Matt LaFleur explains criticism of controversial no-call against 49ers

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur explained his criticism of a controversial play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The Packers felt that intentional grounding should have been called on a play that was penalized. The Packers would win in the end, but the play could have impacted the game as it ended with a small margin.

Matt LaFleur on 49ers no-call

During his press conference on Monday, LaFleur was asked about a play during the game where he felt the 49ers should have been flagged for intentional grounding. NBC Sports’ Michele Tafoya had revealed he was upset about the no-call during the game’s broadcast.

“I have no idea — I talked to [referee Jerome Boger] going into halftime,” explained LaFleur about whether he was given an explanation by the officiating crew. “He said that the throw was caused because he got hit by Preston [Smith]. So that caused the ball to go where it went. I thought we had some pretty good coverage on the back-end there and it looked to me like he may have panicked and just thrown it.”

“But it is what it is, it’s a judgment call and sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t,” closed LaFleur.

The Packers went on to win the game 30-28 thanks to late-game heroics from Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams leading to a game-winning field goal from Mason Crosby.

Davante Adams takes dangerous hit

Another controversial no-call during the game came on a passing play to Green Bay wide receiver Davante Adams. Adams attempted to catch a pass down the center of the field when the defensive back hit him from the side, appearing to make helmet to helmet contact.

Following the play, former NFL referee Terry McAuley explained that he felt the no-call was a failure of the officiating crew.

“So as we look at it, we see the back judge let the players go by him,” McAuley explained. “So he’s now behind the play. He can’t see it. This is a new mechanic for this year. For my whole history, that back judge would be ahead of the play in centerfield, watching this angle that you’re looking at right now. But from behind the play, he couldn’t see it all. This is really a mechanical failure on the part of NFL officiating in my opinion.”

McAuley’s explanation details a new mechanic that NFL referee’s are using this season that changes their positioning on the field. Because the referees were not in a position to see the hit from that angle, the penalty was not called.

Adams laid on the field for some time before walking off without assistance. After receiving attention in the medical tent on the sideline, Adams returned to the game on the same drive.

On the Packers’ final drive of the game after falling down by one point, Adams came up huge with two catches for 43 yards. With his effort, the Packers got into field position for a 51-yard field goal attempt which they would hit to win the game.