Packers Coach Matt LaFleur Demands NFL Investigation Into Referees Over Unfair Penalty Calls That Nearly Led to His Team’s Defeat Against Cardinals
Green Bay, WI — The Green Bay Packers may have escaped Week 7 with a thrilling 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals, but the victory was clouded by controversy. Head coach Matt LaFleur demanded that the NFL review what he called “unacceptable officiating inconsistencies” that nearly cost his team the game. The coach’s remarks came just hours after Green Bay’s dramatic fourth-quarter comeback in Glendale.
LaFleur’s frustration stemmed from several questionable penalties in the second half that extended key Cardinals drives. Two defensive holding calls and a late pass interference against Jaire Alexander drew particular criticism. “We played disciplined football,” LaFleur said postgame. “If this league cares about fairness, there needs to be accountability for calls like that.” His tone was controlled but unmistakably sharp, as he hinted that officiating nearly overshadowed his team’s effort.
The Packers had trailed for most of the night after early mistakes and costly flags kept them pinned. Down 20-13 entering the fourth quarter, quarterback Jordan Love led a gutsy rally, capped by Josh Jacobs’ one-yard touchdown run with 1:50 left. The defense then sealed the win with a clutch sack from Micah Parsons—his third of the game. Yet amid celebration, many players shared their coach’s irritation at how uneven the calls felt throughout.
Linebacker Rashan Gary voiced the team’s frustration: “It felt like every stop we made, the flag came out. That’s hard to swallow when you know you’re doing your job.” Safety Darnell Savage echoed him, saying, “It messes with momentum. You start wondering if you’re being penalized for playing tough.” The Packers were flagged nine times for 95 yards, compared with just 45 for Arizona.
Packers Coach Matt LaFleur Demands NFL Investigation Into Referees Over Unfair Penalty Calls That Nearly Led to His Team’s Defeat Against Cardinals pic.twitter.com/l8IPMjdBZX
— Adam Schefler (@ScheflerAdamUs) October 20, 2025
Despite the tension, the Packers’ resolve shone through late. Love finished 19-of-29 for 179 yards and a touchdown, while Jacobs—playing through a calf issue—punched in two scores. Parsons was nearly unstoppable, pressuring Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett into hurried throws and a game-ending incompletion. “We didn’t fold,” LaFleur said. “That’s what good teams do—they respond, even when the odds feel stacked.”
Analysts quickly joined the debate. Former NFL referee Gene Steratore told national media that at least one of the holding calls against Green Bay “appeared questionable at best.” Sports commentators pointed out that such inconsistency can erode public confidence in officiating. Several fans and even rival players voiced support for LaFleur’s demand that the league review the game film and officiating decisions.
The NFL has not issued an official response, though multiple sources have confirmed that the league will conduct its routine evaluation of the officiating crew. Meanwhile, Packers fans flooded social media with clips of disputed calls, fueling hashtags like #FixTheRefs and #PackersJustice. Many called the game “a near-robbery narrowly averted by grit.”
As Green Bay looks ahead to a divisional matchup next week, LaFleur’s message is unmistakable: “We’ll play tough, fair, and fearless football,” he said. “But if the league wants integrity, it must hold everyone—players and officials alike—to the same standard.” His demand may spark a broader conversation across the NFL about fairness, consistency, and the growing pressure on referees in pivotal games.
