Coach of Vikings Main Rival Could Be on the Hot Seat
The Green Bay Packers, as a team and fan base, are not accustomed to struggles. So when the team clumsily lost at home on Monday Night Football, questions about head coach Matt LaFleur’s job security emerged.
The head coach of the Packers, the Vikings’ top rival, is reportedly on the hot seat after a disappointing stretch that’s raised questions.
Green Bay still has a 5-3-1 record through 10 weeks, but that hasn’t stopped NFL media and some cheese faithful from speculating about LaFleur’s employment.
Coach of Vikings’ Main Foe Could Be Embattled
Another loss for Green Bay sparked the hot seat chatter.
Packers Fall to Eagles; LaFleur’s Job Security Suspect for First Time
Green Bay had a reasonable chance to topple Philadelphia at home in Week 10 — and just didn’t do it.
CBS Sports‘ Bryan DeArdo wrote after the game, “Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is fielding questions about his job status following Sunday night’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Green Bay’s 10-7 loss to Philadelphia marked the team’s second straight defeat.”
“The loss, which dropped Green Bay (5-3-1) from first to third place in the NFC North standings, led to questions on whether or not LaFleur is on the proverbial hot seat. While Green Bay underachieved through nine games, the question about LaFleur’s job status may be more indicative of the state of coaching than it is about LaFleur’s job performance.”
A win — or several — would probably get rid of the hot seat chatter for LaFleur, but it’s palpable for now.
A Stinky Offense
In the last two games — losses to the Panthers and Eagles — Green Bay’s offense has ranked 25th in offensive EPA/Play. Also known as eighth-worst. Terrible.
Before those two losses, LaFleur and friends ranked second-best leaguewide per the same metric.
Yes, LaFleur’s offense went from second-best to eighth-worst within the last two weeks. If you want to know why there’s any hot set chatter at all, the numbers don’t lie. That’s the answer.
One “Easy” Game This Week and Then a Tough Gauntlet
This week, the Packers take on the New York Giants, a club without its head coach — Brian Daboll was fired this week — its QB1 Jaxson Dart, its RB1 Cam Skattebo, and its WR1 Malik Nabers.
Some Green Bay fans are paranoid that new starter Jameis Winston will cook this weekend, but that may stem from everything going pear-shaped in the last two weeks.
After the Giants matchup, the Packers’ schedule turns rough. No more easy games. Here’s a look at the gauntlet from Week 12 to Week 18:
- Week 12: vs. Vikings
- Week 13: at Lions
- Week 14: vs. Bears
- Week 15: at Broncos
- Week 16: at Bears
- Week 17: vs. Ravens
- Week 18: at Vikings
The “easy” games end Sunday for Green Bay.
Missing Playoffs Would Heat This Talker All the Way Up
Meanwhile, the Packers currently own the seventh seed in the NFC’s evolving playoff picture. They were the first seed mere weeks ago. A loss by Green Bay at New York would probably shove LaFleur’s team temporarily out of the postseason mix — and LaFleur further onto the hot seat.
Then, Green Bay would host Minnesota in Week 12, a team that, in theory, could be fresh off the momentum of beating the Bears.
LaFleur’s grace period in 2025 is over if he wants to reach the postseason. That expired when he lost the Browns and Panthers.
Packers-Themed Media Regarding the Hot Seat Chatter
Lombardi Ave.‘s Freddie Boston wrote this week, “Green Bay’s coach and roster builder have two years remaining on their contracts, including this year, but Packers president Ed Policy said he doesn’t want either to face a lame-duck season.”
“In other words, he’ll make a decision on a contract extension after this season. At 5-3-1, third in the NFC North, and with an offense that has scored a total of 20 points in back-to-back home losses, the concern is real. LaFleur has time. He’ll be judged on the full season’s body of work, but this team is spiraling into danger.”
Green Bay has a 71.2% of reaching the postseason, according to ESPN FPI.
“We keep hearing about their self-inflicted errors and how they must clean up the mistakes. But those problems aren’t new and haunted this team last season. The ‘but they’re the youngest team in the NFL’ argument is no longer valid. This is Year 3 of the Jordan Love era. They just traded two first-round picks for Micah Parsons,” Boston continued.
“That’s a sign they believe they’re ready to compete. It’s a bit much to say LaFleur is sitting on the hot seat, but his impressive 72-36-1 coaching record doesn’t make him immune to it. The pressure is building, and if the Packers can’t find answers as they enter a brutal eight-game stretch to end the regular season, time may run out on LaFleur.”
Sportsbooks aren’t worried about the Packers this week; they’re expected to take down the Giants by a touchdown.
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