It’s no secret that coaching matters in the NFL – in fact, it might be the closest thing to a cheat code in a league built on parity. With rosters across the league fairly evenly matched in terms of raw talent, it’s often the person with the headset who tips the scales. And right now, Matt LaFleur is tipping the scales in Green Bay’s favor more than ever.
In just his seventh season, LaFleur is already sitting on a résumé that demands respect: 69 wins in his first 102 games and five playoff appearances in six years. That’s elite territory.
But this season? He’s somehow leveled up again – and it’s starting to show in all the subtle, brilliant ways that separate good coaches from great ones.
There’s a different energy around this Packers team. Call it swagger, call it urgency, call it belief – whatever it is, it’s radiating from the sideline and bleeding into every snap. And while GM Brian Gutekunst’s call for urgency and new team president Ed Policy’s decision to hold off on a contract extension certainly added some stakes, it’s been LaFleur who’s responded with intensity and precision.
That was on full display Thursday night. The Packers had outplayed Washington for most of the game, but the Commanders weren’t going away quietly.
Early in the fourth quarter, Washington punched in a score to cut the lead to 17-10. The momentum was shifting.
Green Bay needed a response – not just a few first downs to chew clock, but a statement drive to put the game on ice.
Enter LaFleur’s playbook.
Let’s break down that drive – a masterclass in situational play-calling.
First play. The Commanders loaded the line, showing aggressive man coverage with a single high safety.
Blitz was coming. It was a classic test: can your guy beat their guy before the pressure arrives?
LaFleur had the answer ready. He dialed up a speed motion for Dontayvion Wicks, who crossed the formation before snapping into an out route.
That motion wasn’t just for show – it gave Wicks a free release and forced the defender to play catch-up from the jump. It’s a play design LaFleur’s used in big moments before, including a memorable version with Davante Adams against Jalen Ramsey in the 2021 Divisional Round.
It’s vintage LaFleur – using motion to create space and simplify the read for his quarterback.
Next up, the run game needed a spark. Washington’s interior defenders had clogged the middle all night, and Green Bay needed to find a way to keep the chains moving and the clock running.
So LaFleur reached deep into his bag and came out with a creative run concept that caught the Commanders off guard. It wasn’t flashy in the way that trick plays usually are, but it was clever, well-timed, and effective – exactly what the moment demanded.
Then came the dagger.
After pounding the ball inside on two consecutive plays from heavy personnel, Green Bay lined up in a similar look. Washington’s linebackers, now fully locked in on stopping the run, crept up aggressively.
That’s when LaFleur pulled the string. Off play-action, the tight ends released into routes, and with no help over the top, it was a mismatch.
Easy touchdown. Drive capped.
Game, essentially, over.
That sequence – three plays, three brilliant calls – is the kind of thing that doesn’t always show up in the box score but makes all the difference. LaFleur didn’t just call plays; he set traps.
He used prior tendencies to manipulate the defense, then struck when the moment was ripe. It was a chess match, and by the end of that drive, LaFleur was three moves ahead.
This is what makes him special. His ability to scheme players open, to create favorable looks, and to adjust in real time – it’s all part of the package.
But what’s equally impressive this year is the leadership piece. This team is locked in.
You can feel it from the sideline to the huddle. And that tone starts at the top.
No, LaFleur hasn’t yet made a deep playoff run – we all know that’s the one box still unchecked. But everything else?
He’s checking it with authority. The Packers are playing inspired football, and their head coach is orchestrating it with a blend of creativity, composure, and tactical brilliance.
One drive doesn’t tell the whole story, but it gives us a glimpse of how LaFleur operates: always thinking ahead, always setting his players up for success. And if this version of Matt LaFleur is here to stay, the rest of the NFC better start paying attention – because Green Bay’s got more than just talent. They’ve got a difference-maker on the sideline.
