The Green Bay Packers dropped to 4-3 following a narrow 20-17 defeat against the Detroit Lions in Week 7. While controversial officiating decisions left many feeling that Green Bay had been on the wrong end of several calls, head coach Matt LaFleur chose a measured approach when addressing the referees on Tuesday.
LaFleur avoided escalating the debate over the disputed calls when reporters raised the issue once more. As Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports reported, the 46-year-old coach recognized the difficulty officials face when they must judge fast moving plays in real time.
Rather than dwell on specific decisions, LaFleur stressed that he simply wants the officiating to remain consistent from game to game.
“I don’t think officiating in this league is very easy. I really don’t. I think things happen quickly, and there’s some bang-bang decisions they have to make. So I don’t think they have an easy job. All you want as a coach is consistency,” commented the Packers head coach.
Matt LaFleur and the Packers against the Lions
Several disputed calls against the Packers late in the second half helped Detroit close out its victory. One of the most debated decisions came in the third quarter, when officials flagged defensive end Brenton Cox for roughing the passer, drawing an angry reaction from future Hall of Fame quarterback and broadcaster Tom Brady. Additional penalties against defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, defensive tackle Karl Brooks, and quarterback Jordan Love also sparked confusion among viewers.
NFL coaches and players risk hefty fines or suspensions if they publicly criticize game officials. That restriction could explain Matt LaFleur’s comments on Tuesday. Regardless, the Packers will turn their attention to Week 8, when they host the Carolina Panthers on “Thursday Night Football.”
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