HC Matt LaFleur Responds to Bengals Fans Calling His Timeout is “Dirty Play”
Green Bay, Wisconsin
The fallout from the Packers vs. Bengals showdown continues, with one particular moment stealing headlines — Matt LaFleur’s controversial timeout late in the second quarter that many Bengals fans have labeled as “dirty.”
As Bengals kicker lined up for a 67-yard field goal before halftime, the ball was snapped and the first attempt sailed perfectly through the uprights. But it didn’t count — because the Packers had called a timeout just a split second earlier. On the retry, the kick came up short, and Green Bay maintained its lead heading into halftime.
The move instantly sparked debate across social media, with Bengals fans accusing LaFleur of using an unfair trick to “ice the kicker.” But the Packers head coach wasted no time addressing the criticism in his postgame press conference.
“That was a smart, strategic call — and it worked. We didn’t play dirty; we played smart. In this league, you take every edge you can get. We won with composure and execution, not by cutting corners.”
LaFleur emphasized that the timeout was completely within NFL rules and is a well-known tactic used across the league to disrupt timing before a crucial kick. He added that his decision came from preparation, not gamesmanship.
Several analysts have backed LaFleur, calling the move “a textbook example of situational awareness” and a reflection of the head coach’s poise under pressure. Bengals officials declined to comment further, while multiple Packers players said the timeout was something they had “anticipated and practiced” during the week.
Controversial or not, LaFleur’s timeout became the turning point of the game — a moment that perfectly captured the discipline, awareness, and toughness that define Green Bay’s identity under his leadership.
