Could fan expectations be any lower for the Packers opening round playoff game at Philly? When that’s the “positive” takeaway after the ugly Chicago loss, it says something.

I’ve found dental surgery more enjoyable than watching that game. As uneven, uninspired, and lousy as many of the players played, my biggest concern is the egregious coaching errors.

Getting players to play at a high level, while also resting key players in a game that, may or may not, have consequences is a high wire act for any coach. Matt La Fleur doesn’t get a pass for the disjointed performance, but at least I can make sense of it. The Chiefs backups lost 38-0 on Sunday, while the lowly Saints took Tampa Bay, another playoff team, to the wire. Listless performances do happen in these kinds of games.

Clunky slow starts won’t win

Even with a backup QB for more than half the game, the offense seemed decent when they ran Josh Jacobs. Otherwise, they mostly looked disjointed and out of synch. That’s on MLF. Calling a timeout while in field goal range late with the Bears down to their last timeout was a terrible mistake. LaFleur sounding unsure if they were in McManus field goal range after the game is also a bad look.

Ohio State football secondary coach Jeff Hafley. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

The defensive formation on the Bears last pass was a complete non-recognition of the situation by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. McKinney and other defensive backs were 20+ yards deep when they should have been pressing the line of scrimmage. Even a play over the top would have likely ended the game assuming the Packers made a tackle because the Bears couldn’t have gotten downfield in time for the spike. La Fleur acknowledged after the game they knew the Bears had time for one play and to kill the clock, which they did. So why the huge opening in the center of the field? That pass was a gut punch, because up until then, the defense had played well enough to win. MLF and Hafley blowing the end of game strategy is concerning, and leaves you wondering how they’d handle a tight playoff game.

Cancel Bisaccia parade

The costliest coaching mistake was on special teams. Players quoted after the game said they’ve never practiced the fake returner deception. This, even though the Bears pulled the very same trick play on Green Bay 10-years ago. Players also said they got the call that Daniel Whelan would be punting to the left, and yet they were asleep at the switch, chasing the “fake returner” on the right giving up a “way to easy” 95-yard punt return TD.

Besides the disastrous punt return, the kick return unit opened the game with a penalty. Despite his reputation, Rich Bisaccia has proven to be an average, at best, special teams coach. That’s on him, and his boss, Matt La Fleur.

For 2-years we’ve heard the Packers are the youngest team in the league. It’s been used as both a cause for hope and an excuse for inconsistent play. And yet, the head coach is finishing his 6th season, with a mostly experienced staff. So where is the clock management? Why does he seem to always get it wrong when going for it, or not, on 4th down? Where is the creative offensive mind who should be devising a way for his offense to mesh, and mesh from the start?

Good decisions in real time

I’m not saying Matt LaFleur should be fired. He’s had far too much success to suggest that. But the accumulated coaching blunders in this game is a blinking red light, on top of other questionable coaching moves across the ’24 season. Yes, he’s had some great moments too, including 2-wins from a backup QB brand new to his system.

To develop, learn and grow, this team needs better from its’ veteran coach and coaches in the moment. The Bears game wasn’t the only example, but is another check mark against LaFleur’s’ in-game decision making.