Green Bay Packers: Joe Barry’s Defensive Woes Culminate in the Brutal Breaking Point”
The hope Joe Barry harbored for maintaining his role as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator was shattered in Week 15 when Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers delivered a humiliating blow to his defensive unit. As recounted by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the defeat to the Bucs marked the ominous turning point in Barry’s tenure with the Packers.
In that pivotal Week 15 matchup against the Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield orchestrated a formidable performance, amassing 381 yards and four touchdowns in a decisive 34-20 victory at Lambeau Field. Mayfield’s dominance unfolded as he completed 22 of 28 passes, with wide receiver Chris Godwin reeling in 155 receiving yards on 10 receptions and 12 targets. The Packers’ defense hit a low point, compounded by a previous loss to the New York Giants.
Following the disheartening loss to Tampa Bay, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was questioned about the possibility of hiring a new defensive coordinator. However, he deferred any decisions at the time. The resolution came later, with Barry no longer at the helm of the Green Bay Packers’ defense.
As the Buccaneers exploited the Packers, Mayfield’s performance underscored the struggles, with Coach LaFleur now seeking a new direction for the team’s defense.
