The Green Bay Packers surprisingly lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. The special teams played a big part in the defeat, failing badly on three occasions.

Munich – Somewhere in the snowdrift of Green Bay, on this used evening, the Green Bay Packers had completely lost the overview. It showed on the game-winning field goal by Robbie Gould, of all people.

When the kicker of the San Francisco 49ers sank the egg from 45 yards with the clock running down to 13:10, only ten players of the hosts faced him.

Who had fumbled and missed their cue will probably remain the Packers’ secret. The sting of the almost sensational defeat of the best team of the regular season is probably too deep to pick out individual scapegoats. And it is very likely that even an eleventh player on the field would not have been able to prevent the veteran’s direct hit.

Ward blocks field goal attempt by Crosby

Netheless, the scene was ultimately symptomatic. For the special teams of coordinator Maurice Drayton, who had only taken over responsibility this season, delivered an atrocious performance.

There was Matt Crosby’s 39-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, which was blocked by Jimmie Ward after he had crossed the line virtually untouched. At least punter Corey Bojorquez secured the ball to prevent worse.

Blocked Packers punt turns into 49ers touchdown

In the final quarter, they failed to do so. Jordan Willis blocked Bojorquez’s punt attempt and Talanoa Hufanga carried it six yards into the end zone.

It was this special teams gaffe that allowed the Niners to equalise. And with that, in the position to kick a game-winning field goal on the next drive.

The NFL’s worst special teams unit turned in one of the worst special teams performances in NFL playoff history … and appears to have had only 10 men on the field for the winning field goal. pic.twitter.com/bJvPtHYXkQ

– Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 23, 2022

Oh that was brilliant !!!!
He chopped the post hand so
Jimmy Ward can jump through.

The timing has to be precise for this to work! pic.twitter.com/8oRqVuhFQa

– Will Blackmon (@WillBlackmon) January 23, 2022

LaFleur takes blame for mistakes

Head coach Matt LaFleur took the blame for the slip-ups. “That’s not supposed to happen. That’s unacceptable,” he said of the ten-man performance, “But that’s on me, too.”

“NFL” pundit Patrick Esume also came clean. On Twitter, he wrote: “What the Packers did on special teams is grotesque. Regardless of only having 10 on the field for the most important field goal block of the season and you’re missing a crucial man on the block side to have 3 vs 2, there were too many fundamental mistakes that can cost the special teams coach his head.”

So “the Pack’s” special teams were anything but playoff-ready. And as such, are perhaps the biggest construction site on a team that could be facing a shake-up.

What the Packers have done in the SPT is grotesque. Regardless of only having 10 on the field on the most important FG block of the season and you’re missing a crucial man on the block side to have 3 vs 2, there were too many fundamental mistakes that got the SP coach’s head

– Patrick Esume (@EsumePatrick) January 23, 2022