The Packers had won 13 straight kickoffs. They failed to reach 14.
The Falcons dominated at Lambeau Field on Thursday night, beating the Packers 35-14.
After the game, Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur called it what it was.
“It was a big butt,” LaFleur said. “That was at least three quarters of the butt back there.”
His comments came in the context of the potential impact of a approximating the passerby’s call that extended Atlanta’s initial scoring drive over the course of the game. Asked about that specific call, LaFleur said, “I’m not going to answer it. I’m not going to be fined.”
At the moment, no one is being laid off. Asked if offensive line play will cause changes to the coaching staff, LaFleur said, “I’m not even going to answer that question.”
He also refused to blame the offense’s sluggish performance on blockers. “I don’t want to put all the blame on the offensive line,” LaFleur said. “There is enough blame to go around to everyone.”
However, the numbers say it all. The Packers can’t run. They had nine rushing attempts for 17 yards against 53 passing. And they’re obviously missing starting cornerback Josh Jacobs.
“I mean, I think we all saw a dynamic return on the other side, and I think Josh is a dynamic return,” LaFleur said. “But it’s the situation, it’s the circumstance. And that’s what it is right now. And we’ve got to find a way to just both — well, one, we’ve got to put them in a better position, and then those guys have got to go do it.”
They have extra time to figure out how to do it before a Week 4 game at Tampa Bay for a renewal of the old NFC Central “Bay of Pigs” rivalry. With Green Bay at 1-2 and the Buccaneers at 0-2, it might be time for Chris Berman to dust off that name for the first time in a long time.