NFL Exec Rips Matt LaFleur's 'Smugness' After Jordan Love, Packers' Loss to Ben Johnson, Bears

One rival NFL coach was surprised by how the Green Bay Packers' Matt LaFleur handled a late offensive drive as the team was clinging to a three-point lead on the Chicago Bears in the NFC Wild Card Round.

"The smugness of playing your regular offense, with huge air-yard plays, in a four-minute situation," the coach told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "Of course you are not going to have (the clock moving). They are trying to score an explosive touchdown. Who does that?"

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After Caleb Williams' eight-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, Green Bay got the ball with 4:18 on the clock.

Being too conservative risked causing a three-and-out that would've left Williams and Chicago with a lot of time to march down the field. LaFleur may have gone too far in the other direction, though.

Quarterback Jordan Love missed on a deep shot to tight end Luke Musgrave, who caught 24 passes across the entire regular season. The Packers were aggressive again as Love targeted wide receiver Romeo Doubs in the end zone on 3rd-and-15 from the Bears' 26-yard line.

The result of the possession was Brandon McManus' miss on a 44-yard field goal attempt, and the Bears took over with just under three minutes remaining. Chicago ultimately needed only 1:08 for Williams to find a wide-open DJ Moore on the go-ahead score.

"Where is ball control, short passing game?" the coach said to Sando while referencing LaFleur's strategy. "Where are the angle routes?"

Another coach weighed in.

"You have to know how to play with the lead," they told Sando. "You have Jacobs fully healthy — so healthy, they put him on kickoff return. There is nothing wrong with running the ball with him."

Jacobs averaged just 2.9 yards on 19 carries, though, so the three-time Pro Bowler wasn't all that effective. That was likely a consideration as LaFleur leaned more on the passing game at critical junctures.

In general, the 46-year-old is considered a very good offensive coach. He got a little too adventurous at the worst possible time against the Bears.