ATLANTA — Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur wanted to blame crowd noise for a failed fourth-and-1 sneak by Jordan Love that opened the door for Atlanta’s go-ahead touchdown drive.
It turns out LaFleur was just being kind, trying to take his young quarterback off the hook following Sunday’s 25-24 loss to the Falcons.
Love was more blunt, saying he deserved blame for the the failed sneak because he didn’t correctly call the play with the Packers leading 24-22 in the fourth quarter. Love tried to call for the sneak but didn’t get the snap when expected and took off on the plunge without the ball.
Green Bay was penalized for a false start and had to punt, setting up Atlanta’s go-ahead drive capped by Younghoe Koo’s 25-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining.
“Yeah, just messed up the operation with the cadence on that one,” Love said. “Not everybody got the call to get the sneak, so I messed that operation up right there.”
Added Love: “I said the wrong thing. It’s pretty much not a play until I give the live word, pretty much, and I gave the wrong live word on that one.”
Asked if he forgot the live word, Love said “Just messed it up.”
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) passes the ball in the pocket as Atlanta Falcons defensive end Zach Harrison (96) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Atlanta. Credit: AP/Brynn Anderson
LaFleur said Love had the option to change the play at the line “if he thought he could get it on the sneak then it’s on him to check to it. I think he did. And nobody heard him. I mean it was loud and, you know, that’s just it’s an unfortunate situation.”
It was a crucial part of the Packers’ frustrating fourth quarter. Green Bay led 24-12 before the Falcons rallied. The Packers gained 11 yards on three fourth-quarter possessions.
Love was 0-for-6 passing in the decisive quarter.
“I think it just comes down to execution and being better in the fourth quarter and being…
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