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Stephen A. Smith Lashes Out at Packers Coach Matt LaFleur After Disastrous 4th Down Call

Published 01/25/2021, 10:32 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed the double over the Green Bay Packers this season by winning yesterday’s NFC Championship Game on the road.

Playing at Lambeau Field is never an easy task, and the home fans didn’t make things easier for the visitors. But a judgmental error by Packers HC Matt LaFleur ultimately proved to be the turning point of what turned out to be a close-fought game.

Tom Brady threw 3 passing touchdowns as the Buccaneers made their way to a narrow 5-point win over the Packers on Sunday.

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But things could have ended differently had LaFleur gone for the kill right before the stroke of half time in the 2nd quarter. Here’s what a certain popular analyst has to say on the same.

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Stephen A. Smith blames Matt LaFleur for embarrassing Buccaneers loss

Popular American analyst Stephen A. Smith was not pleased with what he saw at Lambeau Field. He was particularly critical of Packers HC Matt LaFleur and his 4th-down call just before the clock ran out in the second quarter.

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Smith said, “You sit up there and take the ball out of Aaron Rodgers’ hands with two minutes and five seconds left. Because you want your defense to prevent Tom Brady from getting a first down.

“He heads down the field in time for a touchdown. Not driving down the field needing a field goal.

USA Today via Reuters

“All he needed was a first down that was fine. You’re gonna sit up there and hand Tom Brady the ball back when all he needs is a first down. You have any idea how dumb that is?” Smith said on the show.

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Despite a slow start, Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ defense did enough to keep the home team in the game up until this point.

But it all seemed to go downhill from this crucial turning point. Brady went on to score from the ensuing drive connecting with WR Scott Miller for a 39-yard touchdown with seconds left on the clock.

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Talk about narrow margins, eh?

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Written by:

Daniel Arambur

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Daniel Arambur is an NFL writer and content strategist for EssentiallySports.With more than 1,000 articles, he is one of the senior writers in the NFL cohort at ES. A mass media graduate from the University of Mumbai, Daniel has found the perfect blend of vocation and passion in the sports content niche.
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