Packers’ special teams coach predicted his team’s game-winning play
Dec 5, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia reacts against the Washington Football Team in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia apparently foresaw his unit’s game-saving play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur revealed after Sunday’s 20-19 win that Bisaccia had effectively challenged his defense to disrupt a Bears’ special teams opportunity prior to the game. LaFleur said Bisaccia had told the unit on Saturday that it would not make sense if the Packers failed to come up with a blocked kick during Sunday’s game.
Per Matt LaFleur, Rich Bisaccia told the Packers’ special teams unit last night that he wouldn’t understand if they come out of the game today without a blocked field goal or extra-point attempt.
— Zachary Jacobson (@zacobson) November 17, 2024
It took a while, but the Packers did just that. Green bay blocked Bears kicker Cairo Santos’ game-winning 46-yard attempt to win the game.
PACKERS BLOCK THE FIELD GOAL FOR THE WIN.#GBvsCHI pic.twitter.com/gq8zbz965C
— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024
Bisaccia is regarded as one of the NFL’s better special teams coaches. He has been with the Packers since 2023, but is remembered for a relatively successful stint as the interim coach of the Raiders in 2021. At the time, some of the players actually wanted to keep him, but the Raiders opted for Josh McDaniels and the rest is history for them.
One has to wonder if the Packers felt they had something on the Bears’ kicking unit. Santos’ kick was a little low, so maybe they saw that coming.