Twitter Was Blown Away By Packers' Crunch-Time Field Goal Decision

The Green Bay Packers made a questionable decision Sunday, and it was among the many factors in why they lost the NFC Championship Game.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opted to send out the field goal unit for a 26-yarder despite Green Bay trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 with 2:09 left. The Packers were facing a fourth-and-goal from Tampa Bay’s 8-yard line.

While the field goal attempt was successful, it merely cut the Packers’ deficit to 31-26 and gave the Buccaneers the ball back. Tom Brady and the offense did the rest, securing a pair of first downs and running out the clock.

The Buccaneers claimed a 31-26 victory and thus advance to the Super Bowl.

Twitter reacted to the decision to attempt a field goal rather than the fourth-down try rather accordingly:

The Packers were absolute morons for kicking that field goal.

Don't let the pass interference penalty cloud that fact.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) January 24, 2021

I don't get kicking the field goal there. You still need a touchdown to win, and you have to get the ball back. Even if you have a 25 percent chance on fourth-and-goal from the 8, and need a two-point after that to tie, I think I like those odds better. We'll see.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 24, 2021

Given the option of having this game decided by Rodgers or the Packers defense…I don't understand that decision for the life of me.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 24, 2021

Still can't believe the #Packers went for a field goal there. And don't understand Aaron Rodgers not just running on one or both the plays he force fed the ball into traffic. The yardage was there.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) January 24, 2021

You’re handing ball to Tom Brady rather than giving Aaron Rodgers another play with it?
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 24, 2021

they kicked a field goal down eight points with 2:05 to go with the greatest red zone offense in league history
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 24, 2021

I actually think — given the stakes — Matt LaFleur kicking that field goal is the worst coaching decision I've ever seen.
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) January 24, 2021

Kicking a field goal to be down 5 points and hand Tom Effing Brady the knife to jab in your heart is a bold strategy.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) January 24, 2021

I just don’t understand how you put your defense up against Tom Brady getting a first down. I just don’t like the odds.
— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) January 24, 2021

Also… LaFleur kicking that field goal is coaching malpractice. He watched his defense all game live on the edge and put the game on them instead of Rodgers.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 24, 2021

Tampa Bay will play the winner of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.