Mike McCarthy After Packers' Loss to Cardinals: 'I've Never Been in This Spot'

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy seemingly acknowledged the pressure he was under after Sunday's 20-17 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals.

"I've never been in this spot," McCarthy said after the game, per Brian Jones of 247Sports. "I'm not going to act like I know what the hell I'm gonna do tomorrow when we get in here. But we're going to do what we always do. We're going to represent the Packers the right way."

McCarthy's comments proved prophetic. The Packers announced Sunday they fired him and installed Joe Philbin as the interim head coach.

Green Bay lost after Mason Crosby pushed a game-tying field goal wide right as time expired in the fourth quarter.

McCarthy might still have a job if Crosby's attempt split the uprights and the Packers went on to win in overtime. But professional sports are a results-based business, and there's no way to positively spin a loss to the previously 2-9 Cardinals.

By firing McCarthy now, Green Bay might have waited too long for the coaching change to make a difference this season. The Packers have now lost five of their last six games and have no margin for error at 4-7-1 to reach the playoffs.

Having said that, the team wasn't going anywhere with McCarthy on the sideline. His firing is the Packers' last gambit to try to salvage whatever they can of the 2018 campaign.

And by dismissing McCarthy immediately after Sunday's game, the team ensured Philbin will have a full week of preparation as the interim coach ahead of Green Bay's Week 14 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.