The Green Bay Packers essentially lost the plot in the fourth quarter of their 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in their season-opener. They led the contest, 22-17, heading into the final frame, and they allowed the Vikings to score 22 unanswered points to lose the game convincingly. It looked as though they lost all momentum when their QB sneak at fourth & 1 with 13:17 remaining in the period failed.

The Packers chose to go for the jugular on that play. They had scored a field goal on the prior play, which would have given them a 25-17 lead, but the Vikings received a penalty, which Green Bay chose to accept. This then allowed them to restart the play. However, just the simple fact that they accepted the penalty suggested that they had a trick up their sleeve. QB Jordan Love tried to sneak in and get the first down, but instead, they turned the ball over.

This opened up the floodgates for the Vikings; the Packers proceeded to fumble the ball away, throw a pick, and then turn the ball over on downs in their final three drives of the night as they watched Minnesota run away with the game.

After the contest, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur explained his decision to go for it on fourth down.

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“We're going to be aggressive and try to go for the throat in that situation,” LaFleur said, per Kyle Malzhan of WFRV Local 5.

Of course, this was the wrong decision, not just in hindsight, but also within the context of the game at that point. Scoring three points would have kept the game tied at worst for the Packers had the Vikings actually scored and completed a two-point conversion on their next drive (which they did). Instead, they were greedy and got punished for it dearly.

LaFleur's decisions in the past have already frustrated the Packers fanbase, and this latest disastrous choice only served to strengthen the fanbase's animosity towards him.