‘I’d rather go down swinging:’ Packers coach Matt LaFleur knows second-guessing comes with the territory when a decision backfires — as his did in loss to Panthers

GREEN BAY — Matt LaFleur understands that criticism comes with the territory, especially when you make a risky call and your decision ends up being an abject failure.

“I mean,” the Green Bay Packers head coach said, “that's always the deal.”

And that’s exactly what happened to LaFleur in the aftermath of last Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, when LaFleur made a gutsy (some might say misguided) call to go for it on fourth-and-8 from the Panthers’ 13-yard line with 11 minutes to go in the game and his team trailing, 13-6.

LaFleur could have sent out kicker Brandon McManus — and yes, it is fair to point out that the veteran has missed three field-goal attempts in the last two games, including earlier against the Panthers, since returning from (but not being 100% healed from) a