Packers coach matt lafleur announced on wednesday that joe barry has stepped down from his role as defensive coordinator for the green bay packers after a rough third season that culminated in a loss in the nfc divisional round of the playoffs. “we want to thank joe for his hard choices and contributions to our success the past three seasons,” the statement reads.
Green bay finished the regular season 10th in points allowed per game (20.6), 17th in yards allowed per game (335.6), and 23rd in yards allowed per play (5.4), thanks to a defense that included eight former first-round draft picks. This includes a gruesome three-game stretch toward the end of the season, when the packers lost 1-2 to the new york giants, tampa bay buccaneers, and carolina panthers while allowing 29.3 points per game. Following a 34-20 loss to tampa bay, where baker mayfield had a perfect passer rating of 158.3, lafleur was specifically concerned about the possibility of switching coordinators during the season at his news conference.
For their efforts against the packers, tommy devito of new york and mayfield both received nfc player of the week honors. lafleur said after a day that he would keep barry but play a more prominent role in the defense. After taking a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, the packers lost to carolina 33-30 the following week. Carolina would win only the next two games of the season without scoring another point. The packers gave up just one touchdown in the final two games of the regular season, but it was recovered by the minnesota vikings at the green bay 7-yard line after a mishandled kick. In the wild-card round, the packers defeated the dallas cowboys 48–32, keeping them scoreless until the very end of the first half.
In a divisional-round loss to san francisco of 24-21, the packers gave up 25 points to the cowboys in the second half and failed to hold on to a lead in the fourth quarter as the 49ers drove 69 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:07 remaining. The defense was plagued by injuries for a significant portion of the season.
