Joe Philbin served as the Green Bay Packers’ head coach on Sunday for the first time this season, and it would be safe to say he could not have gotten off to much worse of a start.
Somehow, some way, Philbin managed to blow both of his coach’s challenges less than two minutes into his team’s game against the Falcons. He challenged two Julio Jones catches that were ruled completions, and both plays were upheld upon review. You can understand why Philbin challenged the first, as it appeared questionable at best that Jones had possession before the ball popped loose:
Julio Jones and Jaire Alexander will be a fun matchup to watch all day.
This 28-yard reception by Jones with Jaire covering is currently under review. pic.twitter.com/8TrweAlnRf
— Steve Frederick (@_SteveFrederick) December 9, 2018
The second was also close, but Philbin probably should have resisted the urge to challenge it only because he had already lost one challenge and it was so early in the game.
We're at it again. Another Julio Jones reception with Jaire Alexander in coverage is being challenged. pic.twitter.com/t5N8Wr3xxy
— Steve Frederick (@_SteveFrederick) December 9, 2018
The end result was two lost challenges and two timeouts burned in a stunning 1:23 of play. The Falcons scored a touchdown on the drive on a pass from Matt Ryan to Jones. Twitter was not kind to Philbin:
This actually happened? How is that possible?!? https://t.co/gGoAqYhjsS
— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 9, 2018
Joe Philbin gonna get fired as an interim coach
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 9, 2018
Packers HC Joe Philbin has used both challenges 87 seconds into the game… and lost them both pic.twitter.com/I0RK5MrMmT
— trey wingo (@wingoz) December 9, 2018
Joe Philbin is out of challenges… 1:23 INTO THE GAME.
WHAT.
— Master (@MasterTes) December 9, 2018
Mike McCarthy watching Joe Philbin blow 2 challenges in less than 90 seconds. pic.twitter.com/IYGZUCvDLZ
— M.G. (@MarcasG) December 9, 2018
Nobody seemed to remember all week that Joe Philbin is a terrible head coach. https://t.co/cCl1QZTUNm
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 9, 2018
Joe Philbin was sure up to the challenge of being the Packers head coach. He wasted two replay challenges in 83 seconds
— John Clayton (@JohnClaytonNFL) December 9, 2018
The Packers probably don’t have any intention of having Philbin stay on as their head coach in 2019, but that isn’t going to help.
