As the clock ticked down to the final seconds of the NFC Championship game on January 24, 2021, the world watched in shock as the Green Bay Packers decided to kick a field goal instead of attempting to score a touchdown. The decision was met with widespread criticism and confusion, as fans and analysts alike questioned who wanted to kick that field goal.
Many believed that it was head coach Matt LaFleur who made the call, as he was seen speaking with quarterback Aaron Rodgers prior to the field goal attempt. However, LaFleur later stated in a post-game press conference that the decision was ultimately his.
“I just felt like, with the three timeouts and the ability to get a stop there, that we were going to give ourselves a chance,” LaFleur explained. “And that’s why we did it.”
Rodgers, on the other hand, seemed to disagree with the decision, stating that he would have preferred to go for it on fourth down.
“I didn’t have a decision on that one,” Rodgers said in a post-game interview. “That wasn’t my decision. But I understand the thinking, above two minutes with all of our timeouts, but it wasn’t my decision.”
Regardless of who ultimately made the decision, the field goal attempt ultimately failed, and the Packers lost the game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, effectively ending their Super Bowl hopes for the season.
In the aftermath of the game, many fans and analysts have continued to debate the decision to kick the field goal, with some arguing that it was a calculated risk that simply didn’t pay off, while others believe that it was a major coaching blunder that cost the team the game.
In the end, who wanted to kick that field goal may never be fully known. But what is clear is that the decision was a controversial one that will continue to be debated by fans and analysts alike for years to come.
