Packers News: Young CB Blames Jeff Hafley for Crucial 3rd Down Failure Leading to Loss

Spirits are low among Green Bay Packers fans following their team’s 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Despite the fact that key Packers players did not play the whole game, it was a contest that many, including the players themselves, expected to win.

What is worse, wide receiver Christian Watson exited the game early with a non-contact knee injury, putting his status for the 2025 season in doubt. Quarterback Jordan Love exited early with an elbow injury, but was held out of the game further as a precaution. He should be available when Green Bay takes on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round on Sunday.

Despite these injuries, the Packers were in a position to win the game after Brandon McManus‘ third field goal gave them a 22-21 lead late in the fourth quarter.

The Green Bay Packers Failed to Stop the Chicago Bears on Third and Long

McManus’ field goal with 54 seconds left should have been the icing on the cake. It also should not have happened with 54 seconds left. Matt LaFleur inexplicably took at timeout before the kick, stopping the clock, and thereby giving Chicago more time to score.

The Bears took over on offense and Caleb Williams was promptly sacked by Kingsley Enagbare, who was flagged for a horse collar tackle, moving Chicago forward 15 yards.

A few plays later, with the Bears on their own 49-yard line, Williams threw an 18-yard completion to DJ Moore in the middle of the field. The rookie quarterback spiked the ball with three second remaining, setting up the game-winning field goal.

It was yet another example of the Packers defense playing soft in a crucial moment when they should have been aggressive. No less than three defensive backs were lined up beyond the yardage Chicago needed to get into field goal range.

Green Bay Packers Cornerback Carrington Valentine Threw Jeff Hafley Under the Bus

The cornerback covering Moore on that play was Carrington Valentine, a former seventh round pick who has seen increased playing time due to the injury to Jaire Alexander. He was also one of the three defensive backs lined up well beyond where Chicago needed to be in order to get into field goal range.

When asked about why he was in coverage like that, Valentine blamed the defensive play call, which of course was made by Jeff Hafley:

“I just did what I was told. Play outside leverage, try to keep them in the middle of the field, so the clock. They didn’t have any timeouts. So I just did what was asked of me.”

At least it was an honest answer. One has to wonder why that was the play call on defense when Hafley promised before the season that Green Bay would be much more aggressive than they had been in years past.

Hopefully this issue gets fixed in the postseason.