting on that last first have possession was that anyone older than 7 would have known not to do what MLF and Love did. no excuse; i mean that level of not having even a minimal understanding of the most basic matters.... why is being a fan an experience only a masochist could enjoy>

Can't agree enough about the O-Line.....they have been bringing it lately! (outside of first half of recent detroit game)