As his predecessor, Mike McCarthy was being introduced as the new Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, Matt LaFleur was celebrating the one year anniversary of becoming the 15th Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers.
“Wow, it’s been a year already?” LaFleur joked prior to his first practice leading into his first playoff game this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. “It just flew by”, he said, not giving the milestone much thought as he’s more intent on continuing the process that delivered a franchise record 13 wins as a rookie coach, a North Division championship and a number two seed in the NFC’s tournament chase to Super Bowl LIV in Miami.
The countdown to the NFC Divisional Round match against Seattle is on and LaFleur will certainly have the healthier of the two teams come Sunday.
While the Seahawks practiced Wednesday with four of their five starting offensive linemen sidelined by injuries, Green Bay only had Kenny Clark withheld from their workout. He’s bothered by a back injury but that’s not expected to keep him off the field this weekend. Rookie running back Dexter Williams also didn’t participate as he became the latest to come down with a flu-like illness that has been circulating around the locker room.
Veteran players like Tramon Williams, Mercedes Lewis and Jimmy Graham were listed as non-participants only because they were given a customary day of rest.
Bryan Bulaga was cleared from the concussion protocol and returned to work after leaving the regular season finale in Detroit early.
Sunday will mark the first playoff game at Lambeau Field since the 2016, 38-13 Wild Card victory over the New York Giants. It’s expected to deliver as much as a 15 million dollar economic impact to the region.
LaFleur said despite the excitement and anticipation, it hasn’t been difficult to keep the routine the same as every other week in the regular season. Players certainly can feel the difference.
Running back Jamaal Williams said he’d like to play the game right now, “I’m just so excited for my first playoff game but you can’t see it in my face because I’m doing a good job concealing it, but I’m just ready to go.”
The Packers are four point favorites in the last of the four Division Round games this weekend. Of the 8 teams still dreaming of a trip to Florida, only two have quarterbacks who have won the Vince Lombardi Trophy and they’ll be on opposite sidelines come Sunday in Green Bay as Aaron Rodgers looks to out-duel Russell Wilson for a berth in the NFC Championship game.
