Despite Victory, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Refuses to Celebrate and Confronts Harsh Reality
The Green Bay Packers pulled off a 27 to 20 win over the New York Giants in their Week 11 NFL matchup, but Head Coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t celebrating. Instead, much of his postgame press conference was devoted to a growing concern on his roster: the kicker position.
The game at MetLife Stadium was played under windy conditions, making it impossible for either team to attempt a field goal. However, it was the extra point attempts that raised serious alarm. Of the three PATs (Point After Touchdown) attempted by the Packers, kicker Lucas Havrisik made only one. That’s a success rate too low to ignore, regardless of the wind.
When asked how much the wind impacted Havrisik’s misses, LaFleur answered candidly:
“I mean, I don’t know. I’m not a kicker. But the bottom line is, we deal with this kind of wind all the time at our practice facility, and at the end of the day, you’ve got to find a way.”
The comment, pulled from the team’s official YouTube channel, shows that LaFleur wasn’t in the mood for excuses. Veteran kicker Brandon McManus missed the game with a quad injury, giving Havrisik a golden opportunity to prove himself. Instead, he raised even more concerns.
As the Packers approach the final stretch of the season and a potential playoff run, they need a reliable kicker who can perform in harsh winter weather, especially at Lambeau Field. With Sunday’s performance, Havrisik may have slammed the door shut on his own chances.
Lucas Havrisik’s Disappointing Performance
Lucas Havrisik entered Sunday’s matchup with a shot to lock in his role as the Packers’ go-to kicker. But rather than rising to the occasion, he wilted under pressure.
The wind prevented any field goal attempts, but the Packers did score three touchdowns, each followed by an extra point try. Havrisik converted just one out of three, missing the other two due to poor mechanics and what appeared to be shaky nerves. After his first miss, his body language was visibly tense, and his confidence seemed to vanish.
What made matters worse was that there were no issues with the snap or the hold. Both missed kicks were squarely on Havrisik.
In a game the Packers still managed to win, Havrisik’s performance left a sour taste and raised serious doubts. On a team with playoff aspirations, an unstable kicker is a liability they simply can’t afford.
And with Coach Matt LaFleur publicly questioning his kicker’s consistency after the game, the writing may already be on the wall. If McManus returns healthy, Havrisik’s time in Green Bay could be running out fast.
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